The City's first Mayor's office, Marshall's office & jail were constructed in 1874 on the site upon which the Bucyrus Public Library stands today. This was also the first year that the Marshall was referred to as "Chief of Police".

     On January 22, 1895 @ 2:30 A.M., Bucyrus City Hall was completely destroyed by fire. On March 5, 1895 City Council held its' first meeting in a new building (the "Engine House" in the 100 block of East Rensselaer St. -  the location previously occupied by People's Savings & Loan) which was remodeled for the sum of $233. This building remained the departments' home for the next 64 years, until 1959, when the Police Department was moved to the "renovated" city garage on W. Mary St. Their final move occured on March 16, 1971, when the department was again moved to its' present location at Bucyrus City Hall, 500 South Sandusky Ave.

            Some history of the Bucyrus Police Department:

1874 - First recorded full-time policeman, Joseph Stewart.

1877 - First Vagrancy ordinance

1888 - First "flusher" toilet in the jail!

1891 - First record of energy conservation: street lights were not to be on when the moon was out. Lighting according to "Moon Schedule"

1902 - City purchased 5 Colt revolvers, along with badges, handcuffs, and a jail cot & bedding.

1903 - First "Auto or Locomobile" speed limit, 8 miles per hour

1910 - 1916 - First motor vehicle, which was a motorcycle

1938 - First vehicle purchased under state bid, a 1938 Plymouth with a "gun port" in the windshield

1938 - First radio system, "Tommy Gun", and "uniform guns".

1938 - First recorded schooling of officers

1939 - First use of regular fingerprinting, arrest record filing system, FBI reports, and the beginnings of the detective bureau

1942 - Several officers left the department for active duty during WWII, and were temporarily replaced by "Special Police"

1953 - Ordinance provided for the hiring of school patrolmen

1964 - Establishment of the Auxiliary Police Force

1968 - Purchase of equipment through grants (teletype, breathalyzer)

1971 - Mutual Aid agreement with other law enforcement agencies

     More recent information is available and may be added later.

 

     The bucyrus Police Department currently consists of 22 members, (down from 30 in 2002) - and is operated under the direction of Police Chief Ken Teets. They respond to an average of OVER 20,000 (I even heard the figure of 27,000)calls per year, folks. Based on 20,000 - that is nearly 55 calls PER DAY. The Police cruisers covered nearly 157,000 miles in 2005 - that's an average of 430 miles per day - every day - 365 days per year.

     Bucyrus also has an Auxiliary Police Unit consisting of 10 members (year end 2005). These folks donated 1,169 hours of their time to the residents & visitors of Bucyrus. They also participated in training regarding firearms, officer safety, and arrest tactics among other things.

     Law enforcement in Bucyrus has advanced a long ways since that day in 1833. Bucyrus Police Officers are graduates of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in Columbus, Ohio. Law enforcement has become a respected profession over the years with colleges nationwide offering courses.

     One thing I found interesting during my research was from a manpower report from 1976 listing 1 Chief, 3 Captains, 13 Patrolmen, 3 Lieutenants, 3 Dispatchers, and 2 additional employees. There were more people staffing the department in 1976 than there are in 2006!