DURING HIS CAREER, WILSON SERVED AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THREE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, BUT HIS IMPACT WAS ON THE INSTITUTION OF AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT, RATHER THAN ON A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR DEPARTMENTS IN A SINGLE REGION OF THE COUNTRY. ALL OF WILSON'S REFORM EFFORTS WERE DIRECTED TOWARD ESTABLISHING A POLICE PROFESSION.
On June 3, 1916, United States President Woodrow Wilson signs into law the National Defense Act, which expanded the size and scope of the National Guard—the network of states’ militias that had been developing steadily since colonial times—and guaranteed its status as the nation’s permanent reserve force.
In the first half of 1916, however, with forces from the regular U.S. Army as well as the National Guard called out to face Mexican rebel leader Pancho Villa during his raids on states in the American Southwest, Wilson and Congress saw the need to reinforce the nation’s armed forces and increase U.S. military preparedness.
Also in June 1916, Wilson secured passage of the Naval Appropriations Act, which set out to create a U.S. Navy equal to the most powerful in the world—Britain’s—by 1925. That November, Wilson was re-elected with the campaign slogan, "He kept us out of the war."
The National Defense Act also set qualifications for National Guard officers, allowing them to attend Army schools; all National Guard units would now be organized according to the standards of regular Army units.
Finally, the National Defense Act formally established the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) to train and prepare high school and college students for Army service. Also in June 1916, Wilson secured passage of the Naval Appropriations Act, which set out to create a U.S. Navy equal to the most powerful in the world—Britain’s—by 1925.
The National Defense Act, ratified by Congress in May 1916 and signed by Wilson on June 3, brought the states’ militias more under federal control and gave the president authority, in case of war or national emergency, to mobilize the National Guard for the duration of the emergency.
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signs National Defense Act. On June 3, 1916, United States President Woodrow Wilson signs into law the National Defense Act, which expanded the size and scope of the National Guard—the network of states’ militias that had been developing steadily since colonial times—and guaranteed its status as ...
The non-indictment of officer Darren Wilson suggests that at least four members of the 12-person grand jury considering his case did not believe that Michael Brown stopped and surrendered with his hands up after fleeing a struggle at Wilson’s SUV, as several witnesses and protesters in Ferguson have always claimed.
Missouri law states that anyone, including a police officer, may use deadly force against someone else if “he or she reasonably believes” this is “necessary to protect himself, or herself or her unborn child, or another against death, serious physical injury, or any forcible felony”. Similar state laws, rooted in English common law, are in place around the US.