| Though the idea of defending oneself physically has | | | | countries, including the United States, to the present |
| been around since nearly the dawn of time, organized | | | | day. Throughout the mid-1800s, several police |
| law enforcement is a relatively new idea. As self | | | | departments were founded around the world. |
| defense evolved, it became defined by several | | | | Within the United States, the early years can be |
| disciplined forms, such as martial arts. | | | | described as somewhat lawless. Stronger members |
| Though it is an excellent idea for everyone to be | | | | of the communities were responsible for policing |
| trained in some form of physical self defense, and to | | | | themselves and their neighbors, though there was no |
| carry self defense products like stun guns or pepper | | | | police structure in place. Once the colonists were |
| spray to defend themselves against any violent or | | | | settled in, the task of maintaining order fell to |
| dangerous situation, of course today there are also | | | | Justices of the Peace, who were responsible for |
| organized law enforcement agencies which exist to | | | | dealing with criminal elements. As the towns and cities |
| make self defense less necessary. Though it is still | | | | of the New World grew, it became clear that this |
| imperative to do what you can to protect yourself, | | | | system was simply not organized enough. Organized |
| various organizations, from a neighborhood watch to | | | | law enforcement can be traced back to the |
| a police officer who frequently patrols your | | | | seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when night |
| neighborhood, can keep your home and your family | | | | watch forces were established throughout the |
| safe. | | | | colonies. |
| The first law enforcement agencies existed not so | | | | Philadelphia finally organized an independent police |
| much to protect citizens from criminals but to | | | | squad in 1833, policing the area 24/7. Another early |
| maintain leadership. Forces to maintain the status quo | | | | full-time police force in the United States was the |
| existed as far back as ancient Egypt, when pharaohs | | | | Boston Police Department, established in 1839. New |
| had their own personal staff of soldiers. Nearly any | | | | York's police force was established in 1844. Though |
| society throughout history with a military hierarchy | | | | these organizations worked well in the relatively well |
| has had some form of law enforcement agency. The | | | | established Eastern cities, in the frontier towns, a |
| Roman Empire is frequently noted for its effective | | | | sheriff system developed. This system, also inherited |
| yet brutal form of law enforcement. In Europe, law | | | | from England, placed a sheriff selected by the local |
| enforcement policies can be traced back to more | | | | population in charge of law enforcement. Relatively |
| than a millennium ago. | | | | unregulated in early times, the sheriff system still |
| London is thought to be the first city to hire paid law | | | | exists to this day, though on a much more formal |
| enforcement officers, back in 1663. These officers | | | | basis. |
| were mainly meant to find and detain criminals after | | | | Today, law enforcement agencies worldwide are |
| the fact. In 1800, Glasgow, Scotland, established the | | | | highly specialized organizations with extensive training |
| first professional police department tasked with | | | | to prepare officers for an astounding variety of |
| preventive policing. The first civil (rather than military) | | | | situations. Still, they can't be there for all situations, |
| police force was established in the United Kingdom by | | | | which is why it is important to protect yourself with |
| Parliament in 1829. This model is used by numerous | | | | a stun gun, baton, or pepper spray canister. |