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first system
The City of Boston establishes the first system of law enforcement in the 13 colonies. Called the "night watch," officers served part-time, without pay. -
first hires
The City of Boston hires the first full-time, paid law enforcement officers in the 13 colonies. September 24, 1789 -
first Federal law enforcement officer
The United States Congress creates the first Federal law enforcement officer, the United States Marshal. Thirteen U.S. Marshals were appointed by President George Washington. October 22, 1791 -
organizing police forces
The Municipal Corporations Act of 1835, allowed Borough Councils to organise a police force but few of them seemed eager to implement the law. -
pay for policing
The Rural Constabulary Act of 1839, allowed any of the 54 English Counties to raise and equip a paid police force. -
Numbers are growing
In the 1840's, there was still a great disparity between different areas of the country with no single style of policing. By 1840, only 108 out of 171 boroughs had police forces. -
police forces growing
By 1848 there were still 22 boroughs that did not have a police force and, in 1850, only 36 counties that did. -
police history
uniforms were dark blue shirt, pants enforced dress code among officers -
secret service
On the day he was shot by the assassin John Wilkes Booth, President Abraham Lincoln approves the formation of what is now the United States Secret Service. -
first African American police officer killed
Jacksonville, Florida, Officer William Johnson becomes the first African American police officer to be killed in the line of duty. -
armor
Police start wearing soft body armor to protect themselves against handgun assaults. -
police history
the term "police brutality" was first used to describe a beating of a civilian by an other officer -
finger prints
Fingerprinting is first used in the United States by law enforcement. -
cop cars
The Berkeley (CA) Police Department becomes the country's first agency to have all patrol officers using automobiles. -
police history
uniforms included blue shirt , pants , visor caps -
police history
officers began wearing a friendly shade of blue on their uniforms a more lighter color -
the call
911 was created -
police history
the US police Canine association is formed -
police history
police officers were back to wearing a dark shade of blue uniforms following the terrorist attack -
homeland security
The Department of Homeland Security is formed to lead the unified national effort to secure America.
