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White Rose
Lodge #15
York City Police History
Police
Department
A Brief History of the
York City Police Department
 The
sons of William Penn, by special order, granted permission to
establish a town West of the Susquehanna River along the Codorus
Creek. The land was surveyed in 1739 and a settlement established.
When 23 lots were taken up in November of 1741. Division of a portion
of Lancaster County in 1749 established the county of York. The
Sheriff of Lancaster County was the first law enforcement official to
serve the town of York, from 1741 until 1749. The High Constable, his
assistant and a Watchman provided for law enforcement to the community
for years thereafter.
Authorized by an act of
legislature, York became a Borough in 1787. The earliest roots of the
York City Police Department can be found in a hard written record of
town meeting help on the 24th day of February 1798. An ordinance,
passed at this meeting, taxed the Borough's freeholder's (free men)
real and personal estates a sum not to exceed one hundred and fifty
dollars. The taxes collected would be applied for the support of the
Police Department.
A Nightly Watch was
established in 1803. Eight Watchmen would patrol the streets and
alleys by rotation every night, from 10 o'clock in the evening until
daylight. Watchmen would cry out the hours and always be vigilant for
fires, the greatest threat to this early community because of the many
wooded structures. The Borough High Constable oversaw the watchmen,
and Borough reports in 1855 referred to him as the "High
Constable" and "Chief of Police" interchangeably.
Communication between Watchmen was by whistle or the Police Rattle.
Watchmen summoning help could only hope another watchman in an
adjoining district would hear their call for assistance.
In
1865, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed an act, "To authorize
the appointment of sufficient Police Force for the Borough of
York". It is unclear under what authority the watchmen and police
operated prior to this act. It is clear there was a "Police
Force" before the act authorized one.
York became a city of the
third class in 1887. Prior to this time, the police dressed in a
three-piece suit and bowler hat typical of that period. The badge of
their office was worn on the coat lapel, and a number wreath was worn
on their hats. When a uniform was adopted, it was the one most
frequently associated with the early police officer, the
"Keystone Cops" style. This uniform was worn until
approximately 1910, when a more modern style was adopted.
 Before
the installation of a call box system in 1904, officers in their
districts were summoned by a flashlights system. Lights were place on
poles at intersections within their districts. These lights were
controlled from City Hall, and the officer would respond to an area of
trouble, according to the light flashing in his district. Prisoners
were walked to the police station by the arresting officer until 1895,
when a combination of horses from one of the fire companies, and each
time a prisoner was transported the fire company providing the horse
would receive $0.50 of any fine levied against the prisoner. Later
officers transported prisoners on the trolleys and in taxicabs. The
first motorized vehicle purchased by the police department was a
motorcycle in 1911. The first cars for use by the police department
were purchased in 1935, and police radios followed in 1937.
Today, York is a highly
industrialized community, with a diverse multi-cultural population of
over 43,000 residents. A modern York City Police Department with 116
sworn officers patrols the five and one half square miles of the city
and responds to over 62,000 calls for service each year. A combination
of traditional policing methods and Community Oriented Policing has
created a "working together partnership" between the
community and the police department. This partnership provides a
vehicle for residents to voice concerns in their neighborhoods, and
takes an active role in improving the quality of life where they live.
Prepared by: John A. Stine
Police Heritage Museum Website:
Http://www.policeheritagemuseum.com
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For
more interesting York City Police Department history, please visit
the Police Heritage Museum located at 54 W. Market St., York PA
17401 (717) 845-2677 |
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