POLICE ORGANIZATION AND WITH POLICE PLANNING (LEA 1)

MODULE 2 - WEEK 2

II. EVOLUTION OF POLICE SYSTEM (WORLDWIDE SETTING)

b. THE ANCIENT POLICE

b.1 A Babylonian clay table dated around 2,000 B.C. shows a report from a
Babylonian officer to his superior about his action of looking the man in his house as he
was ordered, took him into custody, took the fingerprints, and took control of the man’s
property.

b.2 Contemporaneously in Indus Valley (2,000 B.C.), historical records show the
existence of special “watch-house” which were used by police officers whose duty was
to patrol and maintain order.

b. 3 In the Holy Bible (both the Old and New Testaments), there are numerous
references to “temple guards” and “watchmen”. The latter’s duty was to protect the city
and arrest offenders.

b.4 Hieroglyphics from the ancient Egyptians show they have police officers and
they even have special flag with its distinctive emblem, a gazelle with large ostrich
feather. Protective police patrol appeared during those times because of the great
treasures hidden in many tombs. They too become the first to use police dogs on patrol.
They invented also the lock. Their police was called “Medjay” who were civilians and
headed by an Egyptians military officer.

b.5 Few years before the Lord Jesus Christ, Augustus formed the “Vigiles” of
Rome, a group of over 2,000 men, armed with staves and short swords, whose duty
was to keep the peace and fight fires.

c. POLICING SYSTEM DURING THE MIDDLE AGES

c.1 ANGLO-SAXON (ANCIENT ENGLAND) PERIOD (600-1066 AD)

c.1.1 FRANKPLEDGE SYSTEM – or mutual pledge, whereby every male

over 12 years old join nine (9) of his neighbors to form a TYTHINGMEN –
a group of men whose duty was to apprehend any person who offends
another and deliver that offender for trial. Anyone who failed to join and
 perform this obligatory duty was severely fined. Thus, policing
responsibility lies on the hands of the citizens.

c.1.2 TUN POLICING – Tun was the forerunner of the word “town” – all
male residents were equipped to guard the town to preserve peace and
order, protect the life and properties of the people and other factors that
disturbs the peace and order.

c.1.3 HUE AND CRY – the complainant or victim goes to the middle of the
community and shout to call all male residents to assemble. The victim
reports his complaint to the assembly. Consequently, all the male
residents will go after the criminal and apprehend him.

c.1.4 ROYAL JUDGE SYSTEM – the royal judge conducted criminal

investigation and gave punishment fitted to the crime committed. This
practice started the identification of criminals.

c.1.5 TRIAL BY ORDEAL – a suspect was required to place his hands

over boiling water or oil. If he would not get hurt, he will be acquitted but
when hurt, he would be considered guilty because of the supposed divine
intervention. Double jeopardy was prevented during this period.

c.2 NORMAN PERIOD (1066 – 1285)

c.2.1 SHIRE-REEVE SYTEM – when William, the Duke of Normandy

became the ruler of England, he divided his kingdom into 55 military
districts as the SHIRE-REEVE. SHIRE means a district while REEVE
means the ruler who made laws, pass judgment and impose punishment.
He was assisted by a group of constables, the forerunner of the
constabulary. The term Shire-Reeve eventually became Sheriff, the title of
the chief of constables or police officers in a certain town. The
TRAVELING JUDGE was held responsible in deciding case that were
taken from Shire-Reeves due to some abuses.

a. Each shire is the responsibility of a reeve who is also

responsible to their king. The reeve was later called sheriff.
b. Each shire was broken into hundred (100 households) headed
by Tythingman or Chief Tythingman who served as a constable
and judge. He was later replaced by a constable in the 12 th
century.
c. Each hundred was divided into tythings (10 families) headed by
Tythingman or Chief Tythingman who served as a constable
and judge. He was later replaced by a constable in the 12th
century.

c.2.2 LEGIS HENRY – King Henry I:

a. Law violations were classified as offenses against the King.

b. Policemen became public officials.
c. The police and the citizens have the broad power to arrest.
 d. Grand Jury was created to inquire on the facts of the law.

c.2.3 KEEPERS OF THE PEACE – 1195, King Richard of England –

required the appointment of knights to keep the king’s peace by standing
as guards on bridges and gates while checking the people entering and
leaving the cities and towns.

c.2.4 MAGNA CARTA (Great Charter) – June 15, 1215, King John of
England – enacted upon the demand of the Knights of the Round Table.
The knights forced King John to sign the document which declared the
following:

a. No freemen shall be taken or imprisoned, disposed, outlawed,

or bowed except by legal judgment of his peers.
b. No person should be tried for murder unless there is proof of the
body of the victim.
c. There should be national and local government as well as the
national and local legislation.

c.3 WESTMINSTER PERIOD (1285 – 1500)

c.3.1 STATUTE OF WINCHESTER (1285) – introduced the WATCH AND

WARD, a watch was stationed between sunset and sunrise at each gate
of a walled town. It revived the hue and cry.

c.3.2 STATUTE OF 1295 – began the closing of the gates of London

during sunset. This started the observation of curfew hours.

