Who gives authority to a police department? Lets say a new town were to be founded somewhere in the US, how is the local law enforcement agency brought up in that town?

Question

Who ordains it? Does the town mayor have authority over who gets to enforce the law? Is it the state legislature? The governor?

In: 12

Answer 1

Town draws up a charter describing what kind of police force it will have, state legislature approves the charter, police force is established. Bing, bang, boom.