LANSING POLICE DEPARTMENT HISTORICAL WEB SITE
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LANSING POLICE DEPARTMENT HISTORICAL WEB SITE
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1893-1918 One of the first duties of the newly created Board (of Police & Fire Commissioners) was to appoint thirty-year old; John P. Sanford as Lansing’s first Chief of Police on August 3, 1893. Sanford organized the department in a military fashion. Each officer was given an official number, badge, handcuffs, truncheon and night lantern and were required to work 10-12 hours a day. The officers were required to pay for their own badge and uniforms on a salary of $1.82 a day and had to relinquish their badge and all the buttons from their uniform when they left the department. LPD officers did not carry guns until after WWI and then they were secured under their uniforms. Officers were not allowed to leave the city without written permission until 1951.
Chief John Sanford (center front) and members of The Lansing Police Department - 1894
Capt J. A. Black Lt. D. D. Lewis Chief Sanford was required to report to all fires, riots or tumultuous assemblages, to assure laws of the State were duly enforced, and make monthly written reports. His 1893 annual report included a budget of: salaries-$7,380; feeding prisoners-$500; rent for jail-$500; coal and stove-$190; special police salaries-$81; telegraph & telephone-$31.47; straw for cell bedding-$12.50; clubs & belts-$23; livery costs-$6.50. Arrests for the year numbered 530, including 26 females.
Lansing City Hall built in 1896 and post office that later became City Hall annex.
Lansing City Hall- 1896. The building was known for its four-sided clock. In 1902, Sanford resigned and Adolph Starmont was appointed chief. Starmont came from Chicago to Lansing in 1873 and attended Lansing Business College. He mapped the city into 8 sectors/beats and assigned an officer to each beat. However, once the officers left the police station they had no way to communicate with police headquarters. The Captain would ride a bicycle to each beat to check on each officer during his shift.
Chief Adolph Starmont 1902-1906 During the summer months over 30,000 spectators visited the capital city by train, interurban and horse and buggies to see the traveling shows or circus. “Special Service” officers were hired part-time to handle the influx of “porch climbers, guntoters and gamblers.” After one event Starmont had heard of illegal slot machines being used in the city. As the chief began his rounds of the cigar stores and saloons he removed two such machines. However, word that the chief was out spread quickly, and as he continued his route, there was not another slot machine to be found.
Many traveling shows visited Lansing in the late 1890s.
LPD Officers - 1902 |
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canderson@ci.lansing.mi.us with
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