Throughout history, community order has largely grown out of the cooperation and effectiveness of individuals, schools, families, and the strength and local institutions. The police have been there not to maintain order, or even to define it, but to assist and protect the community and to intervene in those rare cases the normal community systems can't handle. One should not expect the fire department to come over and cook your dinner safely or light the logs in your fireplace; nor should one expect the police to replace the normal functions of individuals, families, and community institutions. Yet that is precisely what we have done.
-- Sam Smith, Progressive Review
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