December 1811-City's name changed from Twickenham to Huntsville
1812-Marshall Byrd-First Town Constable
December 1812-Madison County's first Capital Murder trial
1829-1832 Town Constable Fielding L. White's salary-$365.00 per year.
October 1831- in a throwback to the days of the Town Crier in Old England, an order was set by the town to have a Police Patrolman scream out the hour and the half hour until daybreak.
1866- City Marshall's salary was $75.00 per month.
January 1869- the salaries of the Police Department were decreased because Huntsville was not in a prosperous condition. City Marshall's salary was decreased from $900.00 per year to $700.00 per year.
Spring of 1872- a young soldier visited Huntsville with a proposition for the City's leaders. He wanted to supply Huntsville's police force with uniforms. Many northern policemen were already wearing uniforms, but the idea had not caught on in the South due to cost. Its not known whether the City purchased any, but two months later, the police force had uniforms.
July 1873- the Mayor began to speak of a new jail with a jail yard
July 1873- a resolution was introduced requiring the Marshall and the police to uniform themselves within thirty days.
June 1874- police clubs costing $7.80 were budgeted for the Department.
April 1876- extra police hired to guard the jail. The Departments force up to seven Officers including the Marshall.
April 1883- Officers were to be uniformed in blue with brass buttons and regulation badges.
July 1887- purchased uniforms for policemen not to cost over $20.00 per suit. The City Clerk was instructed to deduct $5.00 per month from their salary until the purchase money was paid
Budget for 1888----- $4,307.25
August 1889- policemen were allowed one week holiday provided no two of them took the same week.
September 1892- police officers were required to wear regulation helmets and carry their clubs at all times while on duty.
December 1892- policemen were granted permission to purchase overcoats, the City would pay for them and deduct $5.00 per month from their salaries until their debt was paid in full.
Budge 1893----------$4,532.40
April 1901--Night Chief of Police salary--$52.00 per month
May 1907- the Mayor recommended the Police Department be uniformed.
April 1908-Police Captain position created
May 1907- each member of the Police Department was allowed two weeks vacation.
July 1911--Chief Bullard's salary-----------$75.00 per month
March 1916--Chief Kirby furnishes a car to cover the police territory of the city, provided the City furnish gasoline, oil, tires, etc., for the time the car was in use by the city.
May 1919- Council moved the salaries of policemen to be raised to $85.00 per month and Police Sergeant be raised to $90.00
June 1923-due to the traffic problems and lack of police officers, permission was granted for a police dummy to be painted and posted at the intersection of Green and Clinton Street.
January 1925-the City Council approves purchase of a motorcycle.
April 1925-a new police vehicle was purchased by trading in an old with a difference of $94.26.
October 1926-a motorcycle purchased for $399.25
November 1926- the Department was authorized to purchase a Dodge Touring Car and a Chevrolet Touring Car.
September 1927-the Department purchased a Harley Davidson motorcycle for $350.00
March 1928- the Department requested to purchase a siren for an Indian motorcycle and for the Harley Davidson motorcycle for $32.50.
Budget for 1930 -------$24,754.38
April 1930-Boyscouts assist traffic patrolmen at Gallatin and Clinton and also at Jefferson and Clinton with school crossings for school children going home from school.
August 1931-Chief of Police grants permission for the Ku Klux Klan to have a parade in the City of Huntsville, however, the Police Committee wanted more time to investigate the matter.
August 1932-T.L. Blakemore completes the Course of Instruction in the Fingerprint Department from the Institute of Applied Science in Chicago, Illinois. He developed and implemented fingerprinting in the Department.
1940-Huntsville had 35 miles of street within the corporate limits, 26 miles which was either concrete, asphalt, or brick and 9 miles of unsurfaced streets.
1940-the Department consists of a Chief, 2 Sergeants, 17 Patrolmen including 2 traffic Officers. It was equipped with 2 motorcycles and 3 patrol cars.
January 1941- 20 cap badges and 20 traffic whistles purchased for patrolmen.
March 1941-the city had 80 traffic signals, only 40 in good condition.
May 1941-the City Council authorized the purchase of 5 dozen traffic stop signs.
September 1942-budget $44,691.64
February 1943-the Department was granted authority to purchase a radio broadcasting system not to exceed $2500.00
May 1943 the Department purchased a Motorola Complete Central Station unit, comprised of 50 watt transmitter and associated FM receiver, mounted upright in steel cabinet, and 3 two-ray mobile unites for $3,464.00
September 1946--budget $62,427.77
May 1947-Officers received 1 day a week off.
