Department History

     On April 13, 1825, the Village of Syracuse was incorporated. Beginning in 1827, police service in the Village of Syracuse was performed by a Constable who was paid $25.00 per year. The population of Syracuse was 2,565. In 1828, another constable was added also at a salary of $25.00 per year and the first night watch was established.
     By 1846, the population of Syracuse had grown to 11,014. On January 3, 1848, voters from the villages of Salina and Syracuse voted to merge and the City of Syracuse Police Department was formed.
     The population of the City of Syracuse continued to rise, and by 1869 it had reached 48,255. Police headquarters were located in the City Hall building and contained 32 jail cells in the basement. The Chief of Police earned a salary of $100 per month. A police captain earned $83 per month and patrolmen earned $65 per month.  
     In February, 1885, the police force was increased to 45 members and the Syracuse Police Department introduced the first patrol wagon in New York State. In 1891, the first police matron was appointed to the department.
     On July 31, 1893, Detective James A. Harvey was gunned down, becoming the first Syracuse Police Officer to be killed in the line of duty. In 1894, Lucious Wilson was executed in Auburn Prison’s electric chair for the murder of Detective Harvey.
     By 1902, the police department had grown to 135 members. The first officers on horseback and motorcycles were deployed. In 1906, the first automobile patrol was deployed and in 1907 the first paddy wagon was put into service.
     The Police Department headquarters moved to Clinton St & Willow St. in 1909, where it remained until 1964, when it moved into the newly erected Public Safety Building on South State St.
     Today, the Syracuse Police Department has more than 375 members and serves a population of approximately 143,000.