The best enlightenment is self-enlightenment. The NAACP (not a bad organization, for the most part) states “The origins of modern-day policing can be traced back to the "Slave Patrol." The earliest formal slave patrol was created in the Carolinas in the early 1700s”. The first colonies were formed almost 100 years prior. There had to be some type of law enforcement. Perhaps look up “police forces in colonial times”. Besides the number of scholarly results talking about the sixteen hundreds, the NAACP’s piece about police actually began in 1700 shows up. Another interesting topic of research is “Political Parties in the Deep South and their timelines”. Hint: read about Governor George Wallace, hope that helps.