Policing History & Organization

Policing History & Organization

Law Enforcement in Britain (1700-1850)

  • Responsibility of Law Enforcement
    • Law enforcement is a collective responsibility.
    • Leadership roles during this period included:
    • D-Shire Aceve - Leader of the county.
    • DG-Cames Stabling - Mounted officer.
    • The roles of sheriff and constable were well-known.

1700's London

  • Key Figures:
    • Jonathan Wild - Notorious for his role in crime and law enforcement.
    • Henry Fielding - Known for compiling information relating to criminal activity.
  • Law enforcement faced many challenges due to tender criminals.

Significant Developments

  • 1824 - Sir Robert Peel
    • Leader of the Bow Street Runners, one of the earliest organized police units.
    • Established the first municipal metropolitan police force in London.
  • Challenges Faced:
    • Resistance from Parliament and citizens regarding the establishment of policing in urban areas.

Police Terminology

  • The police became popularly known as "Bobbies" or "Peelers."
  • **Peel’s Principles of Law Enforcement:
    • Nine principles concerning the ethical conduct of police and their societal role.
    • Essential Principle: Police authority derives from the community, reflecting the social contract.
    • Peel viewed police as "paid citizens."**

Law Enforcement in America

Early 1700's

  • Key Figure:
    • Charles Lynch - Noted for his involvement in vigilante law enforcement in Virginia.
  • The concept of "hue and cry" was established by the Statute of Winchester, mandating community response to crimes.
    • People who failed to respond to such calls faced punishment.

Late 1700's & Early 1800's

  • Ordinary citizens often undertook policing functions, akin to organized posses in the Old West.
  • Key Developments:
    • The establishment of U.S. Marshals in 1789, overseeing districts and territories.
    • Formation of the Texas Rangers in 1835, primarily for cattle and thief control.
  • 1844 – NYPD:
    • First metropolitan police force in the United States.

Federal Law Enforcement Development

  • FBF (Federal Bureau of Investigation) - Established in 1908.
    • Initial mission focused on protecting the U.S. against terrorism and foreign intelligence threats.

State Law Enforcement Agencies

  • Models of State Policing:
    1. Centralized Model:
    • Combines criminal investigations with state police functions, managing highway patrol responsibilities.
    1. Decentralized Model:
    • Divides state functions between a State Bureau of Investigation and separate state highway patrol units.