Report on Toronto Panel calling for implementation of community policing fails to provide Historical Context

The above report, while expressing ideas that are probably valid, seems out of context with history, since it conveys at least a subliminal message that this is all something novel.

For the full report see:
http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/panel-calls-for-fewer-toronto-police-officers-in-cars-more-on-street  (reproducing the report here would offend copyright law)

Even the reference to 'walking the beat' does not place the ideas in a historical context.  Of course, it is likely that neither the reporter of this story or the police chief probably had any idea of the historical context, nor did the latter make reference to that context if he did know something about it.  Some examples of successful implementations of community policing across the world could have been enlightening to readers.

More than 20 years ago I taught university courses in Legal History and Policing.  The Canadian, British and U.S. literature on Policing, covering decades prior thereto, was replete with academic papers discussing and recommending forms of community policing, with ample examples given of attempts by many cities across those jurisdictions to institute same.  Some cities still use some form of community policing to this day.