Washington DC Police History
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has been serving the District of Columbia for more than 160 years. In 1802, when the original city charter was approved, police authority was centralized and power was granted to the city itself to establish patrols, impose fines, and establish inspection and licensing procedures. Until the creation of the Metropolitan Police Department in 1861, the city had only an auxiliary watch with one captain and 15 policemen.
In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln took personal interest in founding a regular police department for the District of Columbia. It was a time of constant danger in the Nation’s Capital. With the beginning of the Civil War, an army was billeted in the city, government employees were increased by ten-fold, and hordes of unsavory elements descended upon the District’s few square miles. President Lincoln personally dispatched an emissary from the newly created Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners to New York City to become familiar with that system, which itself was based on the world-acclaimed Metropolitan London Police Department.
The ideas and knowledge gained from this study led to the creation of the Metropolitan Police Department on August 6, 1861. In September of that year, attorney William B. Webb was appointed the first Superintendent of the Police, with an authorized force of 10 sergeants and a number of patrolmen as needed, but not to exceed 150.
Over the years, the MPD has grown in size, diversity and expertise. As the police force for the Nation’s Capital, it has protected the city, its citizens and visitors through many historic events and social changes. The DC Metropolitan Police Department has a rich and unique history and the DC Police Memorial and Museum is dedicated to telling its story and protecting its artifacts and heritage.
Below, watch Nick Bruel, former MPD Lieutenant, DC Police Memorial Board Member and MPD Historian talk about a few of the fascinating items in our collection:
MPD in History
More Demonstration Photos Taken in the Late Fall or Early Winter on the Mall and in Foggy Bottom
This is on Virginia Ave. N.W. in Foggy Bottom Students, possibly...
Some Pictures from a Demonstration at the U.S. Capitol, Circa 1970
CDU processing arrests. (tried to read the officer's name...
Legendary Policeman and Cartoonist Dick Mansfield
Richard "Dick" Mansfield, who served for 32 years and rose through the ranks of MPD, gained notoriety by drawing cartoons...
It May Be June, But How About Some May Day Memories
A few of the photos from the MPD Musem archive
1950’s era HQ Photo
This 1950's era photo of the Headquarters staff features a conference table that is still in the Chief's Office today.
Dipping into President Reagan’s Jar
A 1981, Photo of Chief Burtell Jefferson, Assistant Chief Fullwood, John Connor and others with Vice President George Bush...
Some Photos from SOD in the 1970’s
A Look at MPD Facilities Ten Years Ago
Here is a sampling of photographs of some of the facilities we were using in 2007. ...
1947 Ceremony on the site of the Future Memorial Honors MPD’s Service During World War II
This ceremony, was cited as a "presentation of victory medals from war veterans to Police Department." It is unclear if...
1893 Precinct Map
One of the earliest maps showing the location of each precinct. Note that the map refers to them as "Districts." The...
Photos From Moratorium Day October 1969
Here are three photos from the Museum Collection that are part of the Mobile Crime Lab's coverage of the Vietnam War...
Class Photos From the 1970’s Mark the Changes
Below are a series of class photos sent to the D.C.Police Museum and Memorial Project as part of our growing collection of...
MPD Officers Corner the Last of the Great Train Robbers…In 1949!
The Great B&O Train Robbery Posted by Dave Tabler | July 18, 2013 “The Great...
The Iconic Call Box Served as the Police Officer’s Life Line for Nearly 100 Years
The first call boxes were installed in the 1890's, and finally taken out of service in all of the Districts in the early...
Harbor Branch History
Here are some images that are rare but were part of the Harbor Branch sidebar in the 150th Anniversary History Book. The...
Actual Rogue’s Gallery Photos ID cards
Another part of the photo collection purchased by the DC Police Memorial and Museum Project, were these two identification...
More Street Scenes from the Shah’s 1977 Visit
Chief Maurice Cullinane appears to be chatting with a citizen,...
More Photos from Anti Shah Demonstrations in 1977
These photos cover some of the events in front of the mosque on Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. and U.S. Park Police with what...
Shah of Iran Demonstrations along 17th Street, in the Fall of 1977
These images were part of a collection of photos purchased by the D.C. Police Memorial and Museum Project and are part of...
A 1924 Photo Series Showing MPD Uniform Progression
From helmets to soft covers.
Late Fall Demonstration 1969
Some pictures from the Metropolitan Police Museum Collection. This is from a batch labeled November, 1969 but are of an as...
Shots Fired Series “Pool Hall Fusillade”
OFFICER UEL M. (GALES) GAILE WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED JULY 19, 1933, PAGE 1 TRIO WOUNDED IN GUN BATTLE; ALL MAY DIE....
The Fires of 1968
Following the April 4,1968, assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Washington,D.C.and a number of other American cities...
Famed Criminal Pays a Visit to the Second Precinct
OFFICER DANIEL SHEHAN WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED OCTOBER 16, 1899, PAGE 4 BACK AFTER TWELVE YEARS. THE “GHOST ROBBER”...
First to Current – Ascending Order
- William B. Webb – Sept. 1861 – Nov. 1864
- A.C. Richards – Dec. 1864 – Jan. 1878
- Thomas P. Morgan – Feb. 1878 – Nov. 1879
- William G. Brock – Dec. 1879 – April 1883
- William M. Dye – April 1883 – June 1886
- Samuel H. Walker – July 1886 – Dec. 1886
- William G. Moore – Dec. 1886 – July 1898
- Richard Sylvester – July 1898 – April 1915
- Raymond W. Pullman – April 1915 – Feb. 1920
- Harry L. Gessford – April 1920 – Dec. 1921
- Daniel Sullivan – Feb. 1922 – Oct. 1925
- Edwin B. Hesse – Oct. 1925 – April 1929
- Henry G. Pratt – April 1929 – Nov. 1931
- Pelham D. Glassford – Nov. 1931 – Oct. 1932
- Ernest W. Brown – Oct. 1932 – Nov. 1941
- Edward J. Kelly – Nov. 1941 – Feb. 1946
- Harvey G. Callahan – Feb. 1946 – June 1947
- Robert J. Barrett – July 1947 – Nov. 1951
- Robert V. Murray – Dec. 1951 – Dec. 1964
- John B. Layton – Dec. 1964 – July 1969
- Jerry V. Wilson – Aug. 1969 – Sept. 1974
- Maurice J. Cullinane – Dec. 1974 – Jan. 1978
- Burtell M. Jefferson – Jan. 1978 – June 1981
- Maurice T. Turner, Jr. – July 1981 – July 1989
- Issac Fulwood – July 1989 – Sept. 1992
- Fred Thomas – Dec. 1992 – July 1995
- Fred Thomas – Dec. 1992 – July 1995
- Sonya Proctor (Interim) – Nov. 1997 – April 1998
- Charles H. Ramsey – April 1998 – Dec. 2006
- Cathy L. Lanier – Jan. 2007 – Sept. 2016
- Peter Newsham – September 2016 – Dec. 2020
- Robert J. Contee III – Jan 2021 –