Steamboat Squad
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Steamboat Squad[edit]
The Steamboat Squad was a special division within the New York City Police Department responsible for patrolling the New York City harbor and waterfront during the late 19th century.
History[edit]
The Steamboat Squad was created on June 9, 1876, as a part of the Third Precinct station of the New York City Police Department. The Squad was created and first led by Commissioner Joel B. Erhardt and Sergeant James K. Fuller.[1] They were succeeded by George W. Gastlin who commanded the Squad until his retirement on July 1, 1890.[2]
Structure of the Steamboat Squad[edit]
The Steamboat Squad had three stations in the city, one at New York City Police Headquarters, one in the United States Barge office, and one on Pier No. 39 in the North River.[3] The Squad had a day and night rotation by which 94 patrolmen and six “roundsmen” manned 50 posts on the North River and 28 posts on the East River.[3] The Steamboat Squad patrolled the North River and East River of New York City from the “low water mark on the North River […] to Battery Place and the south side of Pier 1,” and from the “low water mark in the East River […] to the Barge office.”[3]
The first steamboat used by the Squad was the Seneca which burned in 1880. The fire not only destroyed the vessel but, “So furious and rapid was the progress of the flames that it was found impossible to save the records of the force, which extended over a period of many years.”[4] Thus, most of the Squad’s records before that date are lost. After the Seneca, the Squad used the “Moses Taylor,” the “Tiger Lily,” the “Florence” and finally the “Patrol” which was built in 1882 for a cost of $60,000.[5]
Activities[edit]
The Steamboat Squad worked to apprehend river pirates, con men, and other criminals in waterfront neighborhoods and in the harbor.[6] George Washington Walling, New York City police chief from 1874 to 1885, said of the Steamboat Squad, “It succeeded especially in freeing the river front, the steam-boats, the ferries, and Castle Garden from that more refined class of criminals known as confidence men.”[5] A vessel used by the Steamboat Squad was manned by police officers and when a criminal was spotted or when an alarm was raised, officers would use rowboats to apprehend the suspect.[7]
For the month of January 1885, the Steamboat Squad addressed the following incidents in the waterways of New York City:
- “Seven persons rescued from drowning after six P.M.”
- “Two persons found drowned.”
- “Fourteen accidents occurring to men employed on the piers, and cared for by the police.”
- “Three arrests for felonious assault and battery.”
- “Three arrests for petit larceny.”
- “Two men, brought to the city dead, sent to Morgue.”
- “One arrest for cruelty to animals.”
- “One arrest for mutiny.”
- “Twenty-six arrests for intoxication, assault and battery, and small crimes.”
- “Two boys arrested for truancy.”
- “One large fire discovered.”[8]
Impact[edit]
The Steamboat Squad is credited with the arrest and break-up of several groups of New York City river pirates including the Charlton Street Gang, Hook Gang, and Patsey Conroy Gang.[7] By 1890, many of the waterfront bars and establishments visited by criminals closed due to a lack of patrons as a result of the Squad’s arrests.[7] There were 77 steamship lines were under the protection of the Steamboat Squad and in 1884, representatives of 40 steamboat and railroad lines awarded Captain Gastlin with a ceremonial gold shield badge to commemorate his service protecting their business interests.[9][10]
Controversy[edit]
In 1894, an investigation by the Lexow Committee found that the Steamboat Squad was involved in corruption and that some officers blackmailed local merchants and dock owners. Witnesses alleged that in order to use the sidewalks on the wharves, police officers said, “the ‘boys’ must have some money.”[11] Of 7,781 vessels that docked in New York harbor that year, an estimated $350,141 in blackmail money was collected by police officers.[12] The Lexow Committee investigation resulted in the dissolution of the Steamboat Squad on March 12, 1896, when it was found that “the existence of a separate body of policemen detailed for service upon the wharves gave rise to various abuses.”[13]
Second Iteration[edit]
On August 1, 1899, the Steamboat Squad took to the water again under new leadership. Captain Anthony J. Allaire of the 81st precinct commanded the squad with three sergeants, three “roundsmen” and 122 patrolmen, two-thirds of which previously served on the first iteration of the Steamboat Squad.[14] The Steamboat Squad would once again be disbanded in 1902 under the command of Sergeant Thomas H. Mannion.[15]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Costello, A.E. (1885). Our police protectors: history of the New York police from the earliest period to the present time. New York: A.E. Costello. p. 441. Search this book on
- ↑ "Obituary Record, George W. Gastlin". New York Times.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Costello, A.E. (1885). Our police protectors: history of the New York police from the earliest period to the present time. New York: A.E. Costello. p. 440. Search this book on
- ↑ Costello, A.E. (1885). Our police protectors: history of the New York police from the earliest period to the present time. New York: A.E. Costello. p. 448. Search this book on
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Walling, George Washington (1887). Recollections of a New York City Chief of Police: An Official Record of Thirty-eight years as patrolman, detective, captain, inspector and chief of New York Police. New York: Caxton Book Concern Ltd. p. 152. Search this book on
- ↑ Walling, George Washington (1887). Recollections of a New York City Chief of Police: An Official Record of Thirty-eight years as patrolman, detective, captain, inspector and chief of New York Police. New York: Caxton Book Concern Ltd. p. 151. Search this book on
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Asbury, Herbert (2001). The gangs of New York : an informal history of the underworld. Jorge Luis Borges. New York. ISBN 1-56025-275-8. OCLC 47644025. Search this book on
- ↑ Costello, A.E. (1995). Our police protectors: history of the New York police from the earliest period to the present tim. New York: A.E. Costello. p. 447. Search this book on
- ↑ Costello, A.E. (1885). Our police protectors: history of the New York police from the earliest period to the present time. New York: A.E. Costello. p. 446. Search this book on
- ↑ "Capt. Gastlin appreciated. A handsome gold shield presented by transportation and other lines" (PDF). The New York Times. 1 January 1884. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ "Blackmailing of Merchants. Forced By The Police To Pay For Using Sidewalks". The New York Times. 23 June 1894. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ "Not confined to police. Payments to dockmasters and customs officers. Lexow Committee hears shipping men" (PDF). The New York Times. 22 June 1894. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ "The police 'squads'" (PDF). The New York Times. 15 March 1896. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ "Steamboat Squad at work" (PDF). The New York Times. 2 August 1899. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ "Steamboat Squad out again" (PDF). The New York Times. 9 November 1902. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
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