Herman Goldstein, father of problem-oriented policing, dies at 88 | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Herman Goldstein, father of problem-oriented policing, dies at 88

 

Herman Goldstein, who developed “problem-oriented policing” and influenced the behavior of police departments everywhere, died Jan. 24, 2020. He was 88.

 

Goldstein saw that police can be more effective when they aren’t just about solving crimes. They also need to solve problems, and they need to look outside their own agency to do it.

 

Goldstein taught at University of Wisconsin Law School from 1964 thorugh retirement in 1994 and for several years beyond. In 2018, Goldstein won the Stockholm Prize in Criminology, which comes with an award of at least $114,000. The award recognized his work, which influenced police departments around the world. 

 

Before joining the law school, he worked as executive assistant to Chicago police superintendent and reformer O.W. Wilson. 

 

Goldstein is survived by his children, Mark Goldstein (Stephanie Melnick), David Goldstein (Anne Walter) and Rahel Goldstein; and his grandchildren, Ellen, Abigail, Cara Goldstein, Vivian Goldstein, Noah and Ari Greenlee.

 

A funeral service was held on Jan. 26 at Beth Israel Center in Madison.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Herman Goldstein fund at Beth Israel Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness-Dane County, or Porchlight of Madison (Solutions to Homelessness).