HISTORY OF POSSES

The modern day Sheriff’s Posse has its roots in Saxon England over 11 centuries ago.

In those days, the Reeve was the king’s officer and representative in each shire or county.

The Shire Reeve, from which the word Sheriff has evolved, had the authority to enlist the assistance of males of the county, above the age of fifteen, to assist him in keeping the peace or in the apprehension of criminals.  

To do this, he would raise a “hue and cry” to summon residents, who were obligated to respond to the Sheriff’s call.

This group was know as the Posse Comitatus, which is Latin for “power or force of the county”.

This system was to raise a posse.

DEFINITION:

Posse Comitatus or sheriff's posse is the common-law authority of a  county sheriff or other law officer to conscript any able-bodied males to assist him in keeping the peace or to pursue and arrest a felon. Originally found in English common law, it is generally obsolete, and survives only in America, where it is the law enforcement equivalent of summoning the miltita for military purposes