Rules and Regulations for Day and Night Police of the City of New York; with Instructions as to The Legal Powers and Duties of Policemen.

[ANDREW HUTCHINS MICKLE],.

$7,500.00

Item Number: 143014

New-York: Printed by Casper C. Childs, 1846.

Second edition of the first City Police handbook published in the United States. 16 mo, bound in full contemporary sheep stamped in blind, index. Signed by the 67th Mayor of New York City Andrew Hutchins Mickle twice on his mayoral dedication page and additionally on the pastedown of the rear panel. Andrew Hutchins Mickle served as the 67th Mayor of New York City from 1846 to 1847. A Democrat affiliated with the Tammany Hall organization, in 1845 he won election as Mayor of New York City, taking advantage of a four-way race to win with a plurality. After serving one two-year term Mickle declined to run for reelection and returned to his business interests. Ownership signatures and inscriptions of Joseph Leon. In very good condition. Exceptionally rare with only one other copy of this edition traced in auction records.

The New York City Police Department was officially established on May 23, 1845, replacing an old night watch system which had become inadequate in controlling rising crime in early to mid-19th century New York City. Prior to the establishment of the NYPD, New York City's population of about 320,000 was served by a force consisting of 1 night watch, 100 city marshals, 31 constables, and 51 municipal police officers. On May 7, 1844, the New York State passed the Municipal Police Act, a law which authorized creation of a police force and abolished the night watch system. At the request of the New York City Common Council, Peter Cooper drew up a proposal to create a police force of 1,200 officers. Because of a lengthy dispute between the Common Council and the Mayor of New York City regarding who would appoint the officers, the law was not put into effect until the following year. Under Mayor William Havemeyer, the city finally repealed their watch system and adopted the Municipal Police Act as an ordinance on May 23, 1845, creating the New York Police Department in fact rather than merely in legislative theory.