Cincinnati Police Department History – 1950 to 1974

image_print

gcphslogow

The Greater Cincinnati Police Museum

“Preserving the History of Law Enforcement in the Greater Cincinnati Area”

 


 

  Cincinnati Police Department History – 1950 to 1974
1950
City population – 503,998
1950
Late
District 6 opened at 3295 Erie Avenue
1951
Schrotel, Col. Stanley R.
Chief (25th), to 1967, 15 years, 6 months
1951
Motor Transportation Bureau dissolved
1951
Supervising Police Captain established, by ordinance, making possible the interchange of top supervisory personnel of the Highway Safety Bureau, Crime Bureau, Police Training School, and Police Inspector as Night Chief.
1951
Traffic Enforcement Bulletin, to identify high accident locations, established
1951
Vice Squad established
1951
Work week reduced from 48 to 44 hours
1952
Court time for Common Pleas and Grand Jury appearances changed to monetary compensation
1952
1-Feb
Radar first used in apprehension of speeders
1952
Highway Safety Bureau moved into vacated Room 6 in basement of City Hall
1952
Juvenile Complaint Memorandum initiated and all contacts with juveniles combined into a central index by the Youth Aid Bureau
1952
Police Academy renamed from Police Training School and moved from City Hall to District Two, 2nd Floor, at Arch Street and Broadway
1952
Uniform Allowance of $65.00 annually was established
1952
1953
“Play it Safe” conducted in elementary schools and televised
1953
Personnel service records improved to include complete history of each member
1954
Patrol Cars: Motor patrol units, for first time, were all equipped with two-way radios
1954
Portable inspection lane for bicycles built and taken to strategic points for the promotion of bicycle safety.
1954
Superintendent of the Patrol Bureau established with all district operations under direction of Supervising Police Captain reducing chief’s span of control and intention to create a closer unity of Patrol Bureau performance
1954
Target Range on Wright Highway equipped with electric to provide training facilities comparable to those of the FBI
1955
Deputy Inspector classification established, changed from Night Chief, reporting to Inspection Bureau Commander
1955
20-Jun
Police Cadet classification established
1955
District 4 opened at a remodeled building at 7017 Vine Street in Carthage
1955
District 5 temporarily moved to old District 1 building at 1024 York Street due to demolition of building at 3478 Colerain Avenue to make way for Millcreek Expressway
1955
District 7 built new garage at 813 Beecher for purposes of washing and repairing patrol cars
1955
District boundaries realigned
1955
Headquarters moves to 310 Lincoln Park Drive with Juvenile Bureau, Traffic Bureau, and District one.
1955
Identification Section transferred to Service Bureau from Crime Bureau
1955
Notice to Appear and Notice of Referral combined to one form to utilize service of Youth Aid Bureau for follow-up investigation and disposition of cases
1955
Polygraph Operator position established
1955
Reorganization of division creating eight bureaus reporting to the chief, Supervising Police Captain position abolished in lieu of six assistant police chief positions to command six of the bureaus
1956
1-Apr
Work week reduced from 44 hours to 40
1957
Disciplinary board established consisting of personnel of all ranks to review major disciplinary problems
1957
Dec
District 5 opened new station house at 1012 Ludlow Avenue
1957
Interceptors (minimally marked, high power patrol vehicles) established to deal with deliberate traffic violators
1957
Motorcycle patrolmen issued safety helmets and more readily identifiable uniforms resulting in few injuries and better reactions from the public
1957
Tour program established by Youth Aid Bureau to better acquaint citizens with police facilities and operations
1957
Training program initiated and equipment furnished for mass fingerprinting of disaster victims
1958
District 5 opens indoor pistol range
1958
Field Interrogation Report established
1958
Mehring, Lt. Art, Broadcaster
Helicopter traffic initiated for one hour each morning and each afternoon
1958
Juvenile Bureau renamed from Youth Aid Bureau
1958
Patrol Cars: Electronic sirens replace mechanical sirens and can be used as public address system and to amplify radio for officers away from their cars
1958
Photographic copying machine installed and “in its first full year of operation… completely justified its installation”
1958
Police Science course instituted by Chase College in cooperation by Personnel Bureau
1958
Property Room improved with increased security, an alarm, and steel gratings.
1958
Tactical Squad reactivated to deal with crime experience in “one of [the] changing suburban areas”
1959
Crime Bureau approved for additional space in City Hall for interrogation rooms and office space for Robbery and Burglary Squads
1959
Apr
Tactical Unit formally established as separate unit from Patrol Bureau and included 1 sergeant and 10 patrolmen
1959
Crime Bureau purchased an additional camera for use by specialized squads, a hand vacuum machine to aid in the collection of evidence, and a miniature portable recorder for field use
1959
Crime Scene Search Kit developed by Burglary Squad to improve searches at crime scenes
1959
Guiler File of wanted persons installed as division standard
1959
Patrol Cars: Compact cars (30) placed into service for special assignment duty and improved efficiency
1959
Recruiting: Statute passed that only high school graduates may become policemen
1960
28-Nov
McNair, Sgt. George, Supervisor
Canine Unit deployed after a 15 week training course. Four compact station wagons with two-frequency radios, assigned and portable transistor receivers furnished for their patrol on foot, Ptl., Thomas Harvey and K9 Smokey and Arno
1960
Hamilton County Quadrant System established by the Hamilton County Police Association
1960
Power-driven rotary file system replace file drawers and is precursor to a master name index
1960
Uniforms issued, including replacement parts, and uniform allowance discontinued
1961
Cameras: Press-type cameras purchased for Traffic and Crime Bureaus
1961
4-Apr
Handcuffs: City buys handcuffs for department
1961
Firearms Training Program incorporates more double-action shooting for more realistic training
1961
Interceptors introduced to replace motorcycles
1961
Juvenile Bureau establishes offense file, by district, of juveniles who commit Auto Larceny, Burglary, purse snatching, robbery, and sex offenses
1961
Motorcycles, two-wheel, phased out due to high injuries
1961
Polygraph Operator civilianized with a civilian holding an M.A. in psychology
1961
Resuscitators furnished in a scout car in each of three suburban districts and standard first aid kits furnished for all other scout cars
1961
Transportation Section Procedure Manual published , copies to all division members
1962
Impound Lot moved to Fourteenth Street and Central Avenue
1962
Motorcycles: Servi-cars (three wheeled) reduced from eleven to eight and three additional patrol vehicles purchased
1962
Recruiting: Psychologist used to develop profile of attributes that police recruits should possess
1963
Color photographs of some suspects taken for easier identification by witnesses
1963
Police Science Program initiated at the University of Cincinnati
1963
Procedure Manual, containing standard operating procedures, and Operations Manual for Crowd Control issued to each member
1963
Uniform shirts improved and more comfortable winter headgear issued to traffic personnel
1964
Cameras: Two purchased for Traffic Bureau cars assigned exclusively to the expressway patrol
1964
5-Jul
District boundaries realigned
1964
District 7: First floor renovated and interview room added
1964
Firearms Training augmented with color-sound film to “place” officers a stress situation presenting them with a variety of situation in which accurate shooting is coupled with decision making in field of legality and safety
1964
Inspection Bureau augmented with a second captain assigned as deputy night inspector
1964
Patrol Wagons: increased by one, Patrol 7, and based at District 7
1964
Riot helmets purchased and issued 450 field personnel, as well as additional handcuffs, 25 “Handi-Talki” radios, extra stores of ammunition and tear gas, and training given in crowd control at the Target Range, all due to rising tide of unrest nationwide
1965
Block Parents Program developed by the Juvenile Bureau and staffed by the Parents Teachers Association with purpose to provide a “house of refuge” for juveniles for emergencies
1965
Jan
Master Name File activated and all reporting procedures transferred tot he Records Section, which began providing round-the-clock services
1965
Jul
District 2 piloted a program of “Troubled Children Under Twelve” and it expanded to all districts
1965
Dispatch: Station X increased its complement by four sergeants
1965
Police Community Relations Program developed under sponsorship of National Conference of Christians and Jews.
1966
13-Oct
Cincinnati Strangler case caused deployment of the division in 12-hour shifts for part of the year
1966
14-Mar
Tactical Unit established
1966
7-Aug
Reis, Elmer, Commander
Community Relations Bureau established
1966
Bolex 16mm movie camera with zoom lens and lighting equipment and three Polaroid cameras purchased
1966
Dispatch: Communications Center improved with the reorganization of consoles and 10 lines now coming into each.
1966
District 2 basement remodeled and to be used for storage and distribution of police equipment, uniform items, and firearms.
1966
Police Specialist classification established and detective allowed to fade out by attrition
1966
Public Utility employees empowered to assist Police Division with overtime parking enforcement
1967
Schott, Col. Jacob W.
Chief (26th), to 1971, 3 years, 10 months, died of heart attack
1967
Oct
School Resource Officer Program established with 7 officers being assigned to Juvenile Bureau to provide service to 96 public and 60 parochial schools in the city
1967
Cincinnati General Hospital and Cincinnati Police were connected by a direct telephone line installed by the Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company to maintain liaison with the hospital reference their capabilities to handle injured and sick cases
1967
Community Relations Section expanded from District Four to Districts Seven and Two
1967
Deputy Patrol Bureau Commander classification, a captain, created to control activities of the Patrol Bureau during the night season.
1967
Dispatch: Station X established the “Emergency Operational” system whereby one person dispatches and all other personnel answer telephone calls
1967
Identification Section came under the charge of a Lieutenant
1967
Patrol Cars: color changed from dark blue to light (City) blue
1967
Patrol Cars: complement increased by 14 cars
1967
Police Cadets began working as co-op students, alternating between working in the Division and attending college
1967
Riots caused the Division to deploy personnel in 12-hours shifts at times
1968
Female Impersonator file established at the Identification Section
1968
Patrol Cars: purchased with automatic transmissions, four doors, and eight cylinder engines. Station wagons equipped with studded snow tires during Winter
1968
Uniforms included short sleeve summer shirts
1969
Administrative Assistant to the Chief established to keep abreast of the changing methods and equipment and develop procedures for the Division.
1969
Aug
District 1 construction began, at 310 Lincoln Park Drive, completing the second floor and adding a third.
1969
Dec
Functions, except detention, move from City Hall to Alms and Doepke Building, 1st, 5th, and 6th floors, 222 E. Central Parkway, including Identification, Records, Crime Bureau, Property Room, Sow-up, Prosecutors Offices, and Criminal and Traffic Courts
1969
Administrative Service Bureau renamed from Personnel Bureau and includes personnel, training, fiscal, and property management
1969
Crime Lab: Hamilton County Coroner’s Office begins providing facilitates and equipment for firearms examination and evidence analysis.
1969
Crime Prevention Bureau was established with Community Relations and Juvenile
1969
Field Operations Bureau is established and combined the former Patrol, Traffic, and Crime Bureaus.
1969
Human Relations Training provided at Xavier University for all district supervisors and specialists
1969
Internal Investigations Section is established and brought under the Inspections Service Bureau, renamed from Inspection Bureau
1969
Preventative Service Section established to participate in public education programs aimed at reducing crime.
1969
Regional Computer Information Center established offering the county-wide police community rapid retrieval of critical police information, including state and national systems
1969
Technical Service Bureau established and contained Communications, Identification, Records, and Central Station.
1970
District 1 and District 2, both downtown districts, merge into one district at 310 Lincoln Park Drive, leaving 314 Broadway to Training and Fiscal and Property Management
1970
Motor Scooters purchased for patrolling downtown area
1970
Pack, Elizabeth
Policewomen: Cincinnati’s first policewoman retired on full length of service.
1970
Policewomen: First to wear a uniform assigned to Community Relations Section to better emphasize her role in public Relations for recruitment of policewomen
1971
10-Feb
Goodin, Col. Carl V.
Chief (27th), to December 14, 1975
1971
6-May
Police-Clergy team formed of clergy from around the city on a on call basis to assist in family trouble runs, suicides, and other incidents deemed advisable by officers
1971
27-Aug
Miracode System established at Criminalistics Section to help identify suspects of crimes.
1971
Community Sector (Com-Sec) policing established with $478,100 Ford foundation grant
1971
Dispatch: Communications operations moved from Eden Park to 310 Lincoln Park Drive and renamed CinCom, had six channels installed by Motorola in the ultra high frequency range and new portable radios replacing car radios
1971
District 1 transformed to Community Sector (ComSec) policing to provide for policing on a closer basis with the community, police officers take all calls within a sector
1971
Emergency number changed from 241-1212 to 765-1212
1971
Uniform changes, first since 1927, included a new Eisenhower jacket for use with the new radios, new gun belts and holsters also issued.
1972
Police-University of Cincinnati Consortium started, pooling resources of the police division and the university — the first of its kind in the country.
1972
23-Jul
Police Cadet program enhanced to include portions of Recruit Training between work and college quarters.
1972
Carl Lind, PMB Director
Program Management Bureau established with civilian head
1972
Patrol Cars: American Motors Matadors w/ 360 cu.in. engines purchased.
1974
Patrol Cars: American Motors Matadors w/ 360 cu.in. engines purchased.

 

 

<<Back Index and References Forward>>