Yonkers Police Department Proudly Marks 150

The Yonkers Police Department Badge


 

By Irish Echo Staff


The Yonkers Police Department will mark 150 years of service to its community on Saturday, April 10.


"For fifteen decades members of this agency, from the original constables and roundsmen to today’s modern police officers equipped with 21st century technologies, have served and continue to serve the communities of Yonkers with professionalism and a commitment to excellence," said a department release.

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And no surprise, but back in 1871 the fledgling department had a very high Irish representation on its roster.


“It’s no secret we have the best Police Department in the world, and over the past 150 years, the YPD has evolved while continuing to demonstrate nothing short of professionalism and respect with all they encounter,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “When you see a police officer in your neighborhood, I encourage you to stop and say thank you – due to their efforts, Yonkers is a safer city.”


Police Commissioner John J. Mueller stated: “I want to congratulate all the Yonkers Police Officers and Supervisors, past and present, for bringing us to this milestone and building one of the finest police agencies in the country. Throughout the years thousands of men and women have served the people of Yonkers as members of this proud Department with professionalism and honor; that shared service creates a familial bond for generations. I applaud all our members now and then and thank them for everything they do and have done to help make Yonkers one of the greatest cities in America.”


According to Department Historian, Deputy Chief George Rutledge (ret.), it all began in 1871 and a hard time for a community immediately north of New York City.


Said Rutledge: “In the mid-1860's, after the Civil War had ended, the social makeup of the Town and Village of Yonkers was in turmoil. Transients with no home or work were flooding our streets, bringing with them many problems for our Town Constables. Local newspapers of the day described these constables as ineffective tools of politicians. The village residents felt that "roughs and rowdies" were taking over the town and something had to be done.


"A special town meeting was held at Flaggs Hall on July 14th, 1866 at 5:15 p.m. A resolution was offered by Supervisor Isaac H. Knox which would allow for the hiring of fourteen Metropolitan Policemen from New York City to come and serve our community in a professional police capacity. $20,000 would be appropriated through taxes to pay for their services. It was hoped that this would be an improvement over present conditions. The citizens passed the resolution by a vote of 76 to 47.


"A detail of fourteen men from the New York City Metropolitan Police Force arrived in Yonkers on Friday, August 10th, 1866, forming a substation of the New York 32nd Precinct. Headquarters was set up in a building formerly known as Melah's Hotel at 9 Dock Street. The years to follow proved to be busy ones for these "rented" policemen. In 1871, the experiment that began five years earlier proved successful. After a long discussion by the city fathers and town citizens, it was decided that Yonkers should establish and maintain its own police force.


"On March 30th, 1871, the act providing for the formation of a local police force was signed by the Governor. The detail of policemen from New York City was given the opportunity to return to New York or become part of the new Police Department.


"On April 10th the Yonkers Police Force was officially organized consisting of one captain, two sergeants, two roundsmen, eighteen patrolmen, one hostler, and one doorman. The Captain of Police position was given to John Mangin who, as a sergeant and one of the original detail of New York City policemen, decided to stay in Yonkers.


"The annual salary for a patrolman in Yonkers in 1871 was $750. Any man interested in becoming a Yonkers Policeman had to go through an interview with the Board of Police Commissioners and pass a medical examination by a police surgeon. No written examination was required. The appointment was for life, contingent on good behavior. There was no maximum age limit."


The official roster on April 10, 1871 of the Yonkers Police Force consisted of Captain Mangin; Sergeant James M. King; Sergeant Charles W. Austin; Roundsmen George W. Osborne and James McLaughlin; Patrolmen John Oagans, James P. Embree, Martin Geary, John Hennessy, Edward Lucas, Richard Laurie, C. McGregor, James H. Mealing, Michael Muldoon, Patrick Muldoon, James J. Norton, Henry J. Quinn, John Redding, Sherman H. Smith, Louis Sprenger, John H. Woodruff, Fred H. Woodruff, and Samuel L. Whaley; Hostler (Stable Keeper) James McDevit; and Doorman (Janitor) Michael Foley.


Again according to historian Rutledge: "The actual patrolling of the town was accomplished by foot patrol, mounted patrol, and horse and wagon.


"Mounted patrol was used primarily for outlying areas. In those early years, our police officers put in very long hours every day. Although there were three to four patrolmen working each shift, at the completion of each tour of duty, every man was required to remain at headquarters for an additional eight-hour tour. This second shift was called 'Reserve Duty.' Beds were kept at Headquarters for sleeping while on reserve duty, and if extra police were needed in a hurry they were right on hand. This eliminated the time-consuming task of an officer going out by horse and wagon to pick up all off duty men for an emergency.


"The boundary of the area patrolled by Yonkers in the 1870's was quite different from today. At the time of the organization of the Department, there were two sub-stations. One was located south of Yonkers in the Bronx in the section known as Kingsbridge at Spuyten Duyvil. The second substation was located in Bronxville. In 1874, the Kingsbridge District was annexed to New York City and, therefore, fell under the jurisdiction of New York's Metropolitan Police. However, the Yonkers Police Department continued to patrol the Bronxville area for many years to come.


"The Department's size and operation have changed drastically over the years. There are now more than six hundred men and women professionally trained to deal with the problems of today's complex society. It has gone from a footpost and horse patrol department, to an almost completely motorized department.


"At the Department's inception, the only information tool an officer had was his memory and his notebook. Now complex computers assist in the police function. Over the last one hundred and fifty years, our Department has progressed far beyond the wildest dreams and expectations of its early members. In an age of rapidly developing technology, one can only wonder what advances will have been made when the Department is two hundred and fifty years. No matter the technological advances, the basic purpose of the Yonkers Police Department has remained, and will always remain, unchanged - to serve and protect.”


Over the course of its own history the annual Irish Echo Law & Order Awards have, in each and every year, honored officers from Yonkers Police Department.


The 150th anniversary will be recognized throughout 2021 with special events, historical displays, and social media postings. For more information about the Yonkers Police Department, go to www.yonkersny.gov/ypd.

 

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