August 1947- 100 uniforms were donated from the Huntsville Arsenal to the Department, which were dyed at a cost of $2.75 per uniform.
August 1947-the Department received 8 traffic signals to be installed by the Electric System.
October 1947- 3 sirens and danger flashers were purchased for police cars.
February 1949-12 police call boxes were installed at a cost of $48.30 per month.
December 1949-the Department traded for a new radio system for $2,980.00 with Motorola.
August 1950-First female police woman working as a fingerprint and identification expert later classified as a civilian.
February 1953-Radios were installed on police motorcycles
December 1957-the City Council approved painting Police cars and motorcycles black and white.
1958-Huntsville Police had a force of 67 Officers with 6500 arrests that year. The Department had 8 traffic motorcycles, including 2 three-wheelers and 6 patrol cars. 5 men were assigned to the detective division and police personnel worked 8 hour shifts, 6 days a week. The Department also had a 30-man Civil Defense auxiliary patrol.
April 1958 the Department purchased 60 Colt model 357, .38 revolvers at $100 each.
June 1958--55 name plates were purchased for policemen.
June 1958-the City Council voted to send a police officer to a narcotics school in Washington in order to stop any practices of selling narcotics in the city.
1959- Huntsville Police added 17 Officers bringing the force to 72.
June 1959-Flasher lights were installed on police motorcycles.
January 1960-Juvenile Division created.
March 1960-the Police Committee requested to purchase a used patrol wagon from the City of Birmingham for $850.00.
February 1961-Chief Pylant request to purchase 24 Colt 357 pistols at a cost of $51.85 each from the Colt Manufacturing Company.
February 1961- Chief Pylant requested to order 80 patches to go on the uniforms. The patches were from the Flechiemer Company and cost $586.90.
February 1962-the Detective Division purchase a Polaroid camera from Montgomery Ward for $161.00
1960's, 70's Officers had to drive to McCain's uniform shop in Birmingham to get their uniforms with an allowance of $100.00, and purchase their leather at the House of Guns.
Chief Vizzini (Jan.1980-Dec.1985) Chief Vizzini came into the Department immediately making changes. Vizzini utilized uniform Officers to secure the main building, putting an Officer at the front desk as security and a receptionist. Everyone in the Department was required to wear uniforms, with the exception of undercover personnel. AM and CB radios were removed from all police vehicles. He ordered all cars locked at the end of each shift. Employees were told to address Officers by rank instead of formally. Identification badges were required at police headquarters. Officers were required to leave the engines running while out of the vehicles, which resulted in a few Police vehicles stolen. The vehicles were also keyed alike after an incident involving a citizen throwing the key from a marked unit. Uniform Officers were to keep their hair closely cropped and could not smoke in uniform. Uniform equipment was to be worn in the exact order that was arranged.
Budget 1980-1981----$6,154,622.000
September 1981-Gasoline tanker and train collision-Governors Drive/Jordan Lane
March 1982- Department started using an Alcohol Analysis Unit
1982-Patrol vehicles color scheme went from black/white to blue/white. Later to change to solid white with medium blue reflective decals. Vehicles also received protective dividers separating the rear seat from the front.
1983-the Department participated for the first time in the
U.S.P.C.A trials.
Chief Ottman (Sept. 1985-Aug. 1996) Lt. Ric Ottman is chosen to replace Chief Vizzini.. Chief Ottman was instrumental in instituting numerous changes. He mandated that all officers receive a minimum of 40 hours of in-service training per year, and required officers qualify a minimum of twice each year. Ottman assisted in forming a 13 member Citizens Police Quality Council in 1992, and also moved the Department's communication center from the lobby to an isolated area as he viewed the lobby as an extremely vulnerable site. Ottman also implemented a Chaplains program for the Department.
December 1986-Kettle incident-Officer Killian and K-9 Tiger shot while attempting to end a 5 hour standoff.
July 1988-HPD stops using propane powered patrol cars.
November 1989-an F-4 tornado rips thru South Huntsville
1992-Officers issued vehicles under the COPP (community oriented police patrol) program to increase community visibility, with full implementation by 1996. The City leased 60 new patrol cars for this program.
March 1992- Communications moved from Public Safety Building to basement of former public library.
Copyright
© 2009 The City of Huntsville, Alabama
Last Updated
07-28-2010