Evolution of Policing in America
American laws were derived from England. Many aspects for the establishment of policing, have England as a pillar as well. In the British Police System, in 1774, the Westminster Watch Act was established to handle policing. Sir Robert Peel also worked in London to stop street crimes.26
In the United States, August Vollmer is considered to be the “father of policing”. He brought police patrol and standards of professionalism to law enforcement. The oldest law enforcement agencies in America are the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection in 1789.27
America’s police force is decentralized. This means they are fragmented throughout the nation. There is no “one” police department. Throughout the cities, police departments are independent of one another and handle various jurisdictions. For example, there is the Los Angeles Police Department that handle the city of Los Angeles. There is the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department that handle unincorporated areas of Los Angeles. The same would apply for the state of Delaware, where you have local police departments and the state police. Each handle different jurisdictions, but will work together on certain criminal offenses.
Comments: