WHEN Omaha was little more than a name, consisting mostly of a large river running past a small cluster of shacks and shabby stores, she had a police force. It was composed of several determined men, forty feet of lariat and a huge cottonwood tree near Florence. During the early fifties enough human fruit was borne by this venerable pile of vegetation to chill the ardor of the swarm of ruffians and desperadoes who were passing through to the Golden West, and times were ripe for a vigorous and official guardian of the public peace when "Uncle Billy" Snowden was appointed city marshal in 1865.

    There had been other marshals before him, but none as thorough and painstaking in the job as himself. It was in 1858 that the settlement had grown so large as to demand a city government of some sort, and consequently Jesse Lowe was elected mayor and a council selected. One of the first acts of this body was to establish a police department, which consisted of J. A. Miller, who was made marshal and attended to all the business single handed. Miller had a private business in which his official capacity did not interfere very much. He only sallied forth to make arrests when called upon and everything was merry as a wedding bell.

     Thomas L. Sutton followed him, and drew the magnificent salary of $500 a year. He held the distinction of conducting the first legal execution in Omaha, he hanging Cyrus H. Tator for the murder of James H. Neff, who had been killed with robbery as a motive. Thomas Riley was his assistant at the ceremony and afterward became marshal. Other marshals were Crockett, Wilson, Towery, Marsh, Angell, Westerdahl, Butler, Guthrie and Tom Cummings and "Uncle Billy" Snowden, who was neither last nor least.

     "Uncle Billy" was appointed in 1868 and served several terms now and then thereafter. He was the terror of all "bad" men and inaugurated a campaign against crime which was one of the most remarkable single-handed combats which ever occurred in Omaha. Not regarding his salary as sufficient he turned in a bill for what he thought was right, and the city authorities gracefully allowed it. "Uncle Billy" served for some time, but Tom Cummings was marshal when the first Board of  Omaha Fire and Police Commissioners was appointed and a Metropolitan police force put in the field.

     It was in 1887 that this occurred and up to that time the marshals had had to get along with a handful of men who endeavored to patrol the city, which was large and scattered in territory even then. Several of the veterans of the present splendid force worked under the late marshals, when the corps consisted of twenty men. It remained this strength until the metropolitan organization in 1887.

     For more than a decade preceding the official organization, the  jail was situated in the basement of the building used as a county  courthouse at the northeast corner of Sixteenth and Farnam streets, where the Paxton Block now stands. It was a poor sort of place, judged from the perspective of today, and consisted of a mere hole in the ground with a desk and a bench or two. It was a relief when the property was sold in order that the present Paxton Block might be built. At this time Marshal Guthrie went out of office and Marshal Tom Cummings took his place. This was in 1885, and the town was commencing to boom.

     The police station was moved across the street, to a building which would now be located a few doors north of Farnam on the west side of Sixteenth street, and many improvements were made in the service. The  jail was a better one, and the office almost respectable. Nevertheless, it was in this station that a rat took Mike Whelan's wallet into its nest beneath the floor and chewed it, along with over $100 in bills, into the veriest shreds. Even with this costly incident in view, the change was much for the better.

     The force was increased, a measure which had become absolutely necessary, for Omaha was growing like a toadstool, although the simile is a poor one in many ways, for it was a sweet and healthy growth, as one can readily see today. Marshal Cummings was furnished a deputy marshal; who was none other than the late John W. McDonald, sheriff for several terms in late years and one of the best known and most beloved of citizens. Mostyn was appointed roundsman, Mike Whelan court officer and Al Sigwart jailer. All of these three last named worked still farther up the ladder, Sigwart being chief at one time.

     It was at this time that Omaha saw its first patrol wagon. It wasn't much of a patrol wagon, but it was indeed a gorgeous spectacle to the citizens of 1885. It was a light, delicate sort of affair, and one team of wild west broncos was furnished to drag it around the town. The paraphernalia and animals were housed in a barn at Fifteenth and Cass street, known as "Fleming & Shand's Stables." The first driver was Pete Turkleson, who is now running a saloon at Sixth and Pierce streets; and the first conductor was Andrew Crawford, who has since become a prominent physician and surgeon in a little western town.

     In 1885 the telephones were just coming into service and there were perhaps two dozen of these curious creations about the city. The little police station had one, of course, and had a connection with the Cass street barn. Turkleson and Crawford camped at the barn and took care of the precious patrol wagon and team. When one of the officers made an arrest he usually had to drag his victim a mile or so to the nearest telephone and notify the station, whereupon the station would notify the barn, Turkleson would get out of bed, hitch up, and he and Crawford would drive forth in quest of the prisoner. It was a tedious and unsatisfactory job, judged from this distance, but in those days it was deemed mighty fine.

     A year drifted by, and Omaha was delighted with its police service under Marshal Cummings. He proved to be a diligent and courageous officer, and many heroic deeds are placed to his credit in the annals. In 1886 the city came to his rescue with another team and another patrol wagon. The same system of notification was used, how ever, perforce. It was an improvement, nevertheless, and Omahans began to think that this city was probably the only one on the map as far as metropolitan doings were concerned. The ensuing boom was making its appearance stronger than ever and times were lively.

