Interested in writing about law enforcement? Why not try writing about the New York City Police Department? Their long history starts way back when the Dutch first came to New York. So if you are interested in learning about the expanding needs of New York City for law protection, technology in policing, African Americans in the police force, women in the police force, police uniforms, the history of Precinct #1 (the building that houses the museum), organized crime (think Capone and Mosley), or perhaps instead of the bad guys, those good guys, our beloved New York City cops, a visit to the New York City Police Museum in lower Manhattan is a must. And we should sneak in Theodore Roosevelt. This guy wasn’t president yet, but he was well on his way when before all the presidential hubbub, he remade the New York City Police Department. As Commissioner, he consolidated all the officers into one force, he increased the size of the department, he established the bicycle patrol, the Bertillon System (read below for details), and the .32 caliber as the standard department weapon, and put police call boxes throughout the city.

So where did the New York City Police force come from? When was it born? Well, it emerged from Night Watch, along with the Fire Department (go read the entry on the New York City Fire Museum for more info). As the city grew, so did the need to enforce the peace, and the police emerged as an increasingly important force. So you should go to the museum for a complete timelined history. But don’t think timeline equals boring. For example, way before they were known as cops, back in 1820 the force was known as the Leather Heads because of the leather helmets they were issued. In 1836, a proposal made to establish a London style police for was rejected because it was considered a threat to democracy. Uniforms were thought to establish a social hierarchy that was un-American. Not until 1845 did the policemen wear a five-pointed star to distinguish themselves from civilians. And not until 1853, only after the police demonstrated the effectiveness of uniforms at the 1853 World’s Fair, could they wear uniforms without fear of insult and even physical assault from the public. Not until 1857 were police authorized to carry firearms. The first Police Matrons came along in 1891 (you didn’t mess with these women). And forget fingerprinting, not even physical descriptions (a precursor to mug shots) were used to keep track of criminals until the force adopted the Bertillon ID system in 1896! The first radio police car wasn’t around till 1917, but get this—it was only one way—you could receive a transmission but then the car had to drive to the nearest call box to respond to the transmission before they actually responded to the call.

But it seems the police department’s hard work has paid off. Did you know that in 1999 (again in 2004) the FBI listed New York as the safest of all the nation’s major cities? The days (1841) when detectives flat out refused to even start investigation murders without being offered a private reward are past.

One exhibit that isn’t permanent but that the museum displays every March is “Women in Policing.” In the 1880s men and women were not jailed in separate cells, and when women were first brought into the station, they were frisked by men. Well, this scandalized the New York City public. So taking a cue from Abby Hopper Gibbons, founder and leader of the American Female Reform Society and the Women’s Prison Association of New York City, Governor Hill signed an 1891 law that among other things, created a civil service exam for the position of Police Matron. Of course the matrons were not installed without criticism, which by the way ranged from the prediction that women would become totally incapacitated at the sighting of a mere rodent to criticism that men wouldn’t stand a chance because women would completely take over, dominating the station house and their fellow male employees.

But progress for women slowed down. In fact you might even claim it took a little vacation in the early 20th century. Though women were eventually allowed to work in the station with the creation of Patrol Women in 1921, it was not until 1964, when a woman sued for the right, that women were allowed to take promotional exams within the police force. There were exceptions, though. If you want to write a really fun paper, research Isabella Goodwin, a Police Matron who was the first woman to be promoted and later became a First Grade Detective. Because women could not take external exams, they had to be promoted within the force and the one place they could infiltrate where men couldn’t was undercover. Isabella Goodwin, Adele Priess, Mary Shanley, Laurette McDaniel, and Kitty Barry all moved up the ranks by putting themselves at great risk. Often placing themselves as targets for serial rapists or entering buildings alone to sell drugs, these women arrested drug dealers, mob members, pickpockets and fortune-telling rings, and even members of the notorious “Five Points Gang.” They also broke up female slave prostitution rings. And they had some pretty impressive stats. Shanley arrested more than 1,000 pickpockets, and McDaniel worked over 200 narcotics cases, leading to over 500 arrests.

