California State Rangers

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The California State Rangers was California's first state wide law enforcement agency formed in 1854 to deal with gangs during the mid 1850s. The force was disbanded and officers later formed the California State Police. A shooting club called the California Rangers honors the original agency.

[edit] History

The agency was created in 1854 when the California State Legislature, with the approval of California Governor John Bigler, authorized a law enforcement body of 20 men to kill or capture the Mexican bandit Joaquin Murrieta and his gang.

The State Rangers killed Murrieta and his accomplice “Three Finger Jack”, and displayed Murrieta’s head and Jack’s hand for public viewing.

Eventually the State Rangers were disbanded, however Captain Harry Love and another ranger stayed on at the state capitol building to form the California State Police. The California State Police officially became a division in 1887 and was merged with the California Highway Patrol in 1995.