Pre-Policing Era – 1776-1840 & Political Era – 1840-1930 by Simran Shah

1776-1840: The Pre Policing Era

cakintola — 2023-10-30 14:31:19 UTC

1840s: First Policing Era in the United States

2023-11-01 13:33:55 UTC

Began in the 1840s with the creation of the first bona fide (official) police agencies

1840 - 1934: Political Era

cakintola — 2023-11-01 13:34:08 UTC

18th Century: Policing Pay💰

2023-11-01 13:37:40 UTC

During this era, policing was well paid and little to no training was required. It was very easy to become a police officer, in the New York Department a simple bribe of $500 was typically all that was needed.

1631-18th Century: Night Watchmen

tkilgannon — 2023-11-01 13:38:51 UTC

The watch system was composed of community volunteers whose primary duty was to warn colonists of impending danger.

1704 - 1860s (Ended After Civil War): Slave Patrols

tkilgannon — 2023-11-01 13:39:51 UTC

Slave Patrols were one of the US’s first militarized police. Their duties consisted of capturing runaway slaves and just generally restricted and tormented the slaves and infringed on their rights. Typically the slave patrols consisted of citizens watching over their area/town.

Sources of Policing Conflict

2023-11-01 13:40:09 UTC

The industrial revolutions led to conflict due to crowding and trampling of rights in citizens. The abolishment of slavery also led to groups like the Klu Klux Klan to spread which were barely stopped by the police.

17th Century: Constables

mdomaradzka — 2023-11-01 13:46:40 UTC

Constables were the sheriffs or the officers in the colonies they performed civil and criminal duties (some were paid some unpaid). Constables had a variety of non-law enforcement functions to perform.

Serving as land surveyors
Verifying the accuracy of weights and measures.

In many cities constables were given the responsibility of supervising the activities of the night watch. They began assuming responsibility for what the night watchmen did. This position lasted 150 years.

1776: Sheriffs

mdomaradzka — 2023-11-01 13:48:41 UTC

Sheriffs were tasked with enforcing the law, collecting taxes and overseeing jails and workhouses. They were dressed like ordinary citizens except they wore badges.

1836: Invention of the Revolver

2023-11-01 13:49:14 UTC

The first practical revolving-cylinder handgun was invented in 1831 by Samuel Colt of Hartford, Connecticut, and patented on February 25, 1836. Later police moved from rifles, musket, and swords to revolvers and pistols.

1840-1850: Invention of Nightstick

2023-11-01 13:53:19 UTC

This rendition of a baton was created in New York, United States by George Washington Mastell

1845: New York Police

2023-11-01 13:56:54 UTC

The first police department to be formally created in the United States was in New York City. Many cities follow suit, but they all used the London Metropolitan Police as a model. Their main duty was to prevent crime and disorder. They provided a wide array of other public services.

1855: Chicago Police

2023-11-01 13:57:35 UTC

The Chicago Police undergoes a major change. This consists of increasing the force by six times the number of officers; dividing the City into three police divisions and three districts; and introducing a more professional, efficient command staff.

1850: Detroit Police

2023-11-01 13:57:51 UTC

The first 40 uniformed officers took to the streets of Detroit on May 15, 1865, because of Civil War deployments.

1865: Portland Police

2023-11-01 13:58:03 UTC

City Council creates the Portland Metropolitan Police Force. There are six patrolmen, one lieutenant and a chief. Portland's population is 9,000. The City Council appoints Phillip Saunders as its first chief of police.

1891: Inclusion Of Women in the Policing System

cakintola — 2023-11-01 14:01:44 UTC

Women were not allowed to be police. However, there were ‘police’ roles. They were working with juveniles in more ‘motherly’ roles. The first female sworn-in police officer, Marie Owens was sworn in in 1891.

1867: Black Policemen

cakintola — 2023-11-01 14:05:25 UTC

Black policemen were rarely hired. They made their way into policing in the late 1800s. The first black policemen were hired in 1867 in Selma, Alabama. However, when the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was ruled unconstitutional, Black officers all disappeared from policing until the 1950s.

1862: Eugene Police

2023-11-01 14:07:02 UTC

On October 17, 1862, Eugene was incorporated. In 1863, the City hired its first marshal, C.H. Fox, who began patrolling Eugene as the first member of what would become the Eugene Police Department.

1865 - KKK

cakintola — 2023-11-01 14:10:27 UTC

The KKK was a white supremacist group that work to integrate laws that would criminalize former slaves. These laws that were formerly ‘slave laws’ were now called Black Laws. The Police at the time never really did anything to stop them.

Why is it called the Political Era?

cakintola — 2023-11-01 14:25:17 UTC

It is because policing in this era was under the control of politicians. Politicians like the mayor, had no problems controlling everything that a policeman did during their call of duty. The police acted as political representatives for the local government for the neighbors that controlled.

Thank you for Listening! 🎧

cakintola — 2023-11-01 14:35:16 UTC

Created by

Simran Shah

Chloe Akintola

Sari Racusin

Téa Florencio

Tara Kilgannon

Marcelina Domaradzka

Works Cited - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vm6WglGJ9xFuVnFGOaKEB6YhnijfKAXBayyKT0APYV4/edit

Research - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mQ351QZpZata4OCJAn4iJnzku4wlYXCCtwzWWOyNfAw/edit