Police & Law Enforcement
Historic photos of those who have sworn to "serve and protect" - the first responders in dangerous situations. See more...
"His job involves putting others' needs ahead of yours." - a policeman's wife. This quote sums up the life of most policemen and women and their families. Whether federal, state, or local law enforcement, the lives of the police most often revolve around their chosen profession. This has always been the case.
Often a family tradition of serving the community, generation following after generation, the life of a cop requires a lot of dedication. Long hours, dangerous conditions - domestic disputes are often the most perilous - and, often, the mistrust of the people they are serving, is a grueling experience. While previous generations of police have been good and honorable people, wanting to protect those in their communities, the current racial and political divisions have taken their toll.
Current police officers say such things as:
"I pulled over a female the other day, and it took her a block or two to stop. When she finally did, I asked why, and she said she didn’t want to stop where there wasn’t any light, because she didn’t know what I was going to do to her. I thought, Wow, we’re the bad guys now." - a police officer in Florida
"That anxiety you feel when you encounter us? We feel it too." - a police officer in Ohio
"Before, when we stopped a car, we just walked up, said “You’re speeding,” and asked for license and registration. Now the first thing we ask is if they have a weapon in the vehicle." - an Iowa state trooper.
Times have changed, the cultural environment has changed, but the life of a police officer hasn't. It has only gotten more dangerous. From the lawmen of the Old West to the community patrols of the present, these are the photos of those have chosen to serve and protect, often at their own peril.
Often a family tradition of serving the community, generation following after generation, the life of a cop requires a lot of dedication. Long hours, dangerous conditions - domestic disputes are often the most perilous - and, often, the mistrust of the people they are serving, is a grueling experience. While previous generations of police have been good and honorable people, wanting to protect those in their communities, the current racial and political divisions have taken their toll.
Current police officers say such things as:
"I pulled over a female the other day, and it took her a block or two to stop. When she finally did, I asked why, and she said she didn’t want to stop where there wasn’t any light, because she didn’t know what I was going to do to her. I thought, Wow, we’re the bad guys now." - a police officer in Florida
"That anxiety you feel when you encounter us? We feel it too." - a police officer in Ohio
"Before, when we stopped a car, we just walked up, said “You’re speeding,” and asked for license and registration. Now the first thing we ask is if they have a weapon in the vehicle." - an Iowa state trooper.
Times have changed, the cultural environment has changed, but the life of a police officer hasn't. It has only gotten more dangerous. From the lawmen of the Old West to the community patrols of the present, these are the photos of those have chosen to serve and protect, often at their own peril.
This photo was rescued from an antique shop in Seaside, Oregon on January 24, 2015. No name on the back, but some good information: Age 21, Year: 1925 (so subject born ca. 1904). Address is 1814 Toberman Street in Los Angeles. I should be able to track down census or city directories to hopefully get a name.
Added
Jan 26, 2015 by: Patti Hutterli
Patti Hutterli
160 favorites
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A photo of Officer Peter Arens, Minneapolis Minnesota Police Officer. My grandmother’s father was a police officer early 20th century Minneapolis. He was born in 1873 and died in 1950.
People in this photo:
1873 - 1950
1873 - 1950
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Oct 16, 2014 by: Christopher Hopkins
Christopher Hopkins
18 favorites
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A photo of my Great Grandfather: Fredrick William Green, Omaha Police Officer.
People in this photo:
c. Jan 17, 1864 - c. Nov 21, 1937
1864 - 1937
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Aug 26, 2014 by: Ronda Hewett
Ronda Hewett
95 favorites
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1877 - 1912 died from lockjaw as a result of a coal mining accident at age 34.
People in this photo:
Apr 14, 1877 - Dec 7, 1912
1877 - 1912
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Jun 18, 2014 by: Charles Foertmeyer
Charles Foertmeyer
5 favorites
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A photo of John Alexander Campbell
People in this photo:
Dec 27, 1892 - May 16, 1964
1892 - 1964
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May 13, 2014 by: Glenda Sharry
Glenda Sharry
11 favorites
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A photo of John Samonek, 1926 - 2010, in his police uniform.
People in this photo:
Mar 17, 1926 - Aug 12, 2010
1926 - 2010
Added
Apr 27, 2013 by: Chris Samonek
Chris Samonek
7 favorites
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Grandpa Alfred O. Swift was elected Town Marshall for Sabula, Iowa. This photo was taken in 1899.
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
? - ?
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Jun 6, 2012 by: Brenda Taylor-Silva
Brenda Taylor-Silva
44 favorites
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John Elmer Mason, NYPD in 1922, age 22
People in this photo:
March 1900 - Unknown
1900 - ?
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Feb 24, 2012 by: Stacey Vellines
Stacey Vellines
5 favorites
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This photo portrait of Bernard Battles was sent to my great-great-grandfather, Roscoe Dabney Chesterman, a policeman in Richmond, Virginia.Though the note is dated 1894, Mr. Battles thanks Mr. Chesterman for his help in September of 1892. Presumably, this concerned police business between the two states.
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
? - ?
Added
Jan 11, 2012 by: Ancient Faces
Ancient Faces
450 favorites
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A photo of Ray Cortland Young in his U.S. Secret Service uniform.
People in this photo:
Oct 12, 1894 - Nov 27, 1954
1894 - 1954
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Jul 28, 2015 by: Barrett Young
Barrett Young
285 favorites
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A photo of Willis Washington Mahan and his son Thomas Walter Mahan, taken about 1886 in Waco, Texas, where W. W. Mahan was a constable.
