Between the years 1873 to 1893
Introduction
A well-established policing system plays a great role on the process of redefining a particular society and identifying how it specifically works in line with the law and what constitutes legality. The idea of putting up a force that would be dedicated towards creating possible measures to make sure that the society and its members are guarded protected and guided at the same time is dependent on the desire of keeping the people and the institutions making up a particular community staying within the limits of good governance. A society that has a dependable and reliable police force is expected to have a great dependency competence especially when it comes to defining the path of the people according to the constraints and allowances of the law.
Canada, one of the advanced nations of the world thrived within a distinctly defined troupe of police officers during the 1870s era. Nevertheless, the path towards the perfection of the Canadian Police Office and the way it operates is something that takes on the different challenges of polishing the force accordingly. In the discussion that follows, determining the trail followed by the North West Mounted Police in Canada shall be identified. Within the context of this discussion, it is aimed that attention to details of change and development be given attention to so as to highlight the considerable manner by which the nation takes into account the constructive manner by which the Police office, its authority and its relative responsibility is further defined in the area. Through responding the question, what constitutes good governance of police office development, this discussion shall provide a distinct identification on how modern and ancient social policing generally affects the makeup of the society and its people.
Background
The emergence of the Red River Rebellion during the years 1869 to 1870 marked the beginning of the search for a particular setup of organized social policing that would protect the society’s value towards protected and well defined course of living for the people of Canada. The onset of such unrest was marked by the change of authority and governance on the land between the Hudson Bay Company to the New Dominion of Canada. Inter-tribal warfare defined the vast areas in Canada up until the formation of the federal government in Ottawa.
The government feared that because of the situations happening in the country, attracting new settlers into its territories would become impossible thus rendering the operations of the new government vague and weak in reestablishing a new and strong Canadian society. In the desire of attracting new settlers, the government felt that the establishment of a force that would redefine the path of development the nation takes was necessary. Particularly protecting the Northwest region of the country, the government addressed the impending problem of social unrest under the command of Colonel P. Robertson-Ross. He was tasked to complete a fact finding assignment and was expected to journey around the country to find out particular areas and report on their condition and the way they are governed under their own community leaders. He was to make sure that the entire condition of the Canadian security system is intact and well-defined towards the path of development.
As he leaves the Northwest region, he recommended that at least 550 officers, particularly riflemen, be put in place of his position. He envisioned that these individual officers would be the ones to establish the peace and security in the land while he is away. He was particularly aiming to protect the surveyors and railway builders who were specifically on their way towards creating massive transportation developments in the area. He wanted to make sure that these individuals are able to finish their job amidst the many situations happening in the land during the time. The railway and the transport operations they are trying to establish plays a great role on how Canada would fair the challenge of becoming indulged in the constant change that they are going to face once they desire to pursue social development as a national course of improvement.
It was the third of May, year 1873 when Sir Jon Macdonald specifically introduced the bill that followed the recommendation of Robertson-Ross on the establishment of a small militia to remain as a definite force designed to protect the being and the reputation of the land. The bill was approved on the 23rd of May thus marking the creation of the Northwest Mounted Police force. Among the first commissioners of the force was Lieutenant-Colonel George Arthur French who was a former commandant at the School of Gunnery located at Kingston. His role specifically focused on the recruitment of individuals who wanted to join the force. Allowing the people to have a share on what the police office wants to impose on the society, French wanted to make sure that the police officers of the new found force were able to identify themselves well with the duties placed upon their shoulders.
Educating the individuals who wanted to join the force was necessary. Giving them necessary pointers on what they are expected to do and how they are supposed to complete their duties for the communities in Canada defined the overall course of education that each person took into account. Back then, only the men are invited to join. Considering the tough course of operations, it was viewed by the force that having men in the group would be much of a better sense of management compared to having a mix of female officers within the force.
Establishing divisions of duties to several groups of officers dedicated to overseeing their locations of assignment specifically confer to the ideal process by which officers handled their responsibilities towards the protection of the society’s welfare. During the onset of the year 1874, two groups of police officer troupes were already established. One of the said groups were dedicated to intercept Whisky Traders to make sure that such encounter would create a more defined dedication to keeping peace in the country and improving its economic standing as well. The troupes marched in full uniform as part of their presentation to the society on July 8, 1874. The parade consisted of at least 275 officers and local men who wanted to join the force. They were also accompanied by 114 Red River carts, at least 73 wagons that carried two nine pointer field guns. This parade was not just any parade that wanted recognition from the people, it actually marked the mission of the troupe to find the most practically ground to set up camp where the force would be able to establish its headquarters.
The search for the perfect standpoint for the headquarters was a necessary step for the troupe to take. It was specifically considered that with the perfect place to establish the force in, the officers would be able to foresee situations and impose relative operations for established social protection and rest in the most dependable manner. Considering the social unrest in Canada at the time, it was of utmost important to find a place where the officers would be able to easily reach areas affected by social unrest from their headquarters towards areas of concern. It was also essential that they would be easier to reach for communities that want to present them with the issues that their people are experiencing.
