NYPD Compare And Contrast Essay

Comparing and Contrasting the NYPD and LAPD

There is approximately 2,500 miles between perhaps the two biggest and most well-known cities in the United States, Los Angeles and New York City. According to the 2010 census, the city of Los Angeles has a population of 3,792,621, which is less than half the population of New York City, which stands at 8,175,133 based on the 2010 census. While being geographically much larger than New York city, at approximately 503 square miles compared to New York City’s approximately 304 square miles, LA is patrolled by only 10,000 police officers. New York City is policed by nearly 35,000 police officers. These two cities have quite a few differences, but even more similarities, most notably in the evolution of each city’s

1845 was the year New York City saw the creation of the first large professionalized police force in the country. Before 1845, the city had been patrolled by a night watch force that would patrol the city. With no professional training or equipment, these watchmen were equipped with noise makers to alert members of the public to observe and report crime. Two high profile murder cases caused public outcry, and placed enough pressure on the city government to pass the municipal police act in 1845, establishing the police force. 1850 was the year Los Angeles saw the creation of its own police force, the Los Angeles Rangers. Shortly after, the rangers became the “Los Angeles City Guards.” The crime fighting ability of the rangers and later, the guards, was held in doubt as vigilante justice and violence was commonplace in Los Angeles. It wasn’t until 1869, when Los Angeles created the first paid police force, consisting of only 6 officers. After the city marshal was executed in Los Angeles in 1875, the city council established the first board of police commissioners, with Jacob T. Gerkins being selected as the department’s first police chief in