History of the Manchester Police Department

Prepared by Lieutenant Susan Gibbens

Historical Perspective

1673-1900

1900-1927

Forward

This volume would have been impossible to complete without the efforts of Officer Josh Searle. Without Josh's enthusiasm and curiosity, most of the content of this album would have been lost to us. Without his energy and generosity, this album could not have been written. S.I.G.

The Manchester Police Department did not keep its historical records. Writers of histories of the Town of Manchester ignored the police and their contributions to this community. Many of the files of the Manchester Herald were damaged or destroyed. Much of the firsthand information from veteran officers was lost with their passing.

Over the years, Josh interviewed retired officers and their families; collected and preserved department artifacts and memorabilia; researched town records and historical society files; and created and maintained a department museum when there was no department museum.

This history of the MPD was taken from the Manchester Police Department Commemorative Album, published in 1996, celebrating the centennial year of the Department.