LAW ENFORCEMENT : In the earliest years of this period (1718-1800), the major law enforcement concerns were with problems relating to settling residents' disputes over land and livestock, as well as protecting the settlements from Indian attacks. During the first half of the 19th century, according to most published histories on this period, law enforcement concerns were with the protection of the residents of San Antonio from the constant threat of attack by "marauding Indians and Mexican bandits" as well as by other intruders. (Discussions of law enforcement concerns in the period 1800-1840 are included in: A. Tijerina, Tejanos & Texas under the Mexican Flag (esp. pp.86-92); as well as in histories of the earliest Texas Rangers: See: Texas Department of Public Safety, The Texas Rangers, Lone Star Junction's Texas Rangers, and in Texas A & M University's Sons of the DeWitt Colony page on Bosman Kent.)
Events relating to early law enforcement are in bold type below.

1718:

* Founding of the Royal Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar by the Viceroy of New Spain, and founding of the Mission San Antonio de Valero (later known as the "Alamo", pictured right). Spanish missionaries also founded four more missions : San Jose (1720), Conception (1731), San Juan Capistrano (1731), and San Francisco de la Espada (1731). The missions were home to Franciscan missionaries and local Native Americans from various tribes. Security and law enforcement in the area were handled by soldiers posted to the Presidio, most of whom were Mexican frontiersmen from Saltillo and other northern territories of New Spain.

1731:

* A small group of immigrants from the Canary Islands arrives and establishes the villa of San Fernando de Bexar, east of the Presidio and across the San Antonio River from the Mission San Antonio de Valero. The King of Spain granted the settlers a charter and permission to organize a cabildo or ayuntamiento (town council), which included the first official law officer in San Antonio, the alguacil (constable or sheriff), Vicente Alvarez Traviesco, then 26 years of age. The Canary Islanders marked off their "Plaza de las Islas" (now Main Plaza) and constructed the first cathedral in Texas, San Fernando.

1749:

* The Spanish Governor's Palace (left), begun by the Canary Islanders in 1722, was completed in 1749, and was the residence of the captain of the Presidio. The "Palace" faces the Plaza de Armas (Military Plaza). In 1772 San Antonio became Spain's capital in Texas and the building housed the Spanish governor. Later, the palace complex is also believed to have served to house other administrative functions, including the jail of the Ciudad de San Fernando de Bexar

1803:	* La Segunda Compania Volante de San Carlos de Parras (Alamo de Parras), a company of one hundred Spanish Colonial mounted lancers, arrives in San Antonio to bolster the local garrison and provide increased protection from Indians, reduce theft of livestock, and curtail smuggling. The Alamo de Parras company, who were originally from the Coahuilan pueblo of San Jose y Santiago del Alamo de Parras, stayed in San Antonio for 32 years, and gave their name to the former Mission de Valero - the Alamo - where they resided with their families. Many later settled in the area of San Antonio now known as La Villita.
1811:	* Mexico declares independence from Spain; achieves final independence in 1821, and San Fernando de Bexar then comes under the rule of Mexico.
1820:	* POPULATION : The official census of Bexar lists the population as 1,814 persons.
1820s:	* The ayuntamiento of the villa of San Fernando de Bexar appointed a committee of six to ten men, called a "ronda", to patrol the streets of the villa twice a week, from 9 pm to 3 am, for security purposes and public order.
1821:	* Stephen F. Austin assumed contract as developer of settlements in Mexican province of Texas.
1823:	* Austin was authorized by the Mexican government to form a militia to ward off Indian raids, capture criminals, and patrol against intruders. (Some trace the beginnings of the Texas Rangers to this time.)
1826:	* Regulations for Presidios transfered responsibility for local defense and security from the national government to states and municipalities. The Bexar ayuntamiento created a citizen militia to protect against Comanche raids.
1830:	* February, 1830 : The Police Chief (Jefe de Polica de la Ciudad de San Fernando de Bejar), Ramon Musquiz, issues a notice calling on all citizens to arrest and bring before proper authorities anyone who commits a crime, and - in particular - anyone who steals from Comanche families while they are visiting San Antonio. (Bexar Archives document.)
1830:	* April, 1830 : Mexico forbids further immigration to Texas by settlers from the United States.
1836:	* Battles between Texans and Mexican government fought at Alamo and, finally, at San Jacinto. * Founding of the Republic of Texas. Texas Constitution adopted at Washington on the Brazos 3/17/1836.