The City Charter of 1890 created the Board of Police Commissioners, which administered the Police Department. The Board consisted of the mayor and four police commissioners appointed by the mayor; police commissioners served four-year terms. The Board was responsible for appointing (and, when necessary, removing) the Chief of Police and all subordinate officers, as well as making regulations for the governance of the Department and deciding penalties for violation of rules.
Following allegations of corruption, the Commission was abolished by the new Charter of 1896. The Chief of Police, appointed by the mayor, served as administrator of the Department.
Minutes of the Board of Police Commissioners, 1890-1896, report proceedings of Board meetings. Included are resolutions and policy decisions made by the Board and actions taken in dealing with Police Department employees (including applications for and appointments to positions on the police force, as well as resignations, disciplinary actions, and reinstatements). Also included are reports on investigations of charges or grievances against officers. An alphabetical index at the front of the volume lists the names of persons mentioned in the minutes as well as topics of interest.
Records are open to the public.
[Item and date], Board of Police Commissioners Minutes, Record Series 6400-01. Seattle Municipal Archives.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.