The Cheka was the secret police of the Galactic Republic. It was formed around 35 BBY, since the Republic Special Operations Command was growing too corrupt and independent for the Galactic Senate's liking. After serving as law enforcement agents, as special police units, to be more precise, during the Clone Wars, and were disbanded afterwards. Their ideas lived on, however. A former Cheka officer, Vladimir Koslov, was appointed the Director of the Imperial State Security Committee, the Galactic Empire's secret police formed by direct order of Emperor Palpatine.