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1845: New York City Establishes Police Department

By This timeline is a collaboration between visual artist Isaac Scott and historian Dr. Shana Russell.
1845: New York City Establishes Police Department New York City adopts the Municipal Police Act and creates the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in order to “preserve the public peace and good order throughout the city.” The formation of the NYPD is rife with conflict between two warring political factions divided on ethnic lines, often resulting in violent clashes. They are plagued by accusations of corruption, bribery, fraud, and police brutality, leading to an investigation by the state senate in 1894.Today the NYPD is one of the oldest and largest municipal police forces in the United States. Creator: This timeline is a collaboration between visual artist Isaac Scott and historian Dr. Shana Russell. Date: 1845

New York City adopts the Municipal Police Act and creates the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in order to “preserve the public peace and good order throughout the city.” The formation of the NYPD is rife with conflict between two warring political factions divided on ethnic lines, often resulting in violent clashes. They are plagued by accusations of corruption, bribery, fraud, and police brutality, leading to an investigation by the state senate in 1894.Today the NYPD is one of the oldest and largest municipal police forces in the United States.

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This timeline is a collaboration between visual artist Isaac Scott and historian Dr. Shana Russell., “1845: New York City Establishes Police Department,” Rikers Public Memory Project Archive, accessed October 17, 2026, http://archive.rikersmemoryproject.org/items/show/240.