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History of the American Police

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The History of the American Police March 28, 2013

The History of the American Police Policing as we know it today has developed from various political, economic, and social forces. To better understand the role of police in United States society, one has to know the history of how policing became what it is today. The following paper discusses the views of the historical context of police which helps us better understand how political, economic, and social forces have shaped the social institution of policing. The American police have their roots set firmly in England (Gaines & Miller, 2011, p. 149). During the mid-1700s to the early 1800s in London, England crime was indigenous to city life. The only sort of crime order they had was the military which was not well received with either parties. The citizens did not take kindly to being disciplined by the very soldiers whose salaries they were paying and the soldiers were likewise conflicted and about using force against their fellow citizens (Gaines & Miller, 2011, p. 149). Since the police had been found inadequate and the military alternative was not working out either, it was then in 1829 when the politician Sir Robert Peel established the Metropolitan Police Act (The Metropolitan Police Act, N.p, n.d.). The basic principles of the Metropolitan Police Act are as stated: 1. The police force must be organized along military lines. 2. Police administrators and officers must be under government control. 3. Emphasis must be placed on hiring qualified persons and training properly. 4. New police officers must complete a probationary period; if they fail to meet standards during this time, they will not be hired as permanent officers. 5. Police personnel should be assigned to specific areas of the city for a specific time period. 6. Police headquarters must be

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