The New York City Police Museum, 100 old slip, New York, NY (2026)

09/11/2025

Curator’s Corner - On This Most Solemn Day, September 11 - We REMEMBER and HONOR all those who lost their lives as a result of the World Trade Center attacks : the 23 Members of the Service that died that day, the hundreds of members of the service who were involved in the rescue and recovery effort that have died as a result of 9/11 related illnesses, as well as those currently suffering the after effects of being exposed to the toxic and hazardous conditions at the various rescue and recovery sites. Your sacrifices will not be forgotten! HEROES ALL!

09/11/2024

Curator’s Corner - On This Most Solemn Day, September 11 - We REMEMBER and HONOR all those who lost their lives as a result of the World Trade Center attacks : the 23 Members of the Service that died that day, the hundreds of members of the service who were involved in the rescue and recovery effort that have died as a result of 9/11 related illnesses, as well as those currently suffering the after effects of being exposed to the toxic and hazardous conditions at the various rescue and recovery sites. Your sacrifices will not be forgotten! HEROES ALL! - Neverforget

11/23/2023

The Police Museum Salutes the Men and Women of the NYPD, working today, and everyday, to keep NY safe. Happy Thanksgiving!

09/13/2023

The New York City Police Museum deeply mourns the passing of Howard Safir, the former New York City Police Commissioner, a dedicated board member, and a cherished friend. Mr. Safir's commitment to our institution was unparalleled, and he was the driving force in the establishment of the New York City Police Museum.

Commissioner Howard Safir, known for his historic achievements in reducing crime rates during the late 1990s and leaving an enduring legacy within the nation's largest police force, peacefully passed away in Annapolis, Maryland, on Monday at the age of 81.

Born on February 24, 1942, to George Safir and Rose (Weiner) Safir, Mr. Safir, a native of the Bronx, embarked on his illustrious law enforcement career in 1965 as a Federal Narcotics Agent in New York. He subsequently engaged in undercover work for the Drug Enforcement Administration, rising to the rank of Assistant Director. He also became Associate Director for Operations of the US Marshals Service.

Before his tenure as the 39th Police Commissioner of New York City, he served as the head of the FDNY from 1994 to 1996. Howard Safir's impact on law enforcement and public service will be remembered for generations to come.

To quote our current Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban:

"Former NYPD Police Commissioner Howard Safir was a devoted, dynamic leader whose pioneering work in fugitive apprehension, illicit drug enforcement, and officer training is still emulated today."

We thank him for his service to the people of the City of New York; he will be missed.

05/21/2023

Curator’s Corner – On This Day May 21, 1971: While on patrol duty on May 21, 1971 Patrolmen Waverly M. Jones and Joseph A Piagentini were investigating a report at the Colonial Park Houses public housing complex, at 159th Street and Harlem River Drive. They were ambushed by anti-cop extremists. and both officers were shot multiple times in the back and mortally wounded. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten!

03/17/2023

Curator’s Corner- On this Day – March 17, 1960 The Pipes and Drums of the Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department marched for the first time on St. Patrick’s Day –Organized by members of the department that shared both an Irish heritage and a love of traditional Celtic music. The band has become an institution in the Police Department as well as a permanent part of the New York culture. It is appropriate that the average New Yorker identifies the band with two emotionally diverse functions: The pride and tradition of the Saint Patrick's Day Parade and the sorrow and tradition of an Inspector's Funeral for a slain Police Officer. The Band is made up of active and retired Police Officers, Detectives, Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains. They have worked in all parts of New York City on Patrol, in the Detective Bureau, Emergency Service, the Mounted Unit, Narcotics, Harbor, Aviation, Street Crime, and Headquarters Units. Their pride in their job and in their heritage truly makes them some of the Finest of the Finest

10/31/2022

Curator’s Corner – On this day Oct 31, 1917 Chief Inspector Maximilian F. Schmittberger Dies – during his career, he went from the most hated to the most loved cop! As s key witness during the Lexow corruption investigations in 1894, he was, in the view of his fellow cops, the department’s most detested man. Schmittberger was born July 27, 1851 in Germany and came to the U.S. at age 4. He joined the Force January 8, 1874 and rose thru the ranks, reaching the Captaincy in 1890. On May 2, 1903, Schmittberger was promoted to Inspector and assigned as Commanding Officer of the Traffic Squad. In 1908 was appointed Chief Inspector (today’s Chief of Dept) and held the position until his death on October 31, 1917. During his career, he was awarded the dept’s 2 highest medals at the time, the “Department Medal” and “Honorable Mention” award. He was also responsible for the founding of the Honor Legion. He was one of the very few Chief’s to die while in office, and in contrast to earlier feelings, he was widely respected and mourned. His funeral is pictured here.

