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The Greater Cincinnati Police Museum
“Preserving the History of Law Enforcement in the Greater Cincinnati Area”
The Museum houses the largest American Detective Badge collection in the nation; and probably the world.
The Hamilton County Police Association has been a very important promoter of law enforcement educational television and Countywide policy, technology, and cooperation.
A tour of the museum will walk you back in time through its numerous displays. Docents include active or retired police officers and civilians who will share their memories with you.
District One Sergeants desk from York Street Station
“Handsome” is the first unofficial, self-taught canine of the Cincinnati Police Department. He was so respected, the Police Chief would let him ride in his car during parades..
Laying of the Wreath
, Curator, Detective Dic Gross, at the front door, welcomes a special group tour. Special group tours are always welcome and available by appointment.
Major John Seebohm marched in Police Memorial Parades, in uniform, until his death at 94. He also made the very last call box call at 92.
“Blotter Desk”, circa 1890, where the blotter (diary) of each station was kept. This one was restored to original condition and now holds the museum blotter.
The Director of the FBI loaned to the Museum a portion of their artifacts on a long-term basis.
Active Cincinnati Police Lieutenant is another docent and serves as the Greater Cincinnati Police Historical Society’s president.
The museum has collected a sampling of the firearms used by area law enforcement from the 19th Century to present.
Many riots occurred over the years in Cincinnat, but none more deadly than the Courthouse Riot of 1884.
Display of murder weapons from the personal collection of noted local defense attorney William Foster “Foss” Hopkins.
Weaponology- shows many of the weapons used by local law enforcement in doing their job everyday.
Three of the departments represented in the Museum including the state patrols in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
Our communications display shows how far technology has advanced the methods used to dispatch police, a vital tool in today’s law enforcement community.
The sergeants of Cincinnati’s Fifth Police District in 1890: John H. Kiffmeyer, Louis Schmitt, and Edward C. “Doc” Hill. Sergeant Hill was called upon to portray Santa Claus at Christmas.
A 1965 Harley Davidson Electra-Glide “Police Special” formerly in the fleet of the Newport, Kentucky, Police Department. The odometer shows 39,000 miles.
Pictures of our protectors in times gone by. Times have changed. Imagine what the stories are behind each photo.
Were you aware that the Cincinnati Police Department at one time sponsored a team of semi-professional baseball players?
Displays include depictions of what it took to protect our territorities in times long ago. Many police officers today will recognize the historical items on display in our musuem.
Collectors have loaned their caches of badge and patch collections to the museum to share with our visitors.
Retired Cincinnati Lieutenant Steve Kramer is a very knowledgeable docent and formerly served as Museum Director.
The Memorial Wall commemorates those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice
A base station from Woodlawn PD.
Modern uniforms of many of the 100+ police agencies represented by the Museum
See the transition from the old to the new styles of uniforms while learning about the men and women who wore them.