Halachic Police Officers: Brandishing Batons or Keeping the Peace?

Whence do we deduce the appointment of Shotrim for Israel? — From the same verse, Shotrim shalt thou make thee...And the appointment of Shotrim for each tribe? — From the words, Shotrim… for thy tribes.

(6) And the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying:

(6) הנוגשים, the more senior officials in charge of the lower echelon of overseers. The relationship between שוטרים and נוגשים is somewhat similar to that between שופטים and שוטרים, judges who make the rules and police who enforce these rules. (Deuteronomy 16,18)

In addition, inspectors are appointed to visit the markets and inspect peoples' business practices, in order to insure that even the slightest injustice does not occur.

The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement, "Appoint yourselves judges and police for all your settlements [that G‑d your L‑rd is giving you for your tribes, and they shall judge the people...]."

To appoint Judges and Shotrim: To appoint judges and Shotrim that would enforce the performance of the positive commandments..and similar to this appoint Nogsim in the nation that go around in the city to the markets and the streets, inspect people's practices in their transactions both selling and buying, until there is no injustice among them, and even in small matters.

It is known that Moshe had previously had with him Shotrim who enforced the law among the people to bring the sued parties before him and to press them with verdicts. However, Moshe increased their number along with these newly appointed judges and therefore it states in Deuteronomy.

It is a positive Scriptural commandment to appoint judges and enforcement officers in every city and in every region, as Deuteronomy 16:18 states: "Appoint judges and enforcement officers in all your gates."

"Judges" refers to magistrates whose attendance is fixed in court, before whom the litigants appear. "Enforcement officers" refers to those equipped with a billet and a lash who stand before the judges and patrol the market places and the streets to inspect the stores and to regulate the prices and the measures. They inflict corporal punishment on all offenders. Their deeds are controlled entirely by the judges.

Whenever a person is seen perpetrating injustice, they should bring his to the court, where he will be judged according to his wickedness.

Judges and Shotrim: There is no doubt that the Shotrim are not the messengers of Beis Din who chastised with the stick. Because in Egypt those who punished with the stick were called Nogsim, not Shotrim. And earlier on it says, "So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and full of knowledge, and made them heads over you" etc. and Shotrim, in Divrei Hayamim Bet 19:11, "And, behold, Amariah the chief priest...and Zebadiah the ruler...also the officers of the Levites before you, And all Israel, and their elders and officers, and their judges," And here the judges are judging in matter between a man and his fellow, or in the instance when witnesses testify regarding a man that sinned, and the Shotrim are the overseers of the peace of the nation and those who make decrees and customs on the nation.

(3) Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it; but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release.

(6) When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait—for the people were distressed—then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in holds, and in pits.

(35) And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh; he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-necoh.

(4) that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say: How hath the oppressor ceased! The exactress of gold ceased!

(16) And the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Gather unto Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with thee.

(15) So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and full of knowledge, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, tribe by tribe.

(5) And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying: ‘What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.

(10) Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying:

The Shoftim and Shotrim. Shoftim, these are the judges. Shotrim, these are the magistrates that lead the congregation. Rabbi Elazar says, if there is not officer there is no judge. How so? When a person is obligated by Beis Din to his friend, if there is no Shoter to take it from him, one he leaves the judge, there is no doubt that the court cannot do anything. Rather, if there is a Shoter, and the Shoter takes it from him. Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat says, Had it not been for Yoav, Dabid would not have been able to do judgment. And so the Torah says, And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army." And so David an Yoav judged together. Rather, anyone who does not listen to judgement, is turned over to the hands of Yoav and he takes it from him against his will.