Through Facebook, we hope to provide information to the public to promote safety, education, awareness, and community engagement. In colonial times the use of the term 'Marshal" in relation to law enforcement had a long history in England. However, it was not widely used in the American colonies where the local Sheriff was the ranking financial and Law Enforcement Officer of the county. In Virginia, from 1619, when the colony was founded, until about 1634, local Sheriffs were actually called Provost-Marshal or Marshal. By our nation’s independence in 1776, each of the American colonies already had well established local courts serviced by a local Sheriff. Senate Bill, Number One, of the First Session, of the First Congress, then passed the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789 and President, George Washington, appointed the first 13 U.S. The Act provided a charter for the federal judicial system by specifying the jurisdiction and powers of Marshals, and Deputy Marshals. The role of the federal Marshals was clearly modeled on the already existing well established County Sheriff. In the 1800’s, the American old west Marshal, usually called Town Marshal or City Marshal, was either the appointed or the elected head of that communities law enforcement, and their helpers were called Deputy Marshals. General local law enforcement was now the responsibility of the Town Marshal and his Deputies. Spencer Town Marshals are Indiana Law Enforcement Academy graduates, armed with the latest technology, who continue the tradition of serving and protecting the citizens of Spencer. While having state wide jurisdiction, these Officers primarily enforce state and local laws within their local bailiwick. Throughout our country’s history, local and federal Law Enforcement Officers have been assigned the difficult task of enforcing the law of the land upon Americans who, while recognizing the necessity of laws to Govern civilized society; have never been comfortable with encroachment on their personal liberties. The American Marshal’s greatly symbolizes our nation's unending attempt to balance the need for law and order, against the demand for individual freedom and the rights of the states.
