Company Profile
City of Oshkosh, WI
Company Overview
The Oshkosh Police Department strives to serve our community through partnerships with our citizens. We are a full service Law Enforcement Agency which employees over 100 Police Officers, a Support Staff of 39 full and part-time Civilian Employees, and 18 School Crossing Guards.
The Oshkosh Police Department is Nationally Accredited (CALEA) and State Accredited (WILEAG), and is regarded by many as one of the leading Law Enforcement Agencies in the State of Wisconsin. We are a department that cares about our community. We are Sons and Daughters, Fathers and Mothers, Wives and Husbands. We are your neighbor and your friends. We are committed to our community and care about the service that we provide.
Company History
Prior to the year 1853 Oshkosh was policed by a town constable. It was not until the spring of 1853 that Oshkosh was made a city by Charter, which was carried by a majority vote of the people. At this time, there was a city Marshall who was elected by the people. The population at this time was approximately 2900 people.
The location of the first police station was at the northwest corner of Otter and Shannon Street (State). It was later moved to the corner of Bond and Algoma when the first police headquarters was razed. Upon completion of the present City Hall, the police department was again moved to its present quarters in 1887. In 1963, when City Hall made the move to its present building at 215 Church Avenue, the police department moved as well. The department's final move took place in 1980 to the present site of the Safety Building located at 420 Jackson Street where they shared the facility with the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department until 2003.
Through an ordinance adopted on July 25, 1861, the first organized police force was formed and headed by a Marshall who was to be appointed by the Common Council. The Mayor was given the authority to hire such persons, and for such time as he may see fit, to act as policemen. The first police force under the new ordinance consisted of a Marshall and four police officers. The first Marshall under the organized police department, Joseph Jackson, was the first white man to be married in Oshkosh in the early spring of 1838. It was not until 1873 that the title of the head of the police was changed from Marshall to that of Chief of Police. The first Chief of Police was E. M. Neff. As the city rapidly grew in population, the police force in 1888 consisted of 12 men and a Chief.
The Oshkosh Police Department has had three officers die in the line of duty:
Officer Louis Hardy - Died from gunshot wounds in 1890 while investigating a tavern disturbance
Officer George O'Connor - Died in a car traffic accident in 1922
Officer Walter Spiering - Died in a car traffic accident in 1939
In 1914, the first piece of motorized equipment was added to the police department, this being a one cylinder excelsior motorcycle, which was a great asset to the department in the handling of the rapidly growing number of motor vehicles on the road at that time. In 1917, the city acquired its first combination ambulance and patrol wagon, a great improvement over the horse drawn equipment , which it replaced. It was not until 1924 that the first squad car was purchased, this being a Model T. Ford touring car. Prior to the time that the first motorcycle was added, the police officers on outlying beats patrolled with bicycles.
In 1922, the Gamewell Call Box System was installed. Under this system, the officers working on the beats were required to call their headquarters every hour, on the hour, for any further information or instructions that came in after the starting roll call. Prior to the installation of the call boxes, the officers used any available phone to contact their office.
In an attempt to improve safety conditions for both motorists and pedestrians, the police department in 1931 joined forces with the National Safety Council. Through reports sent to the National Safety Council for competitive safety recognition, with several cities throughout the United States, the police department has received several meritorious awards and honorable mention.
By a charter written in 1934, the members of the police department joined the Wisconsin Policeman's Protective Association. This is an organization for better cooperative legislation on all matters concerning the police, and also to maintain a closer relationship between all police departments throughout the State of Wisconsin.
In 1935, to promote the safety of school children at street crossings while on their way to and from school, the School Boy Patrol System was inaugurated, under the direction of Franklin Kreml of the National Safety Council.
The first radio messages were dispatched by the police department in 1936. These were given out to the squad cars by means of a phone call to the Sheriff's Department, who in turn relayed the messages to the squad cars. There was no way of knowing then whether or not the squad received any of these messages, as they were equipped with a receiver only and could not confirm any of the messages given to them. They were required to call their office once each half hour to get any further instruction to carry out on their tours of duty.
In 1942, the Oshkosh Police Department had its first two-way radios operating under the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department radio station WAKE. Under this system, the office could contact the squads and the squads, in turn, could confirm any messages given them. In March 1950, the City of Oshkosh purchased a three-way station known as K.S.B. 360 along with 15 mobile units. Under this system, the office may call the squad or motorcycles, and they could confirm any messages. Also, they could talk from one cycle or squad car to the others without the Desk Sergeant having to take part in any of the conversation. The addition of radio equipment has made it possible to apprehend criminals and violators more rapidly and has been a great asset in the prevention of crime and accidents.
In 1946, the first police power boat was added to the department and is credited with recovery of many drowned bodies and saving numerous lives.
In 1948, the Oshkosh Police Department collected dog taxes, delivered black lists, were responsible for Ambulance Service, conducted driver license testing, and delivered and collected city taxes by going house to house to both deliver and collect the taxes.
We have come a long way from our start back in 1853.
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