Board of Police Commissioners Minutes
Scope and Contents note
The City Charter of 1890 created the Board of Police Commissioners, which administered the Police Department. The Board consisted of the mayor and four police commissioners appointed by the mayor; police commissioners served four-year terms. The Board was responsible for appointing (and, when necessary, removing) the Chief of Police and all subordinate officers, as well as making regulations for the governance of the Department and deciding penalties for violation of rules.
Minutes of the Board of Police Commissioners, 1890-1896, report proceedings of Board meetings. Included are resolutions and policy decisions made by the Board and actions taken in dealing with Police Department employees (including applications for and appointments to positions on the police force, as well as resignations, disciplinary actions, and reinstatements). Also included are reports on investigations of charges or grievances against officers. An alphabetical index at the front of the volume lists the names of persons mentioned in the minutes as well as topics of interest.
Dates
- Creation: 1890-1896
Creator
- Seattle (Wash.). Board of Police Commissioners (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access note
Records are open to the public.
Historical Note
The City Charter of 1890 created the Board of Police Commissioners, which administered the Police Department. The Board consisted of the mayor and four police commissioners appointed by the mayor; police commissioners served four-year terms. The Board was responsible for appointing (and, when necessary, removing) the Chief of Police and all subordinate officers, as well as making regulations for the governance of the Department and deciding penalties for violation of rules.
Following allegations of corruption, the Commission was abolished by the new Charter of 1896. The Chief of Police, appointed by the mayor, served as administrator of the Department.
Full Extent
1 volume
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Proceedings of Board of Police Commissioners meetings, 1890-1896.
Subject
- Seattle (Wash.). Police Dept. (Organization)
- Seattle (Wash.). Board of Police Commissioners (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Board of Police Commissioners Minutes 1890-1896
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Shannon B. Lynch
- Date
- ĂĹ 2004
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
- EAD Location
- http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv14715
Repository Details
Part of the Seattle Municipal Archives Repository