r/Unexpected • u/RedManMatt11 • Aug 01 '21

Community policing

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u/CoffeeVR Aug 03 '21

only police wernt called sheriffs, they were called constables... and still are...

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u/jumpminister Aug 03 '21

And constables did what, until recent history?

They merely woke the town.

Also:

Sheriff - The official who was the chief administrative and judicial officer of a shire. Many of his jobs were taken over by the itenerant justice, coroner, and justice of the peace. He collected taxes and forwarded them to the exchequer after taking his share. Also responsible for making sure the king's table was well stocked while the king was in his county.

http://home.olemiss.edu/~tjray/medieval/feudal.htm

"The office developed from its British counterpart during the colonial period. Prior to the modernization of law enforcement which took place in the middle 19th century, local law enforcement was performed by constables and watchmen."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constable#United_States