It would be fair to say that early US police were mostly about protecting the interests of the powerful. Over time that diminished and police protected an increasing number of less powerful groups.
During my childhood, it was common for police to defer to husbands regarding domestic abuse. And kids all over knew to not go to the police - for any kind of abuse from authority figures.
During my childhood, it was common for police to defer to husbands regarding domestic abuse. And kids all over knew to not go to the police - for any kind of abuse from authority figures.