Transcribed from a brochure put out by the Colorado Springs Police Dept. in 2001
when they were celebrating 100 years

Colorado Springs incorporated as a city on September 2, 1872.

Law enforcement was the duty of a town constable, the first being S.C. Foote.  This appointed position was held primarily by one or two able body men who enforced ordinances adopted to safeguard the city trust and keep the peace.  In accordance with the Colorado State law, as the population of Colorado Springs grew, the constabulary was upgraded to a Marshal's Office in March of 1878.  Through the following years, no other man was as instrumental as L.C. Dana for the preservation of peace and the apprehension of criminals.  Dana and his force encountered their share of desperados.  Colorado Springs began its long reputation where (yeggs?) and highwaymen, the likes of Henry Starr and "Kid" Wilson, were quickly apprehended.

In April of 1901, the population of Colorado Springs grew to 30,000.  Again, in accordance with Colorado law and by a vote of Colorado Springs City Council, Colorado Springs became a first class city entitling it to upgrade it Marshal's Office to a Police Department.  The significance of this substantial act is that it marks a point where Colorado Springs had "come of age".  It marks an era of sophistication and prominence for city government.  The first Chief of Police named to the newly formed department was Vincent King.

In order to house the newly formed departments of city government, planning for the construction of City Hall began soon after Colorado Springs became a first class city.  Construction on this building commenced in May 1902.  Made of hard gray Barre granite and golden gray pressed brick, its outside dimensions are 130 feet by 56 feet.  Twenty-two granite steps and four massive columns with Ionic capitals give the building its imposing appearance.  The impressive rotunda is finely surfaced in green marbleized scagliola, similar in appearance to the newly finished county court house.  Although scagliola has significant structural strength, it was chosen in order to fire proof the main level of the building which housed all municipal records.

The Police Department which occupied the basement of City Hall, was later expanded to the main floor in the early 1950's.  The basement held separate jail cells for ment and women.  The office for the city physician was located at the southwest corner of the basement and a laboratory for the market master and other inspectors of the health department was located along the north end of the basement.  A matron's room and officer's quarters occupied the space under the main entrance.  Within one year, a shooting gallery would be installed in the sub - basement.  Officers practiced using army targets on a steel plate and shot at a distance of 12 paces.

In 1902, the Police Department was outfitted with a Studebaker horse drawn patrol wagon which was used to transport prisoners to jail.  The fourteen man department worked twelve hour shifts, only getting a fifteen minute meal break each day, and one day off a month.

Our young department grew up fast handling cases which were sensationalized in the press.  The "Child Bride Murder", the "Peaceful Henry shooting", and a six person ax murder quickly seasoned the greenest of rookie patrolman.  These early years also saw the murder of two of Colorado Springs' finest.

In the 1920's, a salary ordinance was passed by City Council, elevating a patrolman's salary to $105 a month.  The department's sole police woman received $100.

During the First and Second World Wars, the Police Department mobilized a "Reserve Watch".  This quickly formed group of officers filled in for regular beat cops who were recruited by our county's military forces.  During the Second World War, military police assisted the CSPD patrol cops in the downtown area.

The 1960's mark the beginning of the "Modern Age" for the Springs Police.  The new police headquarters building located at 224 East Kiowa (the site of Helen Hunt Jackson's house) was seen as a "futuristic complex".  Having a newly designed records and identification section, a crime lab, and dispatch room, headquarters helped to increase the efficiency of the patrol officer in the turbulent time of the sixties.

In a seven year time span starting in the mid - seventies, the Colorado Springs Police Department weathered its darkest time.  In this period, six officers in six separate events, lost their lives in service to the City of Colorado Springs.

At the end of this last century, the Colorado Springs Police Department struggled to keep pace with the enormous growth of the Colorado Springs area.  Branching out into three separate area stations (Falcon, Gold Hill, and Sand Creek) the Colorado Springs Police Department services a population of approximately 366,000 in 186 square miles.  In this our centennial year, the Colorado Springs Police Department will handle approximately 188,800 calls for sevice with its 570 sworn officers and 240 civilian employees.

Submitted by Sundee Maynez [11July2002]