A list of known firsts that occurred right here in Baltimore. 

Patrolman Charles R. Bozman

While this is not a line of duty death, it was the result of a combination of the job and stupidity, therefore we should rememebr Patrolman Charles R. Bozman, and hopefully by taking a minute to rememebr him, we might reduce the chances of similar deaths in the future. By educating our Brothers and Sisters to be more serious about the wagons we carry, hopefully we can prevent us from ever having to take a moment of silence in the future for this type senseless act. Let us remember our Brother Patrolman Charles R. Bozman who today 5 March 1932 in Baltimore  Police History lost his life as he carelessly began playing with his issued service revolver. In a carry-out full of people he drew his service weapon, put it to his head and began using it to scratch his inner ear as he said something to the effect of this is the perfect way to clean out your ear. Just then the pistol discharged instantly taking his life   #‎BPDNeverForget‬

Click HERE or on the article above to see full news story

Click HERE or on the article above to see full news story

Click HERE or on the article above to see full news story

Donations

Donations help with web hosting, stamps and materials and the cost of keeping the website online. Thank you so much for helping BCPH. 

POLICE INFORMATION

Copies of: Your Baltimore Police Department Class Photo, Pictures of our Officers, Vehicles, Equipment, Newspaper Articles relating to our department and or officers, Old Departmental Newsletters, Lookouts, Wanted Posters, and or Brochures. Information on Deceased Officers and anything that may help Preserve the History and Proud Traditions of this agency. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NOTICE

How to Dispose of Old Police Items

Please contact Det. Ret. Kenny Driscoll if you have any pictures of you or your family members and wish them remembered here on this tribute site to Honor the fine men and women who have served with Honor and Distinction at the Baltimore Police Department.

Anyone with information, photographs, memorabilia, or other "Baltimore City Police" items can contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. follow us on Twitter @BaltoPoliceHist or like us on Facebook or mail pics to 8138 Dundalk Ave. Baltimore Md. 21222

 

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll 

Detective Patrolman Charles H. Read

Patrolman Killed Instantly in Crash

Detective Patrolman Charles H. Read, 30 years old, of the 3800 block of Yolanda Road, was killed instantly early last night [16 Nov 1943] when his automobile left the East Lane on E. 33^rd St., near Ednor Road, ran up onto the parkway and into a tree.

Patrolman Charles M. Michael, 28, of the 2700 block of Maryland Avenue, who was the passenger in the car, received a laceration to the scalp and chin as well as a contusion of he left leg. He was admitted to Union Memorial Hospital.

Both patrolmen were off duty and on their way home from working their shifts at the department at the time of their accident. Read, who had been a member of the police department for over three years was married but had no children.

Donations

Donations help with web hosting, stamps and materials and the cost of keeping the website online. Thank you so much for helping BCPH. 

Sergeant Paul E. Meeks Dies

Police Officer Stricken Suddenly with Apoplexy at his Home
 

26 Dec 1915

Sergeant Paul Meeks Died suddenly from a Apoplexy as he was leaving his house to head into work for his shift. The 37 year old Sergeant lived in the 1900 Blk. of Mosher St. The sergeant had enjoyed excellent health, turned to his wife and told her he wasn't feeling right and asked that she summon the family doctor. By the time the physician had arrived the sergeant was dead. . The good sergeant left behind a widow and four children, one of which a boy who was blind.

Meeks joined the police force on 15 Aug 1901 and was assigned to the Northwestern district where he would continue to work unto 15 Aug 1914 when he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to the Western District.

Only six weeks prior to his death did he join the Police Benefit Association. So his widow was qualified to receive a financial aid, rendered from the program. 

 Click HERE or the article above to see full size article

Donations

Donations help with web hosting, stamps and materials and the cost of keeping the website online. Thank you so much for helping BCPH. 

