The new “Patrol Trooper” from Solo is on screen only a moment but I absolutely love this trooper. Why? Simple… they are the first real “cops” in the Star Wars universe.
Sure the sandtroopers are in the “MEPD” (Mos Eisley Police Department) but Tatooine was an occupied world — it wasn’t an Imperial World “member.”
Occupied Worlds of the Galactic Empire
At its peak the Galactic Empire’s territory consisted of some one and a half million member and conquered worlds, as well as sixty-nine million colonies, protectorates and puppet states spread throughout the entire galaxy, stretching from the borders of the Deep Core to at least Wild Space.
But while that number of Imperial member worlds is massive most of the planets we see in the Star Wars films fall under the lesser values of those classifications; they are “occupied worlds” and such. So, just like the U.S. military occupying a territory in another country brings hatred toward the soldiers and to the country they’re from, so the stormtroopers — the “military” of the Empire — are hated by the inhabitants of those planets. Sometimes it’s shown as terrorism such as on Jedha, sometimes it’s all out war like on Mimban. But the worlds that are “all in” with the Empire, the member worlds, are rarely seen and when they are they’re seen from the point of view of the upper and middle class. So there’s no reason to see any enforcement officers at all.
Corellia – Core World of the Galactic Empire
Corellia is a member world. The Empire isn’t just occupying it. It is “America” of the Star Wars universe… no need for military troops on the streets. Since the evil rebellion have been successful in some attacks of terrorism the ports are more tightly secured and we see stormtroopers there. The streets, however, are patrolled by the “beat cops” just like here in America. No scouting, no shores to troop, nothing but a good old cops doing their jobs to keep the peace from local criminals and lowlifes.
That’s cool to me… and that’s why I love Patrol Troopers.