Cri 168

• POLITEIA


  Greek word for government of a city, applied to civil officers not necessarily police officers
• POLITIA


  French changed POLITEIA to mean persons who actually enforce the law
• COPPER or COP


  English word for law enforcement officer, from "Chief of Police", "Constable on Patrol"
• COP

  European word meaning to catch or seize
• Ancient police


  • Babylonian temple guards and watchmen
  • Medjay in Ancient Egypt
  • Vigiles formed by Augustus in Rome
• Frankpledge/Mutual Pledge System


  1. Community divided into groups of 10 men responsible for each other's conduct and community protection

  2. Members responsible for arresting violators
• Hue and Cry

  1. Complainant/victim shouts to assemble all male residents to report complaint

  2. All male residents go after and apprehend the criminal
• Shire-Reeve System


  1. Each county taken care of by a "reeve" - ruler who made laws, passed judgment and imposed punishment

  2. Reeve appointed by the King and reported directly to the King
• Keepers of the Peace (1195)

  1. King Richard of England commissioned knights to preserve peace in unruly areas

  2. Responsible to the King for ensuring law was upheld and "king's peace" preserved
• Early police organisations

  • Bow Street Horse Runners (thief catchers)
  • Metropolitan London Police founded by Sir Robert Peel
  • Sergent de Ville (Servant of the city) in France
  • Rattlewatch in New York
• Organization


  Association or group of individuals with a common goal, structured into a productive relationship
• Administration


  Managing and organizing at the highest levels of an organization, establishing overall purposes
• Police Organization


  Structured group of trained personnel dealing with achieving goals and objectives
• Law Enforcement

  Prevention and control of crimes, enforcement of laws, effecting arrest of offenders, conducting lawful searches and seizures
• Management


  Giving orders, controlling and directing/monitoring
• Babylonian Clay Table- used to inform information/report
• Medjay


  A group of police officers or soldiers in Ancient Egyptian history who served as elite warriors and bodyguards
• Vigilies - purposeful or watchful staying awake, especially at night.