POLICE INFORMATION

Copies of: Your Baltimore Police Department Class Photo, Pictures of our Officers, Vehicles, Equipment, Newspaper Articles relating to our department and or officers, Old Departmental Newsletters, Lookouts, Wanted Posters, and or Brochures. Information on Deceased Officers and anything that may help Preserve the History and Proud Traditions of this agency. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NOTICE

How to Dispose of Old Police Items

Please contact Det. Ret. Kenny Driscoll if you have any pictures of you or your family members and wish them remembered here on this tribute site to Honor the fine men and women who have served with Honor and Distinction at the Baltimore Police Department.

Anyone with information, photographs, memorabilia, or other "Baltimore City Police" items can contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. follow us on Twitter @BaltoPoliceHist or like us on Facebook or mail pics to 8138 Dundalk Ave. Baltimore Md. 21222

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll 

Patrolman Charles W. Robb 

31 Oct 1926

On this day 31 Oct 1926 in Baltimore Police History, Patrolman Charles W. Robb [Northern District] took his own life out of shame for an accident that had occurred a day earlier [30 October 1926] in which the vehicle he had been operating was struck by another causing a permanent life threatening injury to one of the passengers a Miss Elizabeth Miller that was in his care. Ms. Miller and her friend Miss Pauline Shaw were being escorted to Miss Shaw's residence in the 400 block of Hawthorn St. when the vehicle they were in reached the intersection of Charles Street and Cold Spring Lane and was struck by a vehicle owned and operated by a Mr. Emil Stuart.

Patrolman Robb and his partner Patrolman James Novak had been transporting the young ladies in a departmental vehicle at the time. The driver of the striking vehicle, Mr. Stuart was a student of Johns Hopkins University he was transported to an area hospital for treatment, where he was also taken into custody, arrested and charged with reckless driving, speeding, failing to yield the right of way, and failing to have an operators card at the time of the accident. The two Patrolmen, Robb, and Novak were both suspended by their Captain [Frank R. Gatch] pending the outcome of the investigation. Reports at the time said the police car had been thrown 75 feet, due to the speed and impact of Mr. Stuart's vehicle.

Patrolman Robb shot himself through his heart with an issued service revolver. Miss Miller died 2 hours later from her wounds. Those that think Officers are some kind of machines that have no hearts, and don’t care, don't realize just how much this job takes from our police, and while this will unlikely ever officially be considered a line of duty death by the city, or the city police department, we at the Baltimore Police Historical Society hope you will agree with us in feeling, as if his vehicle had not been struck that day, Patrolman Robb would have gone on to live a full and complete life. It was his heart, his caring for the community, and his being a Baltimore Police Officer, that was he himself the victim of an accident that ruined and eventually took the life of a girl that was in this officer’s care, that gave him a kind of PTSD causing him to take his own life. For that reason, we feel his death was not only work related, but caused by the job, and for that reason we feel his life was taken from him in the line of duty. Therefore, we’ll put his name on this page and all other pages on our site with his fallen brothers and Sisters.  

May he rest in peace, and never be forgotten. 

For Full Size Article Click HERE or Article Above

For Full Size Article Click HERE or Article Above

Donations

Donations help with web hosting, stamps and materials and the cost of keeping the website online. Thank you so much for helping BCPH. 

Patrolman John Neill

1956 - 6 Feb 1956 - We lost our Brother Patrolman John Neill  

Donations

Donations help with web hosting, stamps and materials and the cost of keeping the website online. Thank you so much for helping BCPH. 

POLICE INFORMATION

Copies of: Your Baltimore Police Department Class Photo, Pictures of our Officers, Vehicles, Equipment, Newspaper Articles relating to our department and or officers, Old Departmental Newsletters, Lookouts, Wanted Posters, and or Brochures. Information on Deceased Officers and anything that may help Preserve the History and Proud Traditions of this agency. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NOTICE

How to Dispose of Old Police Items

Please contact Det. Ret. Kenny Driscoll if you have any pictures of you or your family members and wish them remembered here on this tribute site to Honor the fine men and women who have served with Honor and Distinction at the Baltimore Police Department.

