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