CITY OF BOSTON.

TO HIS HONOR THE MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOSTON.

GENTLEMEN:

In conformity with the requirements of the fifth section of the ordinance on Police, I have the honor to submit this my First Annual Report, embracing a brief description of the organization of the Police Department, with a synopsis of its labors for the year.

During that portion of the year included in the period from the 31st of December, 1855, to the 14th of April, A. D., 1856, the department was under the charge of my predecessor.

The department comprises two hundred and fifty men; two hundred and thirty-nine of whom are detailed for duty at the eight police stations, allowing to each such number of men as the territorial extent or other peculiarities of the several districts may require, the city at present being divided into eight police districts.

Exclusive of the number detailed at the several stations, there are stationed at, and connected with, the Chief's office, the Clerk of Police, one acting Deputy Chief of Police, and the Superintendent of Vaults, one

special officer whose duties are of general character, two Police officers, one of whom is the Superintendent of Trucks and Waggons, and one has the superintendence of Carriages, &c. These officers attend to the applications for, and the distribution of, licenses for trucks, waggons, hacks and carriages, and collect the excise for the same.

The two last named officers are also detailed for special duty on the Sabbath, when necessary, and on public occasions, military parades, and, at other times when their services are not required in their several depart

ments.

There is also a small body of men, known and recog nized in the department as detectives, who, beside performing the ordinary business as detectives, of attending public gatherings, visiting railroad stations and other places, the resorts of thieves, pick pockets, and others who prey upon society, and live by plunder, thus preventing a great amount of crime and consequent suffering and misery, being stationed at the office of the chief,are of great utility, rendering important service in the great number of cases which are daily and almost hourly reported, requiring prompt, skillful, and energetic action.

This force now consists of four men, selected for their known ability in matters of detective duty, and for their skill, adroitness, and energy in criminal matters. There are two officers employed at the lock-ups under the Court House.

The Patrol Police are divided, as heretofore, into day and night forces. The day force goes on duty at 8 o'clock, a. m., and remains until 6 o'clock, p. m., when

they are relieved by the first division of the night force, when they return to their respective station houses. At one o'clock, a. m., the first division of the night force is relieved by the second division, who remain on duty until eight o'clock, a. m., when the day force again resumes its labors.

Each station, except that which is designated the Harbor Station, has one Captain and two Lieutenants. The Harbor station has one Captain and one Lieuten

ant.

The Harbor Police have the supervision of wharves, docks, and warehouses, and are often detailed for duty on the islands, and in the harbor.

The Captains of the several stations are on duty. through the day, and are required to report in writing at the Chief's office, at nine o'clock each morning, the doings and labors of the police in their respective districts, for the twenty-four hours then last past, with such violations of the city ordinances, defects in streets, cases of water running to waste, of lamps not lighted, and other general matters of police duty, as have come to their notice.

The Lieutenants are on duty alternately through the night, at the station houses and on the beats, and have the supervision of the night men; beside this they attend at the station houses and in the courts, when required, during such portion of the day as their night labors will permit, and as their services may be wanted.

I have deemed it necessary to state thus much of the present organization of the department, for the purpose of furnishing to the City Council such information as may the better enable them to judge of our police system.

The following synopsis presents, in detail, the doings of the Police Department, for the year ending December 31, 1856.

The occupancy of the Lock-ups under the Court House, commenced on the 22d day of April last, since which time there have been committed, from the several police stations, 6,182 persons.