     In March, 1887, the police station took another little jaunt, lighting this time at the southwest corner of Fourteenth and Davenport street, in what was known as the Exposition Building. All the city officers were placed in this building while the present city hall was being constructed, and the police had the part of one floor for their jail and office. The jail barn was in the basement, which, by the way, was another improvement, for it brought the patrol wagons and jail office in direct communication at any rate, and expedited matters a good deal in case of serious trouble.

     Other additions were made to the service. The city gave the marshal a third team for the wagons, in order that there might be a relief, and two sets of patrol crews were also allowed, which made it considerably easier for the men. The police court was in the same building and was much better equipped. In the previous lodgment it had been in a dark little hole back of the jail office.

     Finally, in August, 1887, the state provided for a Police Board for Omaha. Previous to this the officers had been appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, which had proven fairly satisfactory for a town, but not for a city--and Omaha was becoming a city mighty fast. The first Board appointed consisted of Howard B. Smith, who is the only living member of that organization, Christ Hartman, L. M. Bennett and George I. Gilbert. Mr. Smith is an attorney in Omaha at present. Bennett was president of the Omaha Savings Bank and Gilbert was an attorney. Hartman died two years ago.

     The newly appointed Board set out to completely reorganize the force. In order that this might be done with completeness and dispatch they started out by discharging each and every member of that body by the polite means of asking their resignation. The commissioners then began their work in earnest.

     Their first appointment was W. S. Seavey, a police officer, as chief of the department. Duff Green was made senior captain and Thomas Cormack junior captain. Among the sergeants appointed were Mostyn, Henry P. Haze, Mike Whelan and Johnson. Captain Green entered the chattel loan business after his resignation and died two years ago, while Captain Cormack operates a private detective agency in partnership with Haze, who resigned after having served several years as captain.

     The force of patrolmen was increased to 53 officers, which is interesting to note, since Omaha at that time, being in the beginning of an immense and far-reaching boom, had a population of probably 100,000. The interest lies in the fact that in 1905, eighteen years later, due to a lack of funds, the Omaha police force was cut down to the same number of men, to patrol a field covered by perhaps 40,000 more citizens. It would appear that Omaha was better off in the first year of its metropolitan force than in its eighteenth, when one officer was known to be required to patrol a ten mile beat. But that is retrospection, and gloomy besides. The situation has been well remedied since that time.

     Another improvement, and one of the most important, and certainly the most lasting, was the installation at this time of the Gamewell system of patrol boxes. This system is still in use by the police of Omaha and has proven wonderfully satisfactory. By this means the poor, wandering patrolman did not have to lug his catch for blocks upon blocks in the hope of finding one of the scarce telephones of that day, but merely had to step to his "box," pull a lever and wait for the wagon. Nowadays the patrolmen can almost shut their eyes and touch a telephone, if they reach out in front of them, but they still adhere considerably to the box system, which has proven a tried and true friend. When first installed; this system was operated at the station by the police themselves, three operators handling the "business." Now they have young women at the switches, and apparently very attractive young women, too, for five of them have quit so far to marry police officers whose reports they were handling.

     Then came the really lively days of 1888 to 1890, when the boom was at its height. The force was increased to ninety men and things were lively as a cricket and merry as a wedding ball. No changes in the personnel of the force were made, at least of any consequence. Chief Seavey proved eminently satisfactory and his men worked for him with a will. At present, by the way, he is at the head of a big western detective agency, headquarters at Seattle, and is accounted a very rich man.

     In 1892 the office of Chief of Detectives was created and Sergeant Mostyn was promoted to this seat. Al Sigwart and Mike Dempsey were made sergeants at the same time, which was a step up the ladder for them, also, and one of which they took the best advantage. Their records show the stuff they are made of.

     Chief of Detectives Mostyn and the new system worked like a charm. Under him were such men as J. J. Donahue and Henry W. Dunn, whose names are enrolled at present upon the highest pinnacle of police fame. Donahue is now Chief of Police and Dunn is Junior Captain, both of them stars on the force.

     In 1894 Captain Duff Green resigned and Mostyn was appointed in his place, Sergeant Henry P. Haze assuming Mostyn's chair as Chief of Detectives. In the meantime the enrollment of patrolmen had reached the high water mark of 115 men and the service given the people was excellent. Not to this day has this number been reached, although Omaha has been growing daily, but the discrepancy can probably be accounted for by the fact that in those days, in the height of the boom, money was free and easy, and spent as soon as earned. At any rate, they certainly had a police force of which they might well be proud. When Mostyn was made captain, W. S. Shoop and George D. Graves were made sergeants. Shoop resigned from the force later, but recently rejoined and is now pawn shop inspector.