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Feb 18, 2002 by: Thomas Tullis
Thomas Tullis
29 favorites
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My great-grandfather James Herod Anderson was an officer in the San Francisco Police Department in 1906 and this photo was taken of him standing amidst the rubble of the city's Civic Center soon after the earthquake.
People in this photo:
Feb 22, 1848 - Oct 31, 1927
1848 - 1927
Added
Jul 21, 2004 by: Thomas Anderson
Thomas Anderson
33 favorites
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A photo of LT. WILLIAM "WILLIE" STRAUCH, asking "And how can I help?" Lt. Bill Strauch, Homicide Division, Detroit Police Department (Retired). This photo taken in 1967 at the peak of the Detroit riots. Lt. Strauch was with the entry team conducting a raid at a location where someone from above was firing at officers patrolling the street. The Thompson sub-machine gun was being used by the suspect to fire at under-armed police. The perpetrator became a casualty and the 'Tommy Gun' was "kept as evidence" by Strauch until after the riot was under control...about three years later. Lt. Strauch served DPD for twenty-five years. He was born in Oliver #1, Pennsylvania and passed in 2001. He was a U.S. Army veteran and graduated from Cass Tech High School. He raised six sons with his wife, Micky.
People in this photo:
Jan 24, 1928 - Jun 6, 2001
1928 - 2001
Added
Apr 3, 2015 by: Tommy Dale
Tommy Dale
91 favorites
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Sgt. Bob Mulvey & Ptl. Lou Schreiner in 1979 at the 105th Precinct near door leading to the parking lot.
Added
Apr 18, 2001 by: Louis Schreiner
Louis Schreiner
342 favorites
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Omaha Nebraska mounted police officer
Born in Bellevue Ohio 1-17-1864 Died 11-21-1937
People in this photo:
Jan 17, 1864 - Nov 21, 1937
1864 - 1937
Added
Mar 13, 2013 by: Ronda Hewett
Ronda Hewett
95 favorites
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Photo of Seattle policemen wearing masks provided by the Red Cross to protect them from influenza. Seattle politicians feared that there would be mass hysteria due to the disease and so urged citizens to stay indoors and avoid congested areas.
These Seattle policemen were constantly patrolling the streets during the epidemic.
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Sep 27, 2011 by: Daniel Pinna
Daniel Pinna
6.44k+ favorites
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They had women as subway guards in New York in 1917? I guess so - women porters, women guards, and women couldn't vote! Guess women could work - but then we've always worked. It would be difficult to chase a stile jumper or a mugger in that skirt.
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress,
Bain News Service
Added
Sep 18, 2011 by: Kathy Pinna
Kathy Pinna
3.01k+ favorites
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Edward McCarthy, half-length portrait of criminal and description for police identification. Description includes name, alias, physiognomical characteristics, date of arrest in Chicago, Illinois, charge, etc., on verso. (arrested on suspicion June 21 1896, sentenced 25 - 30 days, age 37, occupation P.P.?, alias Hair Lip Kelly)
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress
People in this photo:
Unknown - Unknown
? - ?
Added
Aug 15, 2011 by: Kathy Pinna
Kathy Pinna
28.8k+ favorites
Topics:
Lenora Adeline or Adeline Lenora James. Married twice... 1. William Coker .. had one daughter Mary Coker. 2. Hiram Harris Mitchell .. had six children: Calvin James, Lenora Ella, Charles Nicholas (sheriff), Pvt. George Washington, Leona Adeline, Ada Belle.
People in this photo:
Oct 21, 1844 - Unknown
1844 - ?
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May 23, 2007 by: Sandy Tracy
Sandy Tracy
29 favorites
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Robert Lee Gaissert is on the second row, fifth from the left. He was age 50 when this was taken.
People in this photo:
Aug 8, 1874 - Unknown
1874 - ?
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Feb 8, 2005 by: Jean Gaissert
Jean Gaissert
30 favorites
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Added
May 12, 2004 by: Jody Mckinney
Jody Mckinney
22 favorites
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Mamere and Papere Laverdure Evangeliste Laverdure and Kate Ranger married Oct 29 1905.Evangeliste born june 1882 Kate born june 1885. Evangeliste son of Zepherine Laverdure and Theoiste Lavoie married Jan 10 1877 laPasse ont Evangeliste grandson of Francoie
Laverdure and Sophie Dupuis Married Jan 18 1830 Bytown
Added
Sep 24, 2003 by: Wayne Laverdure
Wayne Laverdure
17 favorites
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Lieutenant James Herod Anderson of the San Francisco Police Department, the rank he held at his retirement.
People in this photo:
Feb 22, 1848 - Oct 31, 1927
1848 - 1927
Added
Jan 1, 2001 by: Thomas Anderson
Thomas Anderson
33 favorites
Topics:
This is a photo of Nickie C Sudekum added by Nickie Sudekum on March 12, 2021.
People in this photo:
Feb 4, 1944 - Feb 17, 2008
1944 - 2008
Added
Mar 12 by: Nickie Sudekum
Nickie Sudekum
21 favorites
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This is a photo of Robert Arthur Staehle added by Matthew Staehle on November 29, 2020.
People in this photo:
May 1950 - Oct 16, 2016
1950 - 2016
Added
Nov 29, 2020 by: Matthew Staehle
Matthew Staehle
41 favorites
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