Along with the said quest for a proper location for a headquarters, the troupe was also commissioned to oversee the areas they pass by to make sure that they take note of what the communities they find within the areas need especially in terms of keeping peace evident among the residents of the said locations. The quest finally led the troupe to finding an excellent place for a headquarters in the city currently known as Lethbridge. This city served as the primary home for Fort Macleod where the office of the Northwest Mounted Police was established to create a distinct existence in the Canadian West.
With the establishment of a central operating office, the Northwest Mounted Police specifically identified well with the recognition that they received from the community and is residents. With such recognition came a huge chunk of responsibilities that the police officers were expected to give attention to. Assignments and missions were issued among officers one by one and were responded to accordingly. Among the duties that the police office completed during the time include the situations noted in the following paragraphs.
Containment of Migration in Canada [from the Little Bighorn to Sitting Bull’s Sioux due to social unrest brought about by the Custer’s disaster]- During this mission, it was evidently important that the migration of the people be guided accordingly. The mixing of one cultural group with another imposed a possible formation of new social issues. It was the primary purpose of the police office to make sure that such conditions of social unrest be kept at bay and the concerns of the people be controlled accordingly.
The general Indian uprising in the west . The Indian uprising could redefine the path of Canada’s history. If the uprising pursued, the new federal government in the country would have not been able to withstand the force of the Indians in the area, or if they did, it would sure result to massive bloodshed with several civilians losing their lives. Considerably, the Northwest Mounted Police was successful in containing the situation and making sure that the groups involved were guided accordingly.
Discovery of Gold in Yukon-The distinct desire of the people to get wealthy is a constant social identification among members of the community. The discovery of Gold in Yukon imposed the possible uprising and massive migration from other parts of Canada towards the area where the gold sits. The opening of the far North of Canada to immigrants even made the problems worse. Hence to respond to the situation, disposing troupes on areas affected by the situation was the solution found to be effective for application on the part of the force. Preservation of Canadian Mounted Regiments in South Africa- The police force acted upon the need to protect the allies and the colonies of Canada. In this case, the need to send out troupes to South Africa was one key operation that the force took into account.
Through the years of existence, the Northwest Mounted Police endured several points of challenge imposed by the growing number of individuals and residents wanting to reside in Canada. With the growing force of the country and the promising opportunities it offers the people with, it was bound that the nation would face particular difficulties. During these situations, it was specifically evident how the Northwest Mounted Police faced the challenges and responded to all the different aspects of development that the nation needed to be strongly dependent upon.
With the changing tides of time, the competence NWMP specifically redefined the path to which the new set of police officers in Canada followed through. The excellence of service and operations that NWMP was known for became the base foundation of what effective Canadian Policing is all bout down to this day. True, the competence of the force to face impending social unrest and being prepared enough to face such challenges gave NWMP a greater course of defining their policing journey not only during their time but for the future of Canada as well.
Remarkable Developments of Operation
As mentioned earlier, the platform set by NWMP established a core foundation for the entire social policing operations in Canada. Even at present, the nation continues to recognize the power of the influence of the history that bounded NWMP in the manner by which its officers established the new face of police office operations during their time. Among the primary values of operation that NWMP promoted include the conditions discussed in the preceding paragraphs.
Protecting the Welfare of the Vulnerable- It was evident enough that in relation to history, NWMP tried to give attention to the weaker or more vulnerable members of the society. The force knew that when social unrest occurs, it is usually the innocent ones who become the victims of the situation. Not knowing where to place themselves and what to do in such situation, these individuals or these groups need all the necessary assistance they could get to be able to feel safe and secure even when dealing with issues of social unrest. The police officers of NWMP also knew how important it was for key role players in the society to be protected and kept at bay especially when it comes to assisting them complete their duties to the society. The surveyors and railway constructors were the first ones to experience the protection that NWMP provides. The concern for their project and how much its worth is for Canada’s development made it easier for NWMP to embrace their duty during the difficult times the nation had to pass through.
Getting Ready for Larger Duties -The entrant of social issues relating to internal migration imposed a direct challenge to the capacity of the force to keep peace and security within areas of their responsibility especially in relation to addressing the individual and communal needs of the people. The development of Canada and the founding of several opportunities of better living in the country implicated a direct opportunity for NWMP to prove their stand in protecting the country’s best assets and resources through making sure that the people wanting to indulge themselves in what the country offers would be guided accordingly.
These particular points of attending to their duties made NWMP more evidently capable of proving themselves worthy of being called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police later on. Through the history that NWMP lived with, the troupe has proven that protecting the people’s welfare through ensuring them of good social policing was possible even in ancient times. With the current innovations and social developments that Canada embraces, it is evidently expected that the police officers in the country follow the examples of NWMP and further improve the service they give to the public according to the developments they are engulfed with.
Conclusion
As it could be noticed from this discussion, it was evidently presented that even the old-time police officers of Canada was able to prove that the desire of keeping peace and security in the society is suffice enough to motivate police officers to do their duties towards the welfare of the general public. It is with such concentration on the role that they play in the community that they become well aware of the effects of the operation they take into account with the lifestyle and development of the nation they aim to operate in. With the core values followed by NWMP, inspiring new police officers in the country to follow their example is one of the best legacies NWMP could leave as they mark the history of the Canadian Police Force.
References
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