A Day in the Life of a 1920s Patrolman
A Cleveland patrolman in the 1920s walked his beat for eight hours a day, carrying most of the equipment he needed to keep the neighborhood safe and to catch criminals.…
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Torso Murders: Identifying the Victims
The Cleveland Police efforts to identify each of the thirteen victims of the Torso Murderer of Kingsbury Run were extensive. At the crime scene, police collected evidence and photographed the…
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19th Century Policing: The Night Toilers
In 1884, the Cleveland Daily Herald ran a feature on the “Night Toilers,” the Cleveland Police officers who patrolled the city’s streets during the evening hours. Below is a transcript…
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Criminal Identification: Plaster Masks
The Bureau of Criminal Identification of the Cleveland Police Department, under Supervisor David L. Cowles, used many tools and techniques to help identify victims and track down criminals. Detective Lloyd…
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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…
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Heroes Roll Call: Our August Heroes
The Cleveland Police Museum in honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversaries of their End of Watch. These officers made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting…
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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…
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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…
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The Cleveland Police Marching Unit
The Cleveland Police Force was required to hold drills during the early 1800s. The weekly or monthly drills would include military foot drill, marching drill, or musket drill. As far…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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