East Ohio Gas Explosion, October 20, 1944: Police Response and Report
On the afternoon of October 20, 1944, disaster struck Cleveland. An explosion at the East Ohio Gas Company complex near East 55th and St. Clair Avenue killed over 160 people…
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Second District Headquarters, 3481 Fulton Road, built 1955
When Eliot Ness reorganized the police department in 1938, he transitioned the force from what were then eighteen precincts into five, larger districts which were further divided into 32 zones. …
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First District, 3895 W 130th St, 1973-present
When Eliot Ness reorganized the police department in 1938, he transitioned the force from what were then eighteen precincts into five, larger districts which were further divided into 32 zones. …
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Cleveland Police’s Star Trek connection
Did you know that Cleveland has a strong connection to Star Trek? In fact, the first public showing of Star Trek occurred at a sci-fi convention at the Hotel Sheraton.…
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1949 FORD FORDOR – CAR 313
From 1949-1952, the Ford Fordor became the vehicle of choice for police departments across the country. It was considered a state of the art test bed for the unique advancements…
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1978 Ford LTD – Car 611
From 1972-1978, the National Highway Safety Department conducted an experiment with a lime green paint, known as “Safety Green.” The goal was to increase the visibility of safety vehicles (police…
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Women in the CPD
Women have a long and honorable history of service in the Cleveland Police Department. That service began in 1893 when the Chief Henry Hoehn established the Police Matron’s Service. The…
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Cleveland Air Police
The National Air Races began in 1920 and the first Pulitzer Trophy race was held at Cleveland Airport in 1929. This event helped make the races a major American event…
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Murals at Cleveland Police Headquarters, 1300 Ontario Street
“The Police play a role in the community,” says Jud Kline, “they keep everyone in the community safe.” This was the inspiration for the beautiful murals that line the west…
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Traffic Unit: The Corner Men, Part 5
In 1921 the Cleveland Plain Dealer introduced to their readers the Cleveland Police Officers assigned the difficult task of directing vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the city each day. They…
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Cleveland Police Training: 1954 to 1974
Formal training for Cleveland Police Officers can be traced back to 1914, when the first “police school” was established at the Eighth Precinct Headquarters. Part One of this series describes…
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Traffic Unit: The Corner Men, Part 4
In 1921 the Cleveland Plain Dealer introduced to their readers the Cleveland Police Officers assigned the difficult task of directing vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the city each day. They…
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The Cleveland Police Tow Unit
How It Started: A History Of Towing And Tow Trucks Desperate times call for desperate measures. The year was 1916. Ernest Holmes, a mechanic from Chattanooga, Tennessee, had to face…
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Traffic Unit: The Corner Men, Part 3
In 1921 the Cleveland Plain Dealer introduced to their readers the Cleveland Police Officers assigned the difficult task of directing vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the city each day. They…
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Artifact Spotlight: Big Band behind bars
The Cleveland Police Museum collects and preserves the history of policing in Cleveland. Each year, we receive donations of artifacts, photographs and archives that help us tell that story. In…
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