2.12k Many Americans were awakened to the ongoing racial prejudices in this country after the murder of George Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis in late May. Floyd’s last breaths caught on camera forced many to acknowledge the pain and the treatment that so many Black Americans face on a daily basis and have continued to face for centuries. This realization brought about a deep dive into the history of policing in this country.
In Colonial America, informal “night watch” groups were formed to keep order and prevent gambling and prostitution or to take on special requests by rich colonists. Ironically, night watch officers were typically criminals put on night watch duty as punishment. But as the nation grew, roles and responsibilities changed for officers depending on the region’s economic and political views.