Anyone with information, photographs, memorabilia, or other "Baltimore City Police" items can contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. follow us on Twitter @BaltoPoliceHist or like us on Facebook or mail pics to 8138 Dundalk Ave. Baltimore Md. 21222

 

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll 

Baltimore Police Department
1000's Take Oath

Baltimore Police History 21 Aug 1902, the entire department was forced to re-take their oath of office, as prior to this day, they had improperly and illegally been sworn, and had been improperly sworn for 35 years, based on the following:

Sun paper article dated 21 August 1902 titled, "1000 to take Oath" 
the entire police force, including Matrons, Must be Re-Sworn

1000 to take Oath

Entire Police Force, Including Matrons, Must Be Re-Sworn

Old Form Declared Illegal

Mr. Alonso Miles, Counsel For The Board, Makes The Discovery And Change Is Ordered.

Is possible that for 30 years, or ever since the recognition of the Police Department in 1867, the members of the department have been sworn in illegally?

Is it possible that each and every member of the department, from the Veteran Marshall to the most Verdant Probationary Patrolman, carrying his Espantoon like a stick of dynamite, must file up to the courthouse, pay $.10 and be properly sworn in by the clerk of the Superior Court?

These questions are not vaguely speculative but have assumed distinct form, and already preparations have been made for the swearing-in once more of the entire department. The walls of the police board sanctum will echo more oaths within the next few days then Dorn any other. Since the board was created.

News of this remarkable prospect only leaked out yesterday (Wednesday, 20 Aug 1902), and behind it is an interesting story. Hitherto it has always been the custom for the secretary of the board of police commissioners to swear in the newly appointed or promoted policeman. The system has been in vogue since the recognition of the department and its legal status has never heretofore been questioned. It is probably a relic of the old regime when the department was a municipal organization. The discovery that the old way of administering the oath is illegal was due to the desire of the present board to conform with the letter of the law in all matters.

Mr. Upshur Investigates

When Marshal Farnan was appointed to his present rank on August 8 it happened that Mr. Joshua H Kinsley, the secretary of the board, was spending his vacation at the seashore. After the appointment had been made the question arose who should administer the oath of his new office to Marshall Farnan. Present ups are for the time being by concluding that as the secretary had administered the oath in the past, the president of the board had an equal right to do so, especially as the president is empowered to administer the oath to witnesses at trials. He accordingly swore in Marshal Farnan.

Afterward, in thinking over the matter, it occurred to Mr. Upshur that, while he had as much right to swear in an officer as a secretary, the authority of the latter official to do so was not entirely clear.

Mr. of sire being a lawyer, the subject naturally interested him and he made a diligent search of the state and police loss but failed to find any statue which would enlighten him. Realizing then that the matter was an important one and required immediate attention, he determined to call the attention to Mr. Alonso W. Miles, the Council to the board, to the subject. This was accordingly done.

Counsel Miles Opinion

Mr. Miles devoted much time to the subject and after a painstaking investigation came to the conclusion that since its organization in 1867 no member of the Police Department has been sworn in legally. This option he based upon a section of the Maryland Constitution and a statue of the public general laws of Marilyn. Section 6 of article 1 of the Constitution is as follows:

every person elected or appointed to any office of profit or trust, under this Constitution, or under the laws made pursuant thereto, shall, before he enters upon the duties of such office, take “and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation:

“I, _______, do swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of United States; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the state of Maryland, and support the Constitution and laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice, execute the office of ________ according to the Constitution and laws of the state, and (if the governor, senator, member of the house of delegates or judge) that I will not directly, or indirectly receive the profits of, or any part of the profits, or any other office during the term of my acting as _______.”

Article 7 of the public general laws deal with official oaths, by whom, when and where they must be taken. After describing the oath for the governor, secretary of state, judges, comptroller incorporation officers, the article section 6 says:

all other officers elected or appointed to any office of trust or profit under the Constitution or laws of the state, including the mayor or other chief magistrates of municipal corporations, shall take and subscribe the said oaths, in the city of Baltimore before the clerk of the Superior Court, and in several counties before the clerk of the circuit court or before one of the sworn deputies of such clerk’s.

