Yonkers Police Department records
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Language of Materials
Abstract
This collection consists primarily of police blotters detailing arrests and other police activities of the Yonkers Police Department between 1867-1935 (with gaps). Also included are several volumes of Board of Police minutes and resolutions, and a force book listing the department officers and providing some background information.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Yonkers police force was formed in response to the influx of "transients" flooding the streets after the American Civil War. Newspapers described the existing town constables as "ineffective" and at a special town meeting a resolution was passed to hire fourteen Metropolitan officers from New York City to serve the community. These NYC police officers started in Yonkers on August 10, 1866, forming a substation of the New York 32nd Precinct.
By April 10, 1871, John T. Hoffman, the governor of New York signed an act that formed Yonkers' own local police force which consisted of one captain, two sergeants, two roundsmen, 18 patrolmen, 1 hostler and one doorman. The Captain of Police position was given to John Mangin who served as a sergeant in the original New York City Policemen stationed in Yonkers. The annual salary for a patrolman in Yonkers in 1871 was $750. Any man who was interested in becoming a Yonkers Policeman had to go through an interview with the Board of Commissioners and pass a medical examination by a police surgeon. No written examination was required. The appointment was for life, contingent on good behavior.
During the 1870's, the Yonkers Police Department had two sub-stations. The first sub-station was located in Kingsbridge, south of Yonkers. And the second location was in Bronxville. Patrolling of the town was carried out by foot patrol, mounted patrol and horse and wagon patrol. The mounted patrols were primarily used in the remote areas of Yonkers. Every policeman had two shifts; his first tour duty and his reserve duty. At the completion of his first shift, a policeman is required to remain at the station for an additional 8 hours. Beds were provided at the headquarters for sleeping. This requirement was to ensure that there was a sufficient amount of personnel should an emergency occur.
Arrangement Note
The material has been arranged by format into two series: Series I, Yonkers Police Blotters, and Series II: Minute Books, Order Books, and Force Book. Volumes are arranged chronologically. (Volume 407 of the collection was found on the shelves and added to the collection in 2020; that number is between volumes 47 and 48).
Scope and Contents Note
This collection includes police blotters dating November 16, 1867-January 6, 1907 (incomplete); three minute books, Board of Police Commissioners, April 20, 1881-July 21, 1903; order books, April 10, 1871-August 8, 1905; and a Force Book, circa 1880's, listing officers alphabetically by shield number, name, residence, occupation, and nativity.
The 403 volumes of the police blotters provide a chronological list of police activities, including roll calls, arrest of "prisoners," and detention of "lodgers" who were apparently sheltered in the precinct. In the police blotters, there are letters regarding complaints of various crimes committed throughout Yonkers and neighboring areas such as Bronxville. These letters range from general descriptions of the crime and the person responsible. Other letters have descriptive details of the perpetrator such as their height, clothing, skin color, etc. Volume 402 includes some "mug shot" photographs.
The minute books of the Board of Police Commissioners describe topics discussed at Board meetings, including commendations of particular patrolmen, a group of criminals that need to addressed, increasing YPD employee wages, expansions, etc. Also included are copies of Resolutions adopted by the Board.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation Note
This collection should be cited as Yonkers Police Department Records, MS 296, The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
About this Guide
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Francis Gestosoni in 1984. An additional volume for dates May 4-June 8, 1878, was found on the shelves and added to the collection in October 2020.