Federal policing

John Dillinger (source FBI)

There is an interesting story in the Guardian today from its archives, recounting the end of American gangster John Dillinger, as reported on 24 July 1934. Read it here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2008/jul/24/5

One of the difficulties law enforcement encountered in dealing with Dillinger (style guides recommend referring to him as Mr Dillinger, but I find that rather hard) was the fragmentation of the police forces between the different states, and their coordination with the federal police. (The FBI was founded the following year.) The problem of inter-state coordination to enforce the law is one we still live with today.

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