San Francisco Police Department

Police Districts 1880s

Because of the previous inability of officers to control vice in Chinatown, the Chinatown Squad, shown at left, was established in the early 1880s.

In 1889 the department established a patrol wagon/call box system through which officers could call their stations for the first time and obtain speedy backup assistance. Reserve officers standing by in stations would mount the wagons and respond quickly to calls for assistance and other emergencies.

In the mid-1890s the early wagons had open beds. They were later converted to the covered "New York" type, pictured below.

Reorganization

In the mid 1890s, as part of the Progressive political movement then sweeping the nation, the Department was reorganized. The rank of lieutenant was created to improve supervision and much of the old management staff was replaced. In 1898, San Francisco adopted a home rule charter, which adopted civil service provisions, and when it went into effect in 1900, returned control of the police department to city authorities.