The Lessons of History

The most important lesson I learned was how policing in America was vastly different in

the 1600s compared to the present day. Prior to the establishment of the first police force, law

enforcement was handled by private citizens. Then, the northeastern United States established a

night watch to investigate reports of gambling and prostitution within the colonies. However, the

watchmen frequently fell asleep or became drunk on the job, rendering this strategy ineffective

(Gaines, & Kappeler, 2014). In addition, I discovered that crime rates were quite high, and that

police and volunteers were doing their best to keep up with them. Daytime patrols were handled

by constables, while volunteers provided nighttime patrols. When communities across the United

States began to expand in response to rising populations and criminal activity, it was Boston that

established the first police agency. People were understandably alarmed when law enforcement

agencies began springing up all across the United States. It does, however, lay out expectations

for officers' attitude and professionalism as well as their roles and responsibilities. The newly

constituted police force was organized similarly to the military, with crime prevention and

control as its primary purpose. Rather than relying on unpaid volunteers to keep the peace,

governments now employ police forces to patrol the streets. Each division deals with problems

that affect its constituents uniquely.

 Reference

Gaines, L., & Kappeler, V. (2014). Policing in America. Routledge.