Smith, Bruce

Smith, Bruce (1892–1955) police consultant, criminologist; born in Brooklyn. He worked at the New York Bureau of Municipal Research while completing a degree at Columbia University (1914–16). Through the bureau he was sent to Harrisburg, Pa., to conduct a police study (1923), which led to a career as a police consultant. He created a uniform international system for reporting crime statistics – publishing the first Uniform Crime Reports in 1930—taught at the FBI's national police training school (1935–55), and was director of the Institute of Public Administration (1954–55). He gained national attention during the 1950s for his critical scrutiny of the New York Police Department. Skeptical and pragmatic, he helped survey police departments in 50 American cities and several foreign countries, promoting efficiency and standardized crime reporting. He was also an avid sailor.