I. The Texas Rangers

Take a virtual tour of the Texas Ranger Museum at http://www.texasranger.org. The actual museum is located in Waco, Texas. Go to the Hall of Fame and read about some of the men who have served as Texas Rangers. Which Ranger tracked down and killed Bonnie and Clyde? Which one was born in Spain? How was Ranger Stanley Keith Guffey killed? Now go to Frequent Questions. What is the current authorized strength of the Texas Rangers? What are the qualifications to become a Texas Ranger? Who was the first African-American Texas Ranger in the modern era?

II. More About the State Police

Visit your state police Web site, and read about the history and organization of that department. What are the qualifications to become a trooper in your state? What is the starting salary and what benefits are provided?

III. Vigilante Justice

Historically, the police function was carried out by the citizens of a community. In the United States, vigilante groups were organized as early as the 1700s to fight lawlessness on the frontier. With the emergence of modern police forces in the early 1800s, the responsibility for keeping the peace and fighting crime shifted from a citizen-based model to a professional model. Review the section in the text which discusses vigilantes. Do you think that vigilantism can play a constructive role in today’s society? Write a short essay stating your position on this issue.

IV. The Thin Blue Line

The police are often referred to as the “thin blue line”, meaning that they are the only guardians of the peace, order, and safety of society. The implication is that if we did not have the police to protect us from the criminals, we would either quickly become a nation of victims or be forced to resort to individual violence to protect ourselves and our families. What do you think about this? Are the police really the “thin blue line” or is this just an image that the police have encouraged as a means of maintaining public support? Write a short essay in which you discuss your position.