2023 – The 125th Anniversary of Today’s NYPD; Symbolized in Department Flag
2023 – The 125th Anniversary of Greater NYC & Today’s NYPD; Symbolized in Department Flag Introduction: This year, 2023, marks the 125th Anniversary (1898-2023) of […]
NYC Patrolman Peter Hart – His Civil War Act of Valor Inspired National Anthem!
Introduction: This is the story of the heroic action of New York City (NYC) police officer, Patrolman Peter Hart, who was a veteran soldier, and […]
The Shocking & Untimely Death of Lt. John T. Callahan, January 10, 1909
Introduction A time-honored maxim of the Police Department of the City of New York (PDNY/NYPD) is to “Never Forget” those who sacrificed their lives in […]
The Origin of the Official Motto of the NYPD – “Faithful Unto Death” or “Fidelis Ad Mortem”
The Official Motto vs. a Popular Maxim The official motto of the Police Department of the City of New York (NYPD/PDNY) is “Faithful Unto Death,” […]
NYPDHistory.com Makes History; The Youngest Officer in The World to be Designated as a Line of Duty Death
This article is a sequel to then article published on this website on April 23, 2016, entitled: The Lost History of the PDNY’s Junior Police Force? […]
Early New York City Police “Badges” & Emblems of Office – 1800-1845
Introduction: Ask a police historian or collector when the earliest police badge was issued in the City of New York and he/she will likely tell […]
Police Collectors News – Chronicled NYPDHistory
©2018 Copyright All Rights Reserved NYPDHistory.com is pleased to have learned that the nation’s premier publication on the hobby and passion of collecting police memorabilia […]
The Career of Italian Squad Detective Michael Mealli
Background Debates on immigration and concerns about admitting criminals into this country have existed for centuries. During each period of immigration, the police dealt with […]
The History & Lineage of the NYPD’s 108th Precinct, Long Island City?
Introduction Historians agree that in 1853, Captain Levy Hayden, Superintendent of the Marine Railway, Hunter’s Point, Queens, possessed the foresight to realize that the localities […]
The Short-lived Uniform Button Known as the “Murphy Button”
Introduction On January 1, 1898, the Consolidation Act took effect and gave New York City (NYC) control of the various towns, villages, cities and other […]
The History of Policing on Brooklyn’s Coney Island
In April 2018, a well-known and long-established badge collector contacted NYPDHistory and requested that research be conducted regarding several police shields in his collection. After […]
1984 – The Year the NYPD Introduced Small Computing to the Job
1984 – Only 34 years ago. – The #NYPD first introduced “new technologies” that allowed officers the rapid retrieval of data and the ability to […]
What’s the Deal With;” The Legendary Career of Maximillian F. Schmittberger – Part 2 of 2 – “The Bright Side”
“That men may rise on stepping-stones of their dead selves to higher things.” – Unknown Poet’s “Truth” Introduction Part 1 of this two part article […]
The History of Medals of Valor in the NYPD & FDNY Captured in Individual Posters!
Posters are © Copyright 2017 Ed Sere All Rights Reserved WOW! These are the NEW (Copyrighted 2017) versions of the famous 2007 posters created by […]
What’s the Deal With; The Lineage of Jewish Police Chaplains in the NYPD?
What’s the Deal With; The Lineage of Jewish Police Chaplains in the NYPD? After posting the last article “What’s the Deal With; The […]
What’s the Deal With; The “Genesis” of the NYPD’s Police Chaplains
Background Police Commissioner (PC) Theodore A. Bingham, also known and referred to as “General Bingham,” served as PC of the Police Department of the City […]
The History Behind the Present Rank Structure in the NYPD & The “Slaughter of 1907”
Introduction For months, rumors that Police Commissioner (PC) Theodore A. Bingham (1906-1909) was working on an amendment to the Charter of Greater New York that […]
1948 – A Night on the Beat with Patrolman James W. Murphy, 23rd Precinct
Originally printed on June 21, 1948 by LIFE Magazine This article takes you through a tour with Ptl. Murphy, […]
The Genesis of the “Wheel-Horse” Shoulder Patch
Sometimes questions from readers make for interesting research and articles. I hope that you find that this article is such a case. Please keep the questions […]
There’s a Million Stories in the Naked City. This is One of Them – Ptl. Joseph W. Schecker – One of a “Million”
The biographies posted on NYPDHistory.com tend to cover officers whose careers have caused them to stand out from their peers. To date, some of the […]