HISTORY OF THE JERSEY CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

The origin of the Jersey City Police Department dates back to May 4, 1829 when by an act of municipal legislation the Board of Selectmen ordered the appointment of seven WATCHMEN.  They were provided uniforms and hats and were known as the "Jersey City Watch."  The ordinance stated, "...it shall be the duty of such WATCHMEN, occasionally to patrol the streets of this city during the night, and to arrest, and take before the proper authority, to be dealt with as the law directs, all persons who shall be found disturbing the public tranquility, or engaged in any affray, civil commotion, breach of the peace, or other disorderly or criminal act." This was actually the formal establishment of the Jersey City Police Department. On April 7, 1838 the City of Jersey City was incorporated and the Police Committee reduced the Night Watch in the city to one man per night. On April 23, 1838 the Police Committee discontinued the Night Watch all together. On August 2, 1841 the City Watch was re-established by City Ordinance. Three men were appointed Watchmen and received $32.00 each calender month.  Their duties were set forth as follows:, "Be it resolved, that the City Watchmen be, and are hereby directed, at each hour from setting of the watch, until the hour of calling, arrive to call the hour audibly, at such points of the city where they may happen to be." On May 16, 1843 street lamps were first used in Jersey City and it was the duty of the Watchmen to clean, trim and light the public lamps. On December 11, 1852 a Watch House was rented, repaired and occupied for which a yearly rent of $100.00 was paid.  It was located at the corner of Henderson and Wayne Streets.  This was the first police precinct. On September 4, 1856 the title of Watchman was changed to that of Policeman and the Captain of the Watch became known as the Chief of Police.  Thomas B. Kissam became the first Chief of Police and was responsible for the supervision and control of 22 men. On May 1, 1870 the corporate title of the City became the Mayor and Alderman of Jersey City.  The Police District was divided into four Precincts, each Precinct was headed by a Captain. On May 3, 1873 the Bertillon system of measurement and the Rogue's Gallery was installed in keeping with current advances in crime detection. On August 1, 1873 the first mounted police officer was appointed.  On January 1, 1914 the Department consisted of seven police precincts and the force numbered 508 men. On July 13, 1923 Anna May Miller-Sage was arrested along with her husband Frank Sage for the murder of three local police officers in a botched bank hold-up.  She was not convicted, but her husband was, and ultimately died in the electric chair at Trenton State Prison.  A few years later she would become known as the "Lady in Red", the woman who met John Dillinger outside the movie theatre, where he was gunned down by federal agents. In 1930 the first use of police patrol cars - as we know them today - begins.  Patrol cars were assigned to precincts to respond to calls for service, traffic and patrol duty. Prior to this, the department used "touring cars" which were used on special occassions, and for driving city and high ranking police officials.  The use of such touring cars is believed to have started in the 1920's. In March, 1932 Jersey City Police Detective Harry Walsh, a recognized criminal investigation expert, is dispatched to Trenton, NJ to assist the New Jersey State Police in their investigation of the Charles Lindbergh baby kidnapping. On March 14, 1955 the innovation of the Central Complaint Room at Headquarters was established.  It was the first such installation of its kind in the state of New Jersey. It provided for instantaneous police response to police calls of all types by electronically recording all complaints and immediately dispatching the necessary assistance. On January 7, 1957 the Jersey City Police Academy was established as the center of all recruit police training in Hudson County. Today the Jersey City Police Department consists of four precincts, refered to as Districts (North - East - South - West), an Emergency Service Bureau, K-9 Unit, Investigation Division, Juvenile Bureau, Narcotics Bureau, Robbery Squad, Support Services Bureau, Special Patrol Bureau (motorcycles), Bureau of Criminal Identification, Special Investigations Unit, and has approximately 875 sworn officers.

Roll Call at 1st Pct. circa -1887

Patrol Unit

Early Patrol and Paddy Wagon

JERSEY CITY'S POLICE DEPARTMENT