15494. THE HISTORICAL ROLE OF THE POLICE OFFICER. This paper provides a historical analysis of the role of the police officer as viewed from the perspective of administrative law. The first section below provides a brief definition and overview of the concept of administrative law and its application related to the proper role of law enforcement. Following this, we will consider the historical role of the police officer dating from the inauguration of municipal police departments in the United States in the mid-19th century through the 20th century "reform era" ending in the late 1960s with the passage of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and the creation of the Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP). KEYWORDS: administrative law justice police history law enforcement 19th century reform era omnibus crime control act. Turabian Style with Endnotes. 18 pages, 28 footnotes, 24 bibliographic references + Table of Cases.