Law enforcement agency/Legends

"There's law, and there's justice, and sometimes they're not the same thing."

- Captain Lon Shevu

A law enforcement agency was an organization that enforced the law under the authority of some government. Most were referred to as a police force or security force.

Law enforcement agencies throughout galactic history took on different names and functions. Some organizations such as the Jedi Order took on other duties as soldiers and diplomats while others such as the Imperial Security Bureau enforced the will of the state through deception and intimidation.

Law enforcement organizations were generally divided into three jurisdictional divisions though sometimes an agency could perform function that were a part of all three. There were agencies with galactic wide duties, agencies with planetary and local duties, and then there were agencies that served various other functions including counter-terrorism and political enforcement.

Members of a law enforcement agency held different ranks and were generally organized with a command structure similar to that of most military forces.

Galactic Republic
"We are keepers of the peace, not soldiers."

- Jedi Master Mace Windu

The Jedi Order was founded on Tython around 25,783 BBY would become one of the oldest organizations in the galaxy who served as law enforcers and keepers of the peace. Though the Jedi would serve the Galactic Republic in many ways, they would continually maintain their presence in galactic peacekeeping in the forms of the Jedi Peacekeeper and the Jedi investigator. Throughout the early history of the Republic most law enforcement was conducted by local militias in conjunction with the Jedi and the Republic Military. However, some organizations took on the characteristics of mainly providing police services to their populations. Of the earliest known examples, most notably are the Coruscant Security Force, the Telos Security Force, the Taris Civil Authority, and the Senate Guard.

After the Ruusan Reformation, the Republic's military was disbanded and the Jedi Order would operate under the Judicial Department. By the end of the Republic's rule, it operated several police forces including the Republic Outland Regions Security Force, whose duty it was to enforce laws and patrol the Outer Rim Territories; the Republic Security Force, which was the lead law enforcement agency for the Republic and operated under the Judicial Department; the Sector Rangers, who served as sector and system level police to assist local and planetary agencies with cases that crossed different jurisdictions; and Republic Domestic Security which was set up in the later stages of the Clone Wars to protect government secrets including financial ones.

Galactic Empire
"Fear will keep the local systems in line."

- Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin

The reorganization of galactic law enforcement from the Old Republic into the Galactic Empire had mixed results of efficiency and tyranny. Most of the Republic law enforcement agencies were brought in under the umbrella of the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order. The Sector Rangers were rechristened as the Imperial Sector Rangers and reported to the Imperial Office of Criminal Investigations. However, the Rangers remained out of the political agenda of the New Order.

Though these organizations occupied themselves with everyday crime, the real authority in enforcing Imperial law lay with the Stormtrooper Corps and the Imperial Security Bureau. Operating as a secret police, the ISB constructed a vast network of spies, agents, and officers that would ensure loyalty to the Empire and ultimately Emperor Palpatine. The Imperial Stormtrooper provided the most obvious reminder of Imperial might. Stormtroopers were used to put down rebellions, ensure the loyalty of local governments, and in some cases, act as or supplement local police an example being the Coruscant Guard.

New Republic
"Welcome to the next chapter in the history of the galaxy."

- General Tyr Taskeen

In contrast to the Empire, the New Republic dismantled or decentralized its role in galactic law enforcement. The Imperial Sector Rangers were dissolved, ending one of the last remnants of the Old Republic's peacekeeping efforts. The New Republic Security Force was established in its place. The NRSF continued some of the law enforcement functions of the Sector Rangers, however, one of their central goals was fighting the Palpatine Counter-Insurgency Front.

Because of the decentralized stance on galactic law enforcement, patrolling New Republic space against smugglers, pirates, and other criminal activities largely became the responsibility of the New Republic Defense Fleet. They were assisted in part by the New Jedi Order some of whose members took advantage of the decentralized structure in the Order and its mandate as a peacekeeping force to take a heavy hand in galactic law enforcement.

Galactic Alliance
"You have to keep the secret police separate from the nice, polite officers who police the street. Sends a message that ordinary law-abiding Coruscanti have nothing to fear, while demonstrating maximum force to the enemy."

- Senator G'vli G'Sil

The Yuuzhan Vong War that lasted from 25 ABY till 29 ABY had left planets ravaged by war and Vongforming. The newly formed Galactic Federation of Free Alliances had to not only rebuild the galaxy but protect it as well. During the reconstruction period as the Galactic Alliance government was established on Denon and later Coruscant, the government operated two principle police agencies. The Galactic Reconstruction Police was set up under the Reconstruction Authority. Its responsibilities included the supervision of funds that were meant for reconstruction efforts and the general enforcement of law and order. The Reconstruction Police's sister agency, the Reconstruction Authority Space Patrol, was charged with patrolling Alliance space for smugglers and pirates.

When tension began to rise in 40 ABY between Corellia and the Galactic Alliance over government control issues, terrorism by Corellians became an increasing threat on Coruscant. To counter this issue, the Galactic Alliance established the Galactic Alliance Guard under the leadership of then Jedi Knight Jacen Solo. Although the GAG was established as a counter-terrorism force staffed by cops and intelligence officers, it quickly became a ruthless military force whose ranks where filled with some of the least desired soldiers. The end of the Second Galactic Civil War and the death of Chief of State Darth Caedus formerly Jacen Solo, saw the GAG disbanded.

Following the end of the Second Galactic Civil War in 41 ABY, Galactic Alliance Security was established as the central Alliance law enforcement and security agency. The Galactic Alliance also operated a second law enforcement organization called the Alliance Marshals. The new Chief of State Natasi Daala moved swiftly against the New Jedi Order for both political and public safety reasons. Several Jedi began suffering from Force psychosis and GA Security was placed in charge of arresting and imprisoning those Jedi. However, their methods later became very controversial. Though the Jedi Order under the leadership of Luke Skywalker had continued to serve as a peacekeeping and law enforcement organization for the Galactic Alliance, Daala sought to bring the Order under a more direct government control and stop the Jedi's seemingly disregard for local or Alliance law in criminal investigations.

Types and responsibilities
Members of a police force generally held ranks similar to those in the military. Police forces were then generally organized into three jurisdictional areas including galactic, planetary, and various others.

Galactic
"GA Security has legal jurisdiction, those others have profit motive, and all we have is the fact that we're right."

- Luke Skywalker, after Valin Horn's capture

Galactic law enforcement agencies generally received their authority from the then current galactic government. Generally, their physical jurisdiction included anything under the galactic government's authority an example being Galactic Alliance Security. However, some agencies had very specific jurisdictional boundaries that related to certain tasks and crimes. An example being Republic Domestic Security which had complete authority over incidents involving high government and financial secrets of the Republic.

Planetary
"We're the law on Coruscant. Not the Jedi."

- CSF Detective Gwad Raatu

Planetary security forces varied greatly and depended upon the urbanization and status of the planet they protected.

Other
"We're the Imperial Security Bureau. What we say is principle; what we decide is regulation; what we do is law." "And whoever you order shot is dead?" "So you do understand."

- Drelfin and Daric LaRone