Posted on 02/12/2011 8:11:12 AM PST by Immerito
Sunday, April 06, 2008
"The Police are the Public, and the Public are the Police."
The title to this post is a quote attributed to Sir Robert Peel.
Known as the "Father of Modern Policing", Sir Robert was the man responsible for the creation of what many believe to be the first modern professional police department -- the Metropolitan Police Force in London.
Prior to Sir Roberts little experiment, the British in the 1800's had a strong antipathy for the idea of a full-time police department -- matter-of-fact, it was seen as a threat to liberty and a (and this is a direct quote from JP Smith): "...disturbance of all private happiness."
Nonetheless, everyone -- from the man in the street to the last politician -- agreed that the old system of watchmen simply wasn't working. Matter-of-fact, the perception was that crime wasn't only rampant, but that it was sharply rising.
Enter Sir Robert.
In order to mollify those who believed that professional police were "a curse and a despotism", and secure their aid in creating his professional police force, Sir Robert Peel developed what became known as The Peelian Principles; which are considered to be the basic foundation for all modern policing:
1) The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.
2) The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon the public approval of police actions.
3) Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observation of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.
4) The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.
5) Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.
6) Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice, and warning is found to be insufficient.
7) Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
8) Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions, and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
9) The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
My academy devoted two days to the study of Sir Robert and his Principles of Policing. I am of the firm opinion that these Principles should be Gospel for every Peace Officer.
There are times, though, when I am forced to wonder if some of my fellow Peace Officers have even heard of the Peelian Principles.
And I guaran-damn-tee you that a whole bunch of politicians and police administrators (but I repeat myself) have never heard of #9.
Anyone who doubts this should listen to the next District Attorney, County Commissioner, Representative or any other critter cite the rising number of arrests as proof that their pet anti-crime law is working.
*sigh*
LawDog
TELL IT TO CHIEF MOOSE!!!
Unfortunately our educational system is incapable of producing level headed competent thinkers. Our technical schools and colleges who churn out cops would experience such a lack of interest in policing if they held to such principles that they would fold.
Most of what they are taught runs the exact opposites of those principles you provided.
Why be a cop if you can't beat on the public, shoot their dogs and grandpa, threaten their children in schools, tazer uncle Bob taking a walk, shoot wood carvers, and be the only one who gets to drive drunk with his friends?
We would have fewer, but better, peace officers if this were followed.
How interesting. I’d never seen this before, but thinking back to every speeding ticket I’ve gotten - none of those officers had ever seen this either. All of them took the opportunity to toss in their own personal opinions on what had just transpired and I always had a sneaking suspicion their job was simply to inform me of the violation, write a ticket, and be on their way.
After leaving Montgomery County, he went to the National Guard for a year. Then he went to the Hawaii Police Academy in 2004. He then left the Hawaii Police Dept in 2005 and is retired in North Carolina.
He was a walking time bomb starting from his days as a police Chief in Washington State where Janet Reno praised his work to stop racial profiling.
When policing is done right, it’s boring work. Kinda like being a pilot. Eneventful means done right.
Kinda prophetic isn't it?
Uneventful............
Sadly, yes. We need conservative peace officers to take a stand for Peelian principles.
The (British) public attitude toward police, and this basic policing philosophy is the reason that Bobbies are traditionally not allowed firearms while on duty. It is NOT because the British are more civil, less violent, or the British public approves of gun control, (they do not), as so many socialist gun grabbing tyrants purport.
It is because the British believe that government employees carrying guns are nothing more than tyrants while subjects carrying guns are nothing more than free men.
Thank you, Navy Patriot. That is interesting. :-)
Great post - Thanks!
I wouldn't hold your breath waiting on that to happen any time soon...
Whenever I bump into Brit tourists, I bid them welcome and thank them for the Magna Carta. They often don't understand until they think back on their own history.
In that document, John of England agreed and stipulated that the King was NOT above the law, (among other reforms).
Equality under law (and the government must also obey the law), the basis of all western society.
People are police only when we are responsible.
It seems an extraneous ‘w’ believed that its presence in the word ‘examiner’ was needed in your URL. No offense meant to the letter ‘w’, but its presence prevents one from arriving at the article. ;-)
There are so many reasons NOT to like Moose. He wrote a book on the sniper events and used many private discussions and personal info about the victims and their families. The families were completely exploited as a means to make him money. (just another Montgomery County citizens who is glad he is gone). IMHO
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