[Philadelphia Police Force]:

MANUSCRIPT LETTER, UNSIGNED, TO "HON. FINLETTER" AT HARRISBURG, EXPLAINING THAT THE POLICE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA "SHOULD HAVE A MILITARY ORGANIZATION."

[Philadelphia: c. 1849-1851]. Single sheet, folded to [4] pp. Undated and unsigned. Each page 7-5/8" x 9-7/8." Written on recto and verso of first leaf, page 3 blank, docketed on page [4]: "To the Hon. Finletter | Harrisburg."

Probably written to Thomas Finletter of Philadelphia, who served in the State Legislature at Harrisburg from 1849-1851. The author of this Letter must have been an influential part of the movement to reform the Philadelphia police, which until the 1854 reorganization, had been "under direct control of politicians" [Elkins, Police Department of Philadelphia, in Encyclopedia of Philadelphia]. The Letter urges that "The City be divided into four districts or watch stations composed of fifty men each and eight noncommissioned officers. The proposition is to organise each station into one company to be commanded by a Captain and a Lieutenant."
The impetus to render the force more professional and organized stemmed in part from the frequency of Philadelphia's anti-Catholic riots, and the prevalence of graft and corruption. The reforms reflected proposals set forth in this Letter: the consolidation of city and county under a single government; the organization of the police into divisions; with standardized weaponry. Item #38205

Price: $275.00