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About the New York Police Department
(NYPD):
The first law-enforcement officer began
to patrol the trails and paths of New York City when it was known as New Amsterdam, and was a Dutch settlement and fort in
the year 1625. This lawman was known as a "Schout – fiscal" (sheriff – attorney) and was charged with keeping
the peace, settling minor disputes, and warning colonists if fires broke out at night. The first Schout was a man named Johann
Lampo.
The Rattle Watch was a group of colonists
during the Dutch era (1609 - 1664) who patrolled from sunset until dawn. They carried weapons, lanterns and wooden rattles
(that are similar to the ratchet noisemakers used during New Year celebrations). The rattles made a very loud, distinctive
sound and were used to warn farmers and colonists of threatening situations. Upon hearing this sound, the colonists would
rally to defend themselves or form bucket-brigades to put out fires. The rattles were used because whistles had not yet been
invented. The Rattle Watchmen also are believed to have carried lanterns that had green glass inserts. This was to help identify
them while they were on patrol at night (as there were no streetlights at that time). When they returned to their Watch House
from patrol, they hung their lantern on a hook by the front door to show that the Watchman was present in the Watch House.
Today, green lights are still hung outside the entrances of Police Precincts as a symbol that the "Watch" is present and vigilant.
When the High Constable of New York City,
Jacob Hays retired from service in 1844, permission was granted by the Governor of the state to the Mayor of the City to create
a Police Department. A force of approximately 800 men under the first Chief of Police, George W. Matsell, began to patrol
the City in July of 1845. They wore badges that had an eight-pointed star (representing the first 8 paid members of the old
Watch during Dutch times). The badges had the seal of the City in their center and were made of stamped copper.
Source:
nycpolicemuseum.org
/html/faq.html#begin
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Roger Abel is a retired second grade New York Police Department Detective.
A native New Yorker, he has a long and distinguished career in law enforcement as President of the Black Police Officers Organization
of the New York City Police Department called "Guardian Association, and President of the National Black Police Association.
He has a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and many police
department and community service awards.
His book, The Black Shields, documents his research into the history of African Americans on the New York Police Department. According to the book description, “All but ignored, the Black police officer
went unseen in a history that has been lost, stolen, and disguised by generations of segregation and discriminatory practices
within the New York City Police Department, and city Government. For more than a century, Black police officers walked a lonely
beat, and very little was written about their struggled for equality and recognition since the first Black officer entered
the Police Department in 1891.”
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