About the Museum

In order to preserve and share a part of Cleveland's past, the Cleveland Police Historical Society, a non-profit organization, was formed in 1983. The Society is dedicated to the the preservation of the history of the Cleveland Police Department and to the promotion of a better understanding of the role which law enforcement has within the community. The Society collects documents and artifacts which help to establish the history, developments and activities of the police department.

The Cleveland Police

The Cleveland Police Department, since its inception in 1866, has been instrumental in the innovation and formation of many areas of law enforcement and safety technology used in contemporary society.

Our Archives

The Cleveland Police Historical Society preserves and maintains materials documenting the Cleveland Police Department from 1866 to the present. Among the records available in the archives are annual reports, directories, manuals, police blotters, and scrapbooks. There are over 1200 photographs.

Law Enforcement Firsts

Inside the museum you will find a countless number of fascinating firsts that the Cleveland Police have developed; like the very first police call box, or the first closed circuit camera which was used in banks to photograph unsuspecting criminals. Thousands of old photos and intriguing stories of the officers that were a part of the solutions are found here as well.

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