search icon

Then and Now: Chicago Police through the Years

One lens through which we can see our history is through the eyes of the law. Slide the Time Machine slider bar to see some interesting moments in Chicago police history – or just to enjoy how the uniforms have changed over the years.

1896

Starting Young
The Sheffield Avenue police squad in 1896.
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

1904

Cook County Jail
Policemen standing in front of the entrance to the Cook County Jail on Dearborn Street and Hubbard Street.
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

1911

Memorial Day Parade
Inspectors and captains at the 1911 Memorial Day Parade. Note the paddy wagon.
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

1912

Roll Call
Roll call across from the Seventh Regiment Armory (at South Wentworth Avenue and 33rd Street) on April 15, 1912.
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

1919

Riot Ready
Five policemen and one National Guardsman in the Douglas community, where race riots had raged and local police had been ineffective.
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

1922

Traffic Light
Officer Henry J. Klem operates a new manual traffic light at Wilson and Broadway.
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

1924

Field Meet
A police field meet on August 26, 1924.
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

1946

Hero
On December 21, 1946, Officer Joseph Conant of the Hyde Park police station “aroused people from a burning building after a five-alarm fire.”
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum

Then and Now: Chicago Police through the Years