Section 7 says:

The said clerk shall each procure and keep in his office a well-bound book, to be called a test book, in which shall be printed or conspicuously written the oaths aforesaid, and every person taking or subscribing the same shell Annex to his signature the title of the office to which he shall have been elected or appointed, and the date of his signature.

Section 2 of the same article 6 is the fee of the clerk for ministering the oaths at $.10 each.

1000 Will Swear Anew

At yesterday’s meeting of the board, Mr. Miles submitted to the board the result of his investigation. Immediate action was then taken. Deputy clerk Peter Stevens, of the Superior Court, was summoned to the boardroom and consulted about the best possible means of administering that oath to the 1009 members of the Police Department. He was also ordered to procure a book to be used as a “test book” in which will be preserved to signatures of each officer. This announcement will probably cause an immense expenditure of ink on the part of those who signatures resembled Chinese laundry tickets and who will naturally desire to improve their penmanship.

The work of Reese wearing in the membership of the department will begin at once and will be carried on as rapidly as is consistent with the workings of the department. Exactly how it will be done has as yet not been definitely settled. There are 1000 members of the Police Department, including matrons and employees, and it $.10 each these Wilmette the clerk of the Superior Court about $100.

A Great Surprise to the Board

President Upshur was seen last night at the Maryland club. In answer to questions about the change in the manner of swearing in the members of the department he said:

“Yes, it has been found necessary to re-administer the oath of office to every member of the department. Mr. Miles announced to the board today that this was necessary, and the work of Reese wearing in the officers will begin at once. Mr. Stevens has been ordered to procure a test book, and the swearing-in of the men will probably take place in the boardroom.

“The discovery that the oaths as administered to the officers by the secretary of the board is illegal was a great surprise to the board. Ever since the recognition of the department in 1867, it has been the custom of the secretary to swear in the officers, and his right to do so has never, I believe, been questioned. As soon as Mr. Miles gave his opinion on the subject the board ordered that all of the men must take another oath, as prescribed by the law.”

Doesn’t Affect Departmental Acts

Mr. Alonso W Miles counsel to the board, at first declined to discuss the matters, but when pressed to talk, said:

“There is no doubt that the manner in which the oath of office has been administered in the past is illegal. The law is very plain and definite as to the manner in which the oath must be administered, and the wonder is that the fact should not have been discovered years ago. The question involved, however, is one of a minor detail and does not affect anything that the department has done or any arrest that has been made. The law says that a fee of $0.10 is required for each oath and the men themselves will probably have to pay this fee.”

Mr. Peter Stevens, deputy Kirk of Superior Court, was seen but declined to say anything about the matter. He admitted, however, that he had been called to the board on business.

See article HERE

From our Private Collections

Baltimore Police History

Option 1 : $5.00 USD - monthlyOption 2 : $10.00 USD - monthlyOption 3 : $25.00 USD - monthly

                                                                           

Donations

Donations help with web hosting, stamps and materials and the cost of keeping the website online. Thank you so much for helping BCPH. 

POLICE INFORMATION

Copies of: Your Baltimore Police Department Class Photo, Pictures of our Officers, Vehicles, Equipment, Newspaper Articles relating to our department and or officers, Old Departmental Newsletters, Lookouts, Wanted Posters, and or Brochures. Information on Deceased Officers and anything that may help Preserve the History and Proud Traditions of this agency. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NOTICE

How to Dispose of Old Police Items

Please contact Det. Ret. Kenny Driscoll if you have any pictures of you or your family members and wish them remembered here on this tribute site to Honor the fine men and women who have served with Honor and Distinction at the Baltimore Police Department.

Anyone with information, photographs, memorabilia, or other "Baltimore City Police" items can contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. follow us on Twitter @BaltoPoliceHist or like us on Facebook or mail pics to 8138 Dundalk Ave. Baltimore Md. 21222

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll