The post of police officer existed in Russia from 1775 to 1917. It was established by Catherine II as an elected one. During the reform of 1862, changes were made, the candidacy for the post was nominated by the governor and approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. A police officer is an official. According to the table of ranks, this position corresponded to the seventh grade.
The introduction of the post of police
Under the personal leadership of Catherine II, a provincial reform was developed , and on November 7, 1775 a document was signed, which was called "Institutions for the administrations of the provinces of the All-Russian Empire." It was he who introduced the position of captain-guard, or, as he was also called, zemsky police officer.
The upper and lower zemstvo courts were formed. The lower one was headed by the police officer, and the upper one played the role of the court of appeal. A police officer is an elected position. He was elected by the nobility of the county by secret ballot, subject to a majority vote. In addition to the captain, three zemstvo assessors were selected. The term of the court was three years. In cases of state peasants, two assessors from among the community killings were sent to court.
Report card
According to the table of ranks, the district police officer is a court adviser (seventh grade), which corresponded to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army, captain of the second rank in the fleet and army foreman among the Cossacks. Official address - Your high nobility, insignia - epaulettes with three stars or buttonholes with two gaps. Those who reached this position became hereditary nobles.
Obligations of the police officer as chairman of the zemstvo court
So who is a police officer in Russia? This is, first of all, the chairman of the county court. The competence of the zemstvo court was limited by the borders of the county, but did not extend to the city. It was the estate of the mayor. The duties of the zemstvo court and the police officer, as its chairman, included:
- Providing public order in the county.
- Monitoring the implementation of decisions of state bodies and the governor.
- Preliminary investigation of crimes.
- Fulfillment of duties of the trade police.
- Taking measures to counter the spread of epidemics.
- Monitoring performance of duties.
- Monitoring the implementation of fire fighting measures.
- Addressing food supply for county residents.
- Consideration of minor claims and minor cases.
- Beggar control.
After the approval of the Police Regulations in 1837, the posts of zemstvo police officers were introduced, therefore, the police officer was the head of the county police. In small settlements and towns, the role of the police was played by the thousand and five hundred, who were appointed by the police officer.
County Review
Interestingly, the police officer is also an inspector. His duties included reviewing the county, which he had to do twice a year. That is, he had to inspect all the services subordinate to him, the bailiffs and the entire county. Inspection must be carried out strictly according to the charter.
For the county, the police officer is a very important person. All three years, he almost single-handedly resolved all issues of citizens' security independently. They appealed to him as the last resort. In his power it was possible to stop any lawsuit, which sometimes lasted for years, to correct any injustice. How much this corresponded to reality is another conversation. Now we know the meaning of the word "police." He can be considered the most important person in the county after the governor.
Reform of 1862
It could be called enlargement, since the district police, according to the decree, was combined with the city police and became subordinate to the zemstvo police officer. This was the first person in the county with unlimited powers. The value of the police has increased markedly. Now he was not elected, but appointed by the provincial government, headed by the governor. This appointment was necessarily agreed with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. But, as we understand it, this was a formality, since the governor's word was decisive. The attitude of the people towards the police officers was intolerant. Therefore, after the February Revolution of 1917, this post was abolished.
Mountain police
Since 1880, there has been a mountain police in Russia, which controlled the mining industry. It consisted of mountain guards, they were in charge of the mountain police districts.
In addition to purely police duties, mountain police officers performed special functions assigned to them by the state. The most important included: receiving applications from industrialists for the discovery of gold placers and ore deposits; control of gold hiding or other abuses. But the main duty was to monitor the mining workers. Under the command of the police was a detachment of Cossacks.