c.3.3 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE – a position given to a respected citizen,

who has the power to arrest, pursues and imprisons the offenders.

c.3.4 STAR CHAMBER COURT – established as special court that tried

offenders against the state.

d. POLICING SYTEM IN THE MODERN PERIOD (17th -19th CENTRURY) IN

ENGLAND

d.1 KING CHARLES II – of England, 1663, a law that provided for the
employment of NIGHT WATCHMEN or BELLMEN called “CHARLIES” to be on
duty from sunset to sunrise. They carried long staves and dimly lit lanterns. They
were often called “shiver and shake” because many were old and would run if
they see trouble, or heard a cry for help. Some were not honest who often times
worked for criminals.

d.2 HENRY FIELDING – 1748, became the Chief Magistrate at Bow Street in
London, organized the BOW STREET RUNNERS (thief catchers), and later
 formed the BOW STREET HORSE PATROL whose duty was to patrol the main
roads thus secure the travelers from highwaymen or highways bandits.

d.3 SIR ROBERT PEEL (FATHER OF MODERN POLICING SYSTEM) – 1829

established the LONDON METROPOLITAN POLICE, which became the world’s
first modern organized police force. Peel’s police were called “Peel’s Bloody
Gang”, “Blue Devils”, and “Dirty Papists.” It was later called SCOTLAND YARD.

e. FRENCH POLICE SYSTEM DURING THE MODERN PERIOD IN FRANCE

e.1 During the Roman Empire, France was the Roman Province, Gaul. The
French adopted Augustus Caesar’s idea of police by giving them powers such as
police control, welfare, public morals, and even sitting in judgment of these
offenders. These duties are now called “civil” matters or duties.

e.2 In 16th Century, Paris has two patrols, the citizen Night Guard and the Royal
Guard. Saint-Louis gave them the motto that is in the modern French police
emblem which says “Vigilat ut Quiescant” translated “He watches that that they
may sleep.”

e.3 During the 17th Century in France, King Louis XIV maintained a small central
police organization consisting of some 40 inspectors who, with the help of
numerous paid informants, supplied the government with details about the
conduct of private individuals.

e.4 In Paris, the position OFFICERS DE PAIX was formed in 1791. This was the
origin of the term Peace Officers. They wore no uniforms, but they were identified
through a “Warrant Card.” The French were the first to establish uniformed police
officers – they were called SEGENT DE VILLE (servant of the city). They wore
blue uniforms and carried canes in day time and sabres at night. Other
contributions of the French in the development of POLICING SYSTEM were:

a. Conceiving street signs d. Creating emergency and rescue services

b. Assigning house numbers e. Use of police ambulances
c. Insalling Street lighting f. Use of “Warrant card” and ID signifying
authority to arrest

f. AMERICAN POLICE SYSTEM DURING THE MODERN PERIOD AND

THEREAFTER

f.1 America followed the model developed in England. New York, Boston (1636)
and Philadelphia organized their night watchmen, which was similar to the
bellmen created in London during the reign of King Charles II. These night
watchmen were known as RATTLEWATCH because they carried rattles while on
duty to inform the public of their watchful presence.
f.2 Development of American Municipal (Rural and City) Police Force

f.2.1 1636 – night-watch was initiated in Boston, Massachusetts.

f.2.2 1658 – rattle-watch was organized in New York.
f.2.3 1700 – Night-watch started in Philadelphia. They were called
“Leatherheads” because they wore varnished leather hats.
f.2.4 1722 – New Haven had a police policy, “No watchman will have the
liberty to sleep.”
f.2.5 1800 – it became a government policy that able-bodied males over
16 years old were required to serve without pay.
f.2.6 1833 – advent of daytime police with pay.
f.2.7 1844 – New York organized the first modern American police basing
on the English Metropolitan Police system.
f.2.8 1856 – New York City police began to adopt a full police uniform.

f.3 Development of State Police Force in America

f.3.1 1835 – Texas Rangers

f.3.2 1865 – Massachusetts organized a police force of state constables.
f.3.3 1905 – The Pennsylvania State Police.

f.4 Development of US Federal Police Force

f.4.1 1829 – Post Office Inspection System began.

f.4.2 1861 – Investigation on crimes against the government started.
f.4.3 1868 – Detective forces were formed to investigate problems on
revenue services, immigration and smuggling.
f.4.4 1895 – Federal government attention focused on lotteries, drug
regulations and transportation regulations.
f.4.5 1910 – Anti-White Slavery Act and Motor Vehicle Act.
f.4.6 1934 – National Kidnapping Act, Banking Act, and Racketeering Act
were passed by the United States Congress.
References: Law Enforcement Administration Textbook and Review Materials,
published by Prudence Research & Review Center, Baguio City,
Philippines, 2019.

University of Baguio (UB) notes on Police Organization and Administration

with Police Planning, 2019.

Prepared by: ALBERT B. GALORA

Instructor

Noted by: DR. TROFIMA M. PANGONILO

VPAA

Approved by: JOSSETTE Y. PEREZ-DAES, RN

President