National Police Week
Police officers and the community they served have honored fallen officers since the earliest days of official police departments in the United States but it wasn’t until 1962 that a…
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Cleveland Police Training: 1914-1954
The first official Cleveland Police training school was established in 1914 by Safety Director Alfred A. Benesch. Dubbed Benesch University by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Director described the school:…
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Where did Eliot Ness Live in Cleveland?
Did Eliot Ness live here? This question comes up time and again when people talk about Cleveland’s favorite lawman. Recently, Cleveland Police Museum staff examined primary sources, including city directories,…
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Traffic Unit: The Corner Men, Part 1
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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Third Central Station, 2001 Payne Avenue, 1926-1976
The Cleveland Police Department reached a milestone of sorts on April 26, 1926 when the new Central Police Station at 2001 Payne Avenue opened as the new Cleveland Police Department…
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The Silent Witness – The First Recorded Bank Robbery
On April 12, 1957, the world’s first hidden camera recording of a bank robbery happened right here in Cleveland. The Cleveland Division of Police devised, developed and installed the system…
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In Her Own Words: A History of Policewomen given in 1952, Part 2
Over her forty years with the Cleveland Police, Wilma Neubecker #3002 saw just about everything. As part of the Women’s Bureau, she worked cases involving juveniles and women that ranged…
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In Her Own Words: A History of Policewomen given in 1952, Part 1
Over her forty years with the Cleveland Police, Wilma Neubecker #3002 saw just about everything. As part of the Women’s Bureau, she worked cases involving juveniles and women that ranged…
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First Uniforms for Cleveland Policewomen, 1957
In the 1950s, Cleveland’s policewomen advocated for uniforms like those worn by policewomen in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. In the fall of 1956, the department tested possible…
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Commander Kathryn Mengel: The “First” of Many
Deputy Chief Kathryn Mengel achieved many “firsts” in the Cleveland Police. She was the first woman promoted under the “open” civil service exam (where men and women competed against each…
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1918 Influenza Epidemic 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…
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Police Buildings: Women’s Bureau HQ/18th Precinct, 3735 Cedar Avenue
The 1926 Annual Report for the police department noted, “the Policewomen’s Bureau is now located at 3735 Cedar Avenue, formerly the site of the Maternity Hospital, which building was purchased…
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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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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…
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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,…
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