Category: History

On June 10, 1909, the first automobile patrol wagon was put into service by the Minneapolis Police Department. It had originally been designated for the North Side Station but was used for the Central Station. It cost $2500 ($70,823 in 2020 dollars).

Law required that all automobile patrol wagons be enclosed. The closed body of the automobile patrol wagon was built and placed on a Rambler touring car of 35 horse power.

The automobile patrol wagon was also equipped to be used as an ambulance and, in fact, was always used if the call for an ambulance was coming from some distance away.

From June 10 through December 31, 1909, the automobile patrol wagon travelled a total of 5,144 miles.

The cost of repairs during that period cost $312.88 ($8,838). Gasoline and oil cost $142.97 ($4022 in 2020 dollars). The automobile patrol wagon responded to 2,764 calls. Several times, it travelled more than 70 miles in one day.

We know that the first automobile patrol wagon was chauffeured by Sergeant James McElligot, Patrolmen Charles E. Wolfe and Peter O’Neill, and Detectives Otto Wirtensohn and Oscar Martinson. We are not sure which of these officers are pictured in the photograph above from 1909.

Sources:

Annual Report of the the Various City Officers of the City of Minneapolis for 1909

Minneapolis Tribune of June 11, 1909

Minneapolis Tribune of February 20, 1910

Photograph by Unknown, Public Domain

Here is a rare glimpse of the Minneapolis Police Department Motorcycle Squad escorting Swedish Royalty during their visit to Minneapolis in July of 1938.

In the photograph, Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Louise ride in an open car preceded and followed by members of the Motorcycle Squad.

Photograph courtesy of the American Swedish Institute

(The car in the foreground carries a camera crew)

On September 2, 1908, Superintendent of Police Frank T. Corriston submitted his 1909 budget request to the City Council.

Amongst other improvements, he asked for $2000 for an automobile for the Central Station and $3000 for an automobile patrol wagon for the North Side Station.

Chief Corriston’s budget request made it intact through the City Council hearings but not through the subsequent meetings of the Board of Tax Levy which was also known as the “Pruning Committee”.

Chief Corriston’s budget request of $2000 for an automobile for the Central Station was not approved. But he was successful in his bid to obtain an automobile patrol wagon for the North Side Station.

On October 1, 1908, the sum of $2500 was approved for what was to become the first official automobile of the Minneapolis Police Department.

Source: The Minneapolis Tribune of October 1, 1908

Photograph of Chief Corriston, circa 1919, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

Photograph of Chief Corriston during his time with the Minnesota 13th Volunteers courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

On October 13, 1906, Joseph Gardot, the Chef of the Minikahda Club, was robbed and shot while waiting at 29th Street and Excelsior for the St. Louis Park Streetcar. Tragically, Mr. Gardot died of his wounds on October 23.

Directly after the robbery, a city-wide “manhunt” ensued to find the suspect who was later apprehended.

During the pursuit, concerned citizens offered the Minneapolis Police Department the use of their private automobiles to aid in the search.

In the words of the Minneapolis Journal:

***

Autos Prove Their Worth

After the first detail of police had been taken in an auto to the scene of the crime Saturday evening, other machines were engaged. Citizens desiring to aid the police offered their machines for the work, and the best system ever adopted here for forming a cordon and police dragnet was worked out in a few minutes.

Police Superintendent Doyle called the day men to headquarters for extra duty. Some of them went out to search for the bandit, while others remained to be rushed to any place they might be summoned. When a report came in that a suspect was lurking in any neighborhood, no matter how far from the center of the city, the police were on the ground in less than eight minutes and were almost always there in time to get the suspect. With the detective force engaged in the active search and extra patrolmen on duty for emergency work, the police were in a position to take advantage of every opportunity.“

“We are going to continue to hunt bandits with automobiles,” said Police Superintendent Doyle yesterday, and anyone with ordinary intelligence will not attack the police for desiring to get to a scene of crime in five minutes when it would take three times as long to go by any other method.”

The automobile has demonstrated its efficiency for police work during the last week and arrangements are to be made with a nearby garage to take officers to the scene of trouble hereafter.

***

Although the Minneapolis Police Department did not yet have its own automobiles, bit by bit they were building the case for them.

Source: The Minneapolis Journal of October 19, 1906

Photograph of the 1906 Aero Touring Car Manufactured by the Aerocar Company of Detroit, Michigan, from Unknown Source, Public Domain

You may recall the photograph above from our feature on the West Hotel Fire of 1906 last month.

In the photograph is shown the horse-drawn patrol wagons which were in use by our precincts in the early 1900s.

In 1905, there were a number of horses at the First Precinct who were worn out from their years of service and needed to be retired and replaced. At the same time, two new horses were needed at the Central Station.

Across Minneapolis, there was a growing realization that none of the police horse teams on hand had the speed required for good ambulance service. There was also concern that the rough ride these horse-drawn vehicles provided could cause further harm to accident victims.