Now, one guy you should definitely find interesting is Lt. Petrosino, the inventor of the bomb squad. Born in Italy, he joined the NYPD in 1883, walking the beat in Little Italy, a community terrorized by the Cosa Nostra. Promoted to detective sergeant in 1895 by no other than Theodore Roosevelt himself, he led the fight against the Mafia. He established the bomb squad in 1903 and in 1905 persuaded the department to establish an Italian squad, a squad of native-Italian Little Italy residents because they had the best chance of infiltrating the Cosa Nostra. Unfortunately, Petrosino also holds the title of being the only New York City Police Officer to die in the line of duty in a foreign country. On March 12, 1909 while in Italy investigating the backgrounds of New York Cosa Nostra gang members, Petrosino was lured into a public square and murdered. His death however did not pass unnoticed. Petrosino was honored with a full state funeral in Italy followed by a similar service in New York where more than 200,000 people turned out for his second procession. (And remember 200,000 was a lot of people because back in 1909 New York City was not so big.)

Perhaps you’re more interested in learning about who the department has put away. Well, the museum has information on several, including Arnold Rothstein, Harry Pittsburgh Steel Strauss, Bruno Richard Hauptman, George Mud Bomber Metesky, William Willie Sutton, Al Scar Face Capone, Frank Yale, Vincenzo Vincent Demora Garibaldi, Frank Galluccio (the guy who gave Al Scar Face Capone his scar face), Albert Ansalmi, Jack Scalise, Vincent Mad Dog Coll, Louis Lepke Buchalter, and Jack Gurrah Shapiro. Although many of these men where most infamous during the 1930s, organized crime did not only deal with prohibition. Especially after prohibition ended organized crime had to get creative, moving to gambling, labor racketeering, prostitution, loan sharking, narcotics and even making inroads in construction and trash removal.

You might be surprised to find that it seems like there are probably as many if not more specialized types of policemen than there are colors of Crayola crayons. For example, within the several main divisions in the department you will find the Pick Pocket Squad, Detective Bureau, Hostage Negotiation Unit, Artist Unit, Vice Squad, Auto Crime Division, Traffic Division, Aviation Unit, Mounted Unit, Harbor Unit, Emergency Services Unit, Vandalism Unit, Auditing Unit, Photo Unit, Special Victims Liaison Unit, Fiscal Unit, School Safety Officers, Crime Stoppers Unit, Sex Offenders Unit, Street Crime Unit, Canine Team, Homeless Outreach Unit, Money Laundering Unit, Trademark Infringement Unit, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, and Trade Waste Commission. So not only do the police have to understand the criminal trade to catch criminals, but apparently it doesn’t hurt to also be able to fly, ride horses, and sketch the most wanted. You can find out what a day in the life is like in these different units by going to the second floor of the museum and selecting profiles of members of several of the departments, watching as a camera follows them through a typical part of their day. You can even find out what daily life is like in the academy by watching a short film, also on the second floor.

Other aspects of the museum you should check out are the collection of artifacts and uniforms downstairs; the collection of crime-fighting weapons, including several firearms, on the second floor; and the exhibit “Hall of Heroes,” which features all the police officers killed in the line of duty. Some of the current information on exhibits [http://www.nycpolicemuseum.org/html/exhibits.htm] is also available online.

The museum also has programs for teachers and their students. Classes that visit the museum will learn about how the role of the N.Y.P.D. has changed over time in response to ever-changing needs of the New York community. What started out with eight men has grown into the largest police force in the country. Students will find out how changes in transportation, communication, and immigration have all affected community service. Teachers should also be aware of the school education program to assist them in meeting New York State and New York City Curriculum Standards. All teachers who bring their classes to participate in the program will receive a grade-appropriate packet (grades K-8) containing short stories and other pre-visit and post-visit teaching materials.

Speaking of large groups, be sure to note that groups of ten or more require an appointment, and large groups must have at least one adult for every ten students. Also, although the museum doesn’t turn anyone away, try and pay at least the suggested donation, especially if you’re in a group –they only ask that each student in a group pay a dollar instead of the normal five.

For additional information contact the museum’s Director of Education, Carlos M. Pomares, at 212 480-3100 x116 or cpomares@nycpolicemuseum.org.