Police_history_cja_214

Police History

Shadowspawne

CJA/214

July 23, 2015

The Teacher

Police History

The first mention of an actual police force in history is found in Old English history in the 1500’s. The word police stems from the Latin politia, which translated means public order from the government and administration. Policing has a long history and is traced back to a long list of historically significant deeds as well. Policing from its roots way back in history to today’s modern vastly scientific policing still has some of the basic visions. The one thing that has not changed is the fact that a police force is tasked to protect citizens, protect property, keep the peace and enforce the written laws. Today we will touch on a few of these areas, including the influence of Sir Robert Peel on American policing. We are also going to analyze the relationship between the U.S. Federal government agencies and the policing agencies in the United States. We are then going to discuss how this intertwining of Federal Government and policing agencies has been affected or militarized in the last few years.

Sir Robert Peel

        Sir Robert Peel was an English politician and social reformist, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 December 1834 to 8 April 1835. He was instrumental in changing, challenging and creating many laws and legislations for the citizens, as well as to protect the women and children. This form of leading a land also led to his insights into the connection with and the need to unite the police force, which he created, and the citizens of the country. Stargel (2009), “In 1829, Sir Robert Peel established a paid, professional, public police in London, utilizing a military model, instituting a crime prevention mission, and bringing basic organization and discipline to the London Metropolitan police” (para. 1). Everyone has heard of “bobbies” and “peelers”, and automatically know who they are; it was Sir Robert Peel who was instrumental in coining these terms on his watch and influence while in office. Bobbies and Peelers are named so because of Sir Robert Peel, and in his honor.

        The revolutionary, for the time, ideas proposed, and ideology introduced by Sir Robert Peel are today just know as “The Peelian Principles”. The Peelian Principles are a set of nine principles introduced by Sir Robert Peel into the law and peacekeeping community. They were accepted cheered by some and shunned on by those who used power and force to make gains for themselves. Here in the United States many police agencies have adopted and are using these principles as their own. Nazemi (n.d.):

These nine basic principles are often referred to as “The Peelian Principles.” Upon close examination of each of the Peelian principles, not only are direct connections to policing in today's world apparent, but often the nine principles are cited as the basic foundation for current law enforcement organizations and community policing throughout the world. (para.3)

It is an amazing feat to influence policing policy from the mid-1800s to present day. Peel had much influence on changes in the criminal law thinking and behavior for his time that has spanned the years and influenced present day policing.