Traffic Unit: The Corner Men, Part 8
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…
Read More
WE MUST NEVER FORGET: The Tragedy of Glenville, July 23, 1968
On July 23rd, 1968, three Cleveland Police Officers and one civilian “Good Samaritan” gave their lives protecting the residents of Cleveland. Twelve other Officers and a Police Tow Truck Driver…
Read More
The History of the Cleveland Police Badge
by Lieutenant James J. O’Malley, Jr., Retired The badge is probably the most identifiable feature of the American Police Officer’s uniform. Today in the United States, police officers wear a…
Read More
Fifth District: 1938 to 2020
In 1938, Safety Director Eliot Ness implemented an extensive reorganization of the Cleveland Police Department. The 11th Precinct building, located at 1963 East 105th Street, was designated as the Headquarters…
Read More
Fourth District: 1938 – today
In 1938, Safety Director Eliot Ness reorganized the police force, transforming what had been eighteen precincts into five districts, which were further divided into 32 zones. The newly formed 4th…
Read More
Police Beat: Cleveland Police on the Radio
Always in the forefront of new ideas and technology, the Cleveland Division of Police created another “first” when they partnered with WJW radio and the Euclid Avenue Business Association to…
Read More
1918 Influenza Pandemic in Cleveland
After voluntary closures and suggested social isolation proved unsuccessful in keeping the case numbers down, the city and county mandated closures and quarantines. Calling the pandemic “the most serious menace…
Read More
Police Buildings: Women’s Bureau HQ/18th Precinct from 1925-1953, 3735 Cedar Avenue
That same year, the City of Cleveland started the process of purchasing the old hospital building to serve as “a new detention home for girls and headquarters” for the newly…
Read More
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…
Read More
Rose Constant: Cleveland’s First Female Officer
During her tenure, Mrs. Constant found deplorable conditions in many of the factories and stores she inspected. “One shop in which many young girls were employed had no drinking water…
Read More
John Anderson, #175: Cleveland’s First Black Police Sergeant and Lieutenant
Patrolman Anderson demonstrated his marksmanship capabilities one morning while off duty. Contacted at 6 o’clock at his residence, to a mad dog threatening workers and neighbors on nearby Quincy Street,…
Read More
Lloyd Patterson: Cleveland’s First Black Deputy Chief
Lloyd Patterson was born to Ambrose and Willa Byrd Patterson in 1931. They resided in Cleveland, Ohio, living at 8128 Central Ave. and 6005 Quincy Ave. Lloyd attended the Cleveland…
Read More
Cops with Hops: Cleveland Police playing basketball
In 2022, the NBA All Star Game returned to Cleveland. Our Cleveland Police are no strangers to the hardwood. Since at least 1935, Cleveland police officers have excelled on and…
Read More
Patrolman William M. Tucker, #45: Cleveland’s First Black Police Officer
Wiggins’ research revealed that Officer Tucker headed north after the Civil War. On the way, he met Colonel John F. Herrick, Commander of the Twelfth Ohio Calvary. Colonel Herrick offered…
Read More
Introducing “Nitro Nelly”: Portable Bomb Shield
When Richard R. Wagner was appointed Chief of the Cleveland Division of Police, one of his goals was ensure that his officers had the safest equipment available. To that end,…
Read More