The Western Peace Officer: A Legacy of Law and Order

by Frank Richard Prassel

Book Overview

This is a well-written, documented, scholarly, and readable account of the bringing and maintaining of law and order to the land west of the Mississippi River. It is of interest to the historian, sociologist, and political scientist as well as the general reader. Police dockets, newspaper reports, and court records to were researched to ascertain a clear picture of who the peace officers were and what problems they had to solve. The book contains an outstanding bibliography, which ranges from archival materials to personal interviews, reflecting the depth of Prassel's research. Frank Richard Prassel, an attorney and former college professor, is the author of The Great American Outlaw: A Legacy of Fact and Fiction, also published by the University of Oklahoma Press.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806116943
• ISBN13: 9780806116945
• Release Date: December 1980
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A must for police history buffs

This is one of the best histories of American law enforcement in a long time. The author begins with an overview of the history of law enforcement going back to the beginnings of law in ancient times. He traces the development of policing in Europe and in the commom law tradition of England from Saxon times to the 19th century and the establishment of the Metropolitan Police. He then gives an overview of policing in colonial times to the establisment of modern police forces in the cities and states. The bulk of the book is about the myriad of policing agencies that developed in our West. They are all here: sherrifs, town marshals, US Marshals in the territories, even the private Pinkertons. He also covers the state organizations such as the Arizona and Texas Rangers. Western law was fairly libertarian, everyone was given the right to make arrests, law enforment was not monopolized as it is today. He even discusses the role of the US Army in policing the West, and even the development of the police of the Indian tribes. If you are interested in Police history or are a police buff, this book is a must have.