And then there was something else…

The first automobile patrol wagon had rolled along the streets of Akron, Ohio six years earlier in 1899 causing great excitement across the nation.

The first automobile patrol wagon ran on electricity. Its first operator was Akron Police Officer Louis Mueller, Sr. The patrol wagon could reach a speed of 16 mph and travel 30 miles before its battery needed to be recharged. It was built by Akron city mechanical engineer Frank Loomis. The patrol wagon cost $2400 ($74,543 in 2020 dollars) to build and it was equipped with electric lights, gongs, and a stretcher.

At an exciting meeting of the Minneapolis Council Committee on Police on March 30, 1905, enthusiastic agreement was reached that an automobile patrol wagon would be purchased for the First Precinct if money could be found for it.

As we begin to take a look at the automobiles of the Minneapolis Police Department, we are wondering what your favorite vehicle was? Which did you enjoy driving most? Which vehicle do you wish you could have had the chance to drive? Which was the fastest? Was there a lemon in the bunch?

We invite you to share your thoughts by replying below or by writing to us at info@mplspolicemuseum.org

We would also love to see your photographs!

Thank you!

Source: The Minneapolis Journal of March 30, 1905

Photograph of the West Hotel Fire courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

Photograph of the Akron Patrol Wagon from Unknown Source, Public Domain

In April of 1901, the formation of the Sixth Precinct was completed and the members of the Mounted Police Squad were announced.

The Mounted Police Squad was comprised of Lietenant Coffin, Sergeants Sheppard and Frane, and Patrolmen E.B. Wetherell, P.C. Kiesner, M.J. Salmon, James Madden, J.F. Cunningham, C.O. Redein, W.H. Jones, C.A. Warner, H.S. Tedman, A. Provost, F.A. Clawson, and M.F. Dugan.

Officers Provost, Clawson, Dugan, Kiesner, and Wetherell came from the First Precinct. Officers Tedman, Salmon, and Madden were brought in from the Second Precinct. Officers Jones and Warner came from the Third Precinct. The Fourth Precinct provided Sergeant Frane and Officer Cunningham and Officer Redein came from the Fifth Precinct.

The members of the Mounted Police Squad received an extra $200 per year above their pay for the feeding, stabling and care of their horses.

It may be a long shot, but if you can match any of the names above to the faces in the photograph, please reach out to us at info@mplspolicemuseum.org

Source: The Minneapolis Journal of April 30, 1901

Photograph courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

A Blue Mass is a service celebrated annually in the Catholic Church for those employed in the public safety field (i.e. police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, 911 operators and EMS personnel).

The first Blue Mass was celebrated in September of 1934 by Father Thomas Dade of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

The Blue Mass honors those who have died in the line of duty and those currently serving.

The Blue Mass is an opportunity for the community to show gratitude to first responders and their families.

Photograph courtesy of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Minneapolis

Here is a glimpse into a Minneapolis Police Department recruiting campaign as featured in the local Norwegian language newspaper Minneapolis Tidende.

Translated into English, the text reads:

“Who can you contact for Information etc. to get into the Minneapolis Police Department? The Chief of Police. Applicants for employment with the Police must submit to a Civil Service Exam”.

Taken from the Minneapolis Tidende of March 2, 1922

On June 5, 1947, just one week before school closed for the summer, the Minneapolis Police Department launched a campaign to promote better traffic safety for children.

The total deaths for children from traffic accidents while playing numbered 6 in 1945 and 4 in 1946. By June of 1947, before school had even let out, 5 children had been killed and 300 had been injured from traffic accidents while playing.

The Traffic Bureau believed that many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented if children were taught to watch for traffic. They cited the top reasons for child traffic deaths and injuries as follows:

• Darting into streets without stopping to look both ways
• Playing ballgames, hopscotch, or tag in the streets
• Riding two children to a bike and not paying attention to the road

Source: Minneapolis Morning Tribune of June 5, 1947

Photograph courtesy of Hennepin County Library

Early in the 20th Century, inter-city baseball games were a popular fundraising event for the Minneapolis Police Benevolent Association.

On July 30, 1909, at a game between the Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Departments, a total of $5000 or $141,646 in 2020 dollars was raised for the Minneapolis Police Benevolent Association. This brought its total reserves up to $12,000 or $339,952 in 2020 dollars.

In 1909, when a Minneapolis Police Officer died, his widow received a one-time payment of $500 or $14,164 in 2020 dollars. When a Minneapolis Police Officer’s wife died, the officer was allowed to draw $100 or $2,832 in 2020 dollars from the fund. Officers also received assistance from the fund in times of illness, injury, or disability.

Source: The Irish Standard (Minneapolis, Minnesota) August 7, 1909

Photograph from 1922 of Captain Arthur Jacobson who was a member of the Minneapolis Police Baseball Team courtesy of Hennepin County Library