Cincinnati Police Department History – 1900 to 1924

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The Greater Cincinnati Police Museum

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

 


 

Cincinnati Police Department History – 1900 to 1924
1900
Complement – 528
1900
Arrests: 13,291: 6,863 white and 2,720 black Americans, 1146 Irish, 1218 Germans, 416 English, 192 Italians, 146 Russians, 139 Scotts, 96 Swiss, 66 Polls, 65 Greeks, 74 Wales, 56 Canadians, 52 French, 19 Chinese, 13 Spanish: 9927 male, 3364 female
1900
Arrests: 13,291; 405 felony, 9554 misdemeanor, 2592 safekeeping, 58 Lunacy, 440 Suspicion, 33 fugitives from justice, 209 held for other authorities
1901
Personnel jackets made up for individual members
1902
Police Department put under Civil Service rules
4
1903
3-Mar
Milliken, Col. Paul M.
Chief, to 1910, 7 years, 6 months
3
1903
Board of Public Safety formed by members of Board of Police and Board of Fire Commissioners and the rank of chief was re-established
1903
Police Department put in charge of Board of Public Safety, appointed by the mayor
4
1904
Fingerprint use adopted, shortly after introduction into this country
1904
McDermott, William H.
Mounted: First mounted officer to direct traffic. Promoted to Sergeant 1930. Retired 1942. Died 1964.
1909
Board of Public Safety abolished and Director of Public Safety appointed to assume charge of Police, Fire, and welfare of other safety functions
1909
Patrol Wagons: First motorized patrol wagon purchased
1910
15-Oct
Jackson, Col. William H.
Chief, to 1912, 1 year, 4 months
3
1910
City population – 363,581
1910
Civil Service Law, Board of Civil Service Commissioners, and Civil Service Examiner established reinforcing the merit system for appointments and promotions.
1910
Complement – 643, patrolled 49 square miles.
1911
Jan
Corbin, Night Chief
Night Chief died at the great Chamber of Commerce fire
4
1911
Calls for service 1,081,922 handled by the Police Telephone and Signal Service
1911
Motorcycles: First purchased
1911
Krumpe, LT
Night Chief
4
1912
3-Sep
Ordinance passed to regulate traffic
1912
Complement — 627 — 1 chief, 3 inspectors, 21 lieutenants, 32 sergeants, 10 corporals, 457 patrolmen, 36 station house keepers, 30 drivers, 4 matrons, 7 detectives, 17 acting detectives, 9 court officers.
1912
29-Mar
Copeland, Col. William
Chief, to 1935, 22 years, 8 months
3
1912
Bureau of Identification established to replace Bertillon Department due to increasing use of fingerprints as a system of identification.
1912
Military drill and target practice required
1912
Military organization introduced, including ten regular and two provisional companies, a mounted troop, and a recruit squad, all organized in accordance with U.S. Army regulations.
1912
Patrol Cars: First 7 purchased with intent to replace the 10 horse patrols
1912
Pawn broker’ reports revised and a card-indexing of all articles pawn kept for ready reference
1912
Traffic Squad formed
1913
Horse Drawn Vehicles: Last one discarded
1913
Motorcycles introduced (2nd report)
1914
Patrol Cars: Critical increase in mileage of the patrol service due to hospital ambulance service which caused concerns that an additional motorized patrol company may be necessary to meet the demand
1914
Substitute patrolmen formed into classes and drilled weekly in tactics and instructed in the rules and regulations of the department, laws of the state, and ordinances of the city
1915
Feb
Kane, Major Michael, Commander
Director of School of Instructions where personnel required to report at regular intervals for instructions.
1915
Ordinance passed abolishing position of Patrol Wagon Driver, these men becoming patrolman, increasing number of lieutenants, and allowing corporal rank to “die out” by attrition.
1916
Arrests: 26,066: 1706 felony, 20,087 misdemeanor, 4205 safekeeping, 68 Lunacy.
1916
Complement – 727
1916
Crime Reports: 373 Burglary, 3199 Larceny, 264 Housebreaking, 53 Murders/Homicides, 200 Robbery, 6 Rape, 211 Cut, 99 Shot, 10 Assault to Rape, 6 Assault to Kill, 24 assault to Rob.
1916
Felony Arrests: 166 Felonious Assault, 98 Carrying Concealed Weapons, 9 Manslaughter, 54 Murder, 17 Pocket picking, 12 Rape, 45 Robbery, 56 Burglary, 9 Housebreaking, 712 Petit Larceny, 106 Grand Larceny, 2 Horse Stealing, 9 Forgery, 47 Embezzlement
1916
Misdemeanor Arrests: 119 Malicious Destruction of Property, 31 Participating in proceeds of Prostitution, 4205 Safekeeping, 2861 Auto law and traffic regulation, 189 Liquor License Laws, 2589 Miscellaneous.
1916
Misdemeanor Arrests: 870 Assault, 247 Abusing Family, 2075 Prostitution, 4735 Disorderly Conduct, 2485 Drunk, 463 Failure to Provide, 513 Fornication/Adultery, 746 Gaming, 162 Harboring Lewd Women and Renting Rooms for Immoral Purposes, 1392 Loitering
1916
Murders: 29 whites; 28 male, 1 female; 29 blacks; 24 male, 5 female
1916
Persons Assisted: 300 Cut and shot, 218 Assaulted, 92 Attempt Suicide, 18 Drowned, 285 Found Dead, 1956 Injured by accident, 1 rescued from drowning, 1694 Sick, 39 Suicide.
1918
13-Sep
Strike over wages and suspension of five patrolmen. Chief Copeland and Mayor Galvin. Cincinnati Home Guard called to patrol the city. Strike lasted 3 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Monday.
1920
City population – 401,247
1920
Complement – 696
1924
Patrol Cars: Horses replaced by roadster-type vehicles

 

 

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