     Captain Cormack resigned in 1895 and Mostyn thereby became Senior Captain, Donahue still remaining detective. In June of that year Chief of Police Seavey resigned and in September the Police Board selected Martin White to fill the vacancy. About this time politics began to work, and the Supreme Court removed the Board which had selected Chief White, and White went out with the Board. Sergeant Sigwart was then appointed Chief of Police and served in that capacity for two, years, when some more politics seethed in the kettle and a new Board was appointed.

     Con Gallegher, ex-postmaster, was this body's choice as Chief of Police, and Martin White was still left out in the cold. The sergeants appointed at this time were Sigwart, Iler, McGrath, Halter, Dempsey and Whelan. The latter, by the way, was never off duty at any time, and was sergeant through the entire strife.

     In 1898, Chief Gallegher was replaced with Martin White. The Police Board discovered that their funds were not sufficient to maintain the force as it stood and thirty officers were put out. The Board immediately appointed new men to fill the vacancies.

     All this brought about a big combat, however, and the officers who were deposed by the incoming Police Board sued for their salaries, recovered them, and were mostly all reinstated later. But in the meantime, J. J. Donahue and Iler were appointed captains under White.

     The matter was settled, however, in a somewhat sad manner, by the sudden death of Chief White on October 25, 1899. As soon as the funeral services were over, Captain. J. J. Donahue was unanimously selected as the most efficient man to fill the important position of Chief, and was promoted to that rank, which position he has held ever since, with honor to himself and the force. His Captains were immediately appointed, they being Thomas Hayes and Iler. The force had been depleted by this time until it had but 97 patrolmen--which, by the way, is a dozen more than Omaha boasts at present.

     Things went along in this vein until 1902 when the supreme court again took a hand, ousted the acting police board and reinstated another. The only change of importance which this brought about was the appearance of Mostyn as captain, succeeding Iler, and Henry P. Haze, succeeding Thomas Hayes.

     In 1905 came the worst times the police force of Omaha ever saw. The appropriation given the Omaha Police Board failed to cover the expenses and that body was forced to cut down their already slender array of men to a mere 53 patrolmen. The men were not discharged, but were laid off for sixty days, twenty at a time. They worked in two shifts; where they had previously been working in three, and this practically doubled their work. The situation at this time was verging on the ridiculous, since men had to patrol beats which they could not cover if they walked all night at top speed. Ten miles was the longest beat, and two miles the shortest. It was hard times for the boys in blue.

     But this did not last. With the first of the new year the new appropriation came in, and thanks to the indefatigable efforts of Chief Donahue, it was somewhat larger, and the Board, at the request of Chief Donahue, immediately reinstated the men who had been temporarily laid off. A few months previous to this Captain H. P. Haze resigned and Chief of Detectives Dunn, who had filled that position for several years, took his place. Detective Savage, who had been "doing the pawnshops" for a long time, aside from general detective work, was made "Chief of that department, and that is the situation today.

     The force at present consists of 135 men and a matron. Sergeant Thomas Hayes was recently promoted to the office of Lieutenant, and Sergeant Michael Whelan resigned, being placed on the pension roll. There are eighty-nine patrolmen, fifteen detectives, nine special officers, six sergeants, one court officer and the rest of the roster is made up of the usual quota of "odd duty" men and commanding officers.

     The history of the rolling equipment of the force has become interesting. Besides the two patrol wagons, an ambulance was purchased in 1898 and an emergency buggy in 1896. The old patrols broke down and wore out in 1906 and two new covered wagons were purchased. A year ago, however, the Police Board purchased a big steam auto patrol wagon which did good service until October, when the jail barn fire occurred, due to the ignition of gasoline, the auto, patrols, emergency rig and six horses being destroyed. Chaffeur Bausnick was terribly burned and was in the hospital two months.

     At present the police have one light touring car as an emergency vehicle and two big patrol autos have been purchased. With the advent of these improvements, the horses and old patrol wagons have been completely dispensed with.

     The police station, jail and police court are now at Eleventh and Dodge streets, where they were moved from Fifteenth and Jackson. The jail and station equipment was moved from the old Exposition building just before it burned and occupied the basement of the Jackson street hotel building until 1898, when it was moved to the present location.

     From the time that H. P. Haze was Chief of Detectives, there have been five men in that office, Captain Cox succeeded Haze, and E. H. Hemming came next. Then Cox returned, to that job and Sergeant McGrath stepped in. From 1898 until 1903 there was no chief of detectives, the police captains caring for that side of the department, and Henry W. Dunn, present captain, was appointed at the end of that time. The first police matron was a Mrs. Cummings, wife of the officer, and following her came Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Tiedman, Mrs. Little, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. D. Rafter, Miss Stillwell, Miss Anderson and Mrs. Gibbons, the present incumbent. All of these but two were wives of police officers, sooner or later.

     So now the Omaha police force is in splendid shape. In Chief Donahue and his Captains, with such officers as "Patsey" Havey, Sergeant Dempsey, Inspector Shoop, and the rest in support, it is slight wonder that the city has such a dread reputation in crookdom.

     And with the promise of larger appropriations in the future, two substations, a larger force and equipment, the horizon would seem to secrete things of joy to one of the best managed and most capable bodies of police officers in the country.