The concept of a police force is a relatively new development in human history. Starting in London in 1829, policing was originally meant to serve as a less expensive alternative than the British army. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that the United States began to adopt a policing force, city by city. And these forces have upheld the original call: “to protect property, quell riots, strikes, industrial actions, and produce a disciplined industrial workforce.”
However what has happened is an over-dependence of the public on the police force to be the primary problem-solving institution. It is not until society reconceptualizes the meaning of safety that our nation will begin to correct the over-policing problem. A focus on safe housing and meeting basic needs will go further to protect our society than more guns and more armed men and women.