Final answer:
The efficiency of foot patrols was challenged during the 1960s and 1970s, becoming a subject of scrutiny during the law-and-order movement that peaked in the 1990s with policies like the "three strikes" laws in California.
Step-by-step explanation:
The efficiency of foot patrols was challenged during the 1960s and 1970s as part of a broader reevaluation of policing strategies. This challenge arose amidst the law-and-order movement that surged in the late 20th century, especially prominent during the 1980s with increasing anti-immigration sentiments and intensified during the 1990s when aggressive policing policies like the "three strikes" laws emerged in California.
High-profile incidents such as the Rodney King beating in 1991 further catalyzed public scrutiny of police tactics, leading to a demand for police reform and questions about the effectiveness of traditional methods like foot patrols.