Biography Of Allan Pinkerton

Biography Of Allan Pinkerton

Biography of Allan Pinkerton
Eric
CJS/250
June 18, 2010
David Foltzer

At the age of 35, Allan Pinkerton worked for the Chicago, Cook County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy. In addition Allan Pinkerton was contracted with the federal government to investigate numerous fraudulent and criminal activities, such as counterfeiting, protecting the post office from robbery, and special operation assignments that involved detective work. In 1855 six Midwestern railroad represenitives contacted Allan Pinkerton offering him 10 thousand dollars for his professional services to organize and develop a special police unit specifically for protecting the railroad investment. Later this special police unit became known as the “North West Police Agency” (According to Limbaugh (2010), Biography of Allan Pinkerton).

During this time public law enforcement officials had a great deal of trouble maintaining a secure-safe level of order and peace throughout most of the communities because of the increasing crime rates. Public law enforcements inability to protect and serve brought a great deal of negative attention and scrutiny upon most police departments. In return, this labeled law enforcement as an ineffective means of protection. The failure of the police was the leading factor that gave Allan Pinkerton the ideology to establish a private security business that would be capable of handling certain situations the public law enforcement previously had failed at (According to Limbaugh (2010), Biography of Allan Pinkerton).

In 1850, Allen Pinkerton founded the National Detective Agency and contracted with a variety of businesses and employed a group of individuals who were assigned to work the night shift as night watchmen to protect these businesses. The group was known as the “Pinkerton Police Patrol.” This was the start of Allan Pinkerton’s security business. Part of Allan Pinkerton’s plan was to document any criminal offense, liabilities, and security...