Police in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in the United States were ineffective and unpopular with the public because
a. the public wanted what amounted to a standing army in its cities and towns
b. police officers were often used as a source of political patronage and corruption
c. police officers were overpaid for the work they performed
d. police officers tended to be overqualified for the job

b. police officers were often used as a source of political patronage and corruption

Explanation:

In the 18th and 19th centuries, and following the decentralisation of police to city level, police had greater discretion in dealing with issues in their jurisdiction. This was meant to make crime easier to manage but instead it led to corruption.

Police became guilty of being used as a source of political patronage as well as being corrupt. As a reward for engaging in electoral fraud, the police were rewarded by the politicians they put in power by bribes and more powers at their discretion which allowed them to use force on the populace.

As a result the police were ineffective and resented by the public.