Police

[Joseph Rodgers]

I have been looking for info on police and police uniforms during the civil war - I know Richmond expanded their police department to handle the influx of people 1861-1865 but I can't find anything on uniforms. Also interested in the other lage cities that experienced growth and Washington DC

[With All Due Respect]

Joseph:

You may be interested in the "1860's Metropolitan Police Hat" offered by Nick Sekela (see www.njsekela.com).

Andy Conlon
proprietor of The Rest

[Pvt Schnapps]

Good question. Try an advanced search on Google Books for "metropolitan police" with the city name as a required word and options for "uniform," "coat," &c.

Doing this I found the following for Washington City: http://books.google.com/books?id=CMlBAAAAYAAJ&dq=washington%20%22metropolitan%20police%22%20unif orm%20OR%20coat%20OR%20jacket%20OR%20uniforms&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1840&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1900&as_brr=1&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q=washington%20%22metropolitan%20police%22%20unifo rm%20OR%20coat%20OR%20jacket%20OR%20uniforms&f=false

The Auxiliary Guard established in 1842 had a uniform of a gray coat with brass buttons marked "AG." The metropolitan police established in 1861 had a uniform of a blue frock coat and trousers with a white stripe, and a cloth cap with a badge marked "city police."

I believe there's a lot more info out there for New York. I didn't try Richmond.

Good luck, and let us know what you find!

[bizzilizzit]

I have been looking for info on police and police uniforms during the civil war - I know Richmond expanded their police department to handle the influx of people 1861-1865 but I can't find anything on uniforms. Also interested in the other lage cities that experienced growth and Washington DC

How about this:
http://www.nycpolicemuseum.org/

[Joseph Rodgers]

Doing this I found the following for Washington City:

Thanks to all - I have been searching around google for a few weeks off and on but I was able to download this book - 500+ pages written in 1891 I think - What a treasure trove it may be

[tnyankee]

I do remember watching something a while ago that discussed police during the war. The description was that many looked like British Bobbies and therefore were teased about their uniforms and began to ditch them for simpler civilian clothes and would still wear their badges made of copper. This is how they became known as "Coppers".... over time they simply became known as "Cops". This probably isn't too helpful as for uniforms but I always found that interesting.

Tony DiMaiolo

[daveproc26]

Did you try the Virginia Fire and Police Museum?
200 W. Marshall Street Richmond, VA 23220
Tel: 804-644-1849

[sbl]

The previous posters have given great sources. I used the NYPD site a while back for my Police kit. Sorry I don't have a better photo of it.

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u100/sbl1952/SCOTTLcopy.jpg

Much of the hardware is available in reproduction including generic "Police" badges, caps (I have a USN cap variant, the higher crown version would be better than mine) stamped buttons with "P" in brass or "silver" and "police" belt buckles. Repro-period whistles are easy to get.

[Justin Runyon]

Sorry, no provenance on the image, but it's a great one none the less.

[sbl]

That's the cap I'd want.

[Sam Harrelson]

Did you try the Virginia Fire and Police Museum?
200 W. Marshall Street Richmond, VA 23220
Tel: 804-644-1849

This place is an art gallery/ punk venue now. I live a few blocks away from it. It is called Gallery 5. They might be able to tell you where the museum relocated.

[Bummer]

Believe it or not I have in my collection of stuff a quite moth eaten original 1860's Phila. police frock coat. I don't have it in front of me, but as I remember, it is double breasted 7 button front (I at first hoped it to be a field grade army officer's frock but was immensely disappointed) but with a fall collar. The material is not the same as Union army cloth either but rather slightly coarser. The shield (badge) was pinned directly to the coat many times and wore numerous holes as it was pinned again and again.
I wish I could take photos of it, but if there is any serious interest I will be glad to dig it out (I am in the process of moving so it might take a bit) and get better descriptions and measurements if wanted.

[pvt t a white]

I suggest contacting the DC Historical Society. DC was a city and county during the War, thus there may have been two separate police forces or the city police and the US Marshalls for the county.

Pvt T A White

[Joseph Rodgers]

There was a DC Metropolitan police founded by Abe Lincoln - found this picture but I can't tell the year

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/Yehya_61/metro-police-wagon-l.jpg