10/25/2022

Curator’s Corner – On this Day – October 25, 1916 – the Floating Stationhouse is opened - In the fall of 1916, Police Department obtained a barge from the Dept. of Docks. On this barge, which measured 40’ x70’, the members of the Marine Division built a small stationhouse complete with a regular police desk, telephone, dormitory, sitting room, locker room as well as a second floor observatory. This stationhouse on the water could be towed almost anywhere by the PATROL, the main boat used by Harbor Patrol. The floating stationhouse, when not being used, was moored at Randall’s Island, and for a time served as the Harbor Precinct there. So in the days before a command post vehicle could be driven to the scene of an incident, the Floating Stationhouse was available. The Police Commissioner, Arthur Woods, was present for the ceremony, and is shown behind the desk, while the others squeezed in!

10/16/2022

Curator's Corner - On This Day – October 16, 1973 – New Police Headquarters Dedicated. Planning for this day started back in 1928, so finally after 45 years, the new Police Headquarters at 1 Police Plaza is dedicated. Ceremonies included speeches, a grand parade and a “Police Day” The new 58 million dollar, red brick, brutalist building featured a 2 story entrance lobby, multiple entrances, brick pavers in the lobby to match the pavers on the plaza, 1200 seat auditorium, press room and press offices, basement firing range, central booking and a rooftop heliport. Also included were 2 floors of the most advanced computers and communications systems available at the time. Interior modular panels in the new HQ also gave the department the ability to be flexible in the future, offices could easily be modified. Probably the most appreciated improvement at 1 PP was…air conditioning; the 64 year old headquarters at 240 Centre Street was built in the pre-a/c days. While policing conditions and technology have changed greatly in the city since 1973, the headquarters at 1 Police Plaza has been able to adapt and continues to serve as the department headquarters – now for 49 years!

10/16/2022

Curator’s Corner – New Police Headquarters & The Last Police Parade – On October 16, 1973: Starting at Bowling Green, the last Police Parade held in NYC stepped off and headed north through the Financial District. The Police Parade was a long time tradition in NYC, starting in the 1850’s and lasting (off and on) until the 1930’s. The Parade was a time when the citizens could view, cheer, support and pay tribute to their Police Department, a day when civic pride was on display. As the 1973 parade reached Chambers St, it turned to the East and marched through the arch of the Municipal Building to the location of the new $58 million dollar home of the NYPD – 1 Police Plaza. Upon arrival, dedication ceremonies were held, the ribbon was cut and speeches were given. Although the focus of the day was on the new structure, a great tradition was revived that day – the Police Parade.

10/10/2022

Curator’s Corner – On this date, October 10, 1973 “The Shack” closes. Located at 4 Centre Market Place, in the shadow of old Police Headquarters, wedged in between John Jovino, “the” place to go for police equipment and other shops of the gunsmith district, “The Shack”, officially known as the Headquarters Press Building, was where the NYPD press hung their hats. Opened in 1940 and dedicated by Police Commissioner Valentine, this 3 story building was once home to over 25 reporters. In those days, New York had 8 daily newspapers, as well as multiple radio stations with local news teams. The building is said to have had a system of externally mounted colored lights, so reporters could tell if they were wanted for a Breaking Story; legend states that the lights could be seen through the window of the reporter’s favorite watering hole, the Headquarters Tavern at Grand St and Center Market Place. The reason for the closing: Police Headquarters was moving downtown to 1 Police Plaza. At the new headquarters building, the reporters were given an office inside the new building – albeit without the colored external signal lighting.

The New York City Police Museum

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