Law Enforcement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Law Enforcement - Essay Example There were no payments or training done to these â€Å"drafted† officers. Under these circumstances, the system lacked motivation and eventually lost focus towards administering the very important duty enforcing the law. As a result, policing became more of a reactive event. As the momentum of industrialisation and urbanization increased, new challenges with increased crime forced a radical shift in community policing, thus the beginning of struggles to professionalize the police force with more proactive measures to law enforcement. The 1800’s witnessed the adoption of new technologies with better response times and faster communications. At the dawn of the 20th century, law enforcement had attached within its system more advanced methodological dynamics that incorporated the cooperation of the police agencies with the communities that characterize more of a service attitude never experienced at the beginning. Indeed, police agencies in the United States have evolved to become a highly organized group that strives not only to prevent crime but also serves to preserve citizen’s rights and adhere at all times to maintain professionalism. Under their colonial masters, the police system was in the hands of the sheriff, the constable and the watch. Appointed by the Governor of the colony, county sheriff was the most important law enforcement officer especially in the rural set ups that characterized many areas then. This officer was paid in terms of tasks performed. His duties included collecting taxes, apprehending criminals, appearing in court proceedings and serving subpoenas. Much of their duties concentrated in collecting taxes and so apprehending criminals oftentimes fell in the periphery. In cities, constables and night watch performed more or less the same tasks but with added responsibilities such as reporting fires and eliminating health hazards. As stated above, the activities of these officers were reactive in