When the New York Police Department was formed in 1898, a policeman’s lot was not a happy one. Officers worked 64 hours on patrol or reserve (waiting around the stationhouse in case they were needed) every four days, with only 32 hours to themselves. After those four days, they got either 16 hours or a full day off before the cycle began again.
If an officer died on the job, his family received a $175 benefit from the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, funded by a 25-cent-a-month donation by each officer. The PBA was created in response to the high number of deaths (114 in 1898) of officers from tuberculosis and other diseases contracted while patrolling tenements.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you have an active digital subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password, if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print-only subscriber, and want access to our website,click here to view your options for changing you subscription level.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
