Final answer:
The Reform Era highlighted the importance of separating policing from politics to prevent corruption and maintain public trust. The interplay of politics and policing affects public opinion and can influence policy, which is why maintaining professional, unbiased law enforcement is critical.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Reform Era emphasized the need to separate policing from politics to ensure public service jobs were filled based on merit and not political favors. This separation is necessary to prevent corruption and maintain public trust in law enforcement. The impact of politics on modern policing can be quite profound, as it can affect the perception and effectiveness of policing in communities.
For instance, the debate around 'Defund The Police' showed significant political divides and varying levels of trust and requirements for police presence in communities, with a majority of Black people preferring the same or more police presence. It's evident that the interplay of politics and policing can significantly influence public opinion and policy.
Therefore, maintaining a professional and unbiased police force is crucial for upholding justice and effectiveness in law enforcement, which is why reformers have historically sought to remove political influences from policing practices. Such reforms have often focused on improving the condition of urban environments, combating vice, and purging corruption from local government.