Vintage Police Uniforms

[newsman]

Whereas, Charles Becker was still an NYPD lieutenat when, in 1912, he was arrested for the murder of Herman Rosenthal, a NYC underworld figure....

Not a lot has changed; has it? I can remember back when I stared my field training officer said, "Most cops go to jail over money, evidence, or women."

He was right. A woman got his badge. His wife got his money.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

German policeman, 1925

 

[Guttersnipe]

Here's some more pics of my favorite department, the SFPD.

This is the uniform from the late teens and early twenties:

Here's a member the SFPD mounted unit from the late 1950's and two K-9 unit officers in the early 1960s:

And lastly an officer with some pretty groovy 1970s sideburns. What's interesting the the SFPD class A uniform hasn't changed that much since then.

 

[BlueTrain]

Awful lot of uncontrolled facial hair in some of the photos throughout this thread, especially the photos from the turn of the century. Obviously the police had way too much freedom.

 

[BobHufford]

Springfield, Missouri, 1953 -- during the great "cobra scare".

 

[Nobert]

I just don't feel comfortable dealing with people who project aggression, although I found last year with a couple of OPP highway patrolmen that if you call them by their rank (sergeant, constable, never "officer") and address them in a business-like tone and keep the conversation focused on the matter at hand, then they don't get as pushy...But criticisms aside, yes I know they have an important role to play in society, etc etc, which I accept.

As for uniforms, the local police here in Ontario seem to be dressed the most traditionally

What have you, Constable?

 

[Stearmen]

Our finest, 1887!

 

[BobHufford]

The Springfield Calaboose (built in 1891). Last used to house prisoners in 1941.

1900:

1951: Officer Neul Weaver and Detective Richard Hughes inside the Calaboose.

Today:

 

[Lt.hats]

Here are a few from my department from 1914, 1930's and 1950's

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