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About the Berkeley Police
Department:
The City of Berkeley was incorporated
in 1878. The City was policed by a elected town Marshal. In addition the Marshal was assisted by elected Constables. Through
these years the Marshal and Constables mostly served papers and seldom arrested without a warrant. Crime increased through
the turn of the century. In 1905, August Vollmer was elected town Marshal. In 1909, he was appointed as this City's first
Chief of Police. Chief August Vollmer was instrumental in organizing this department,
creating what we now call a "Code of Ethics", which included eliminating the acceptance of gratuities, rewards or favors." Chief August Vollmer demanded a high level of honesty, efficiency, interest
and hard work by his officers. This has continued to this day, which has been the foundation for our world wide reputation
in the law enforcement field.
Chief August Vollmer is considered
by some as the father of modern day law enforcement. His progressive thinking and use of new innovations in law enforcement
became the foundation that our department has built on. Some of the early innovations by Chief Vollmer and this department
were: In 1906, the department installed a basic records system (One of the first in the United States); In 1906, installed
the first Modus Operandi (MO) System; In 1907, first use of scientific investigation (Kelinschmidt case - analysis of blood,
fibers and soil).; In 1907, the department's police school was established. It included instruction from professors on such
subjects as the law and evidence procedures. This was the first school of its kind in the world and had a far reaching effect
on law enforcement; In 1911, organized the first Police Motorcycle Patrol; In 1913, changed to automobiles for patrolling;
In 1916, Chief Vollmer established the first School of Criminology at University of California, at Berkeley. Chief Vollmer
became a strong advocate of college educated police officers; In 1918, began using intelligence tests in recruiting police
officers; In 1920, the first lie detector instrument was developed at University of California and used by our department;
In 1921, began using a psychiatric screening in recruitment; In 1923, the first Junior Traffic Police Program was established;
In 1924, established one of the first single fingerprint systems; In 1925, established our first Crime Prevention Division
and hired the first Police Woman.
Source:
ci.berkeley.ca.us/police
/history/history.html
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