Our first established system of criminal law dates back to 2500 BC with the Code of Hammaurabi, but it was the Romans that created the first organized police force, the Roman Vigile, created by Gaius Octavius, the grand nephew of Julius Caesar. The very word Police however is derived from the Greek word 'Polis' meaning city.

In North America, policing obviously wasn't employed until Europeans first settled here. Boston is believed to be the first to establish a "Night Watch" in April 1631, comprising part time officers serving for no pay. Our region was close behind. In Albany in 1634, Jacob Planck became a "Schout" for the Colonie of Rensselaerwyck. While his duties were mostly judicial and administrative, he had policing powers as well. That was followed in 1652 when Evert Brantsen was appointed under sheriff of Beverwyck (the village of Albany) in December 1652, the same year Beverwyck was formed. In 1675 constables were chosen to create a watch. In 1652, New Amsterdam (New York City) established a Rattle Watch, where patrolmen communicated to one another by shaking little wooden rattles using a series of 10 codes. Albany also had a rattle watch in the 1670's and perhaps earlier. Albany also had a horse guard, a mounted police. By 1712, Boston had a full time paid law enforcement.

In Troy, none of that existed since Troy did not become a village until 1787, but it didn't take long. On September 24, 1789, the village of Troy created the first "Night Watch" and hired four constables. In 1791, Albert Pawling was appointed first Rensselaer County sheriff, and the first Constables were elected in the Village of Troy: David Henry, William Hikok, Laurence Dorsit, and Samuel Colamore. Pawling would later become Troy's first mayor.

The duties of the Night Watch were to patrol the quiet streets of the village, and cry, 'all's well!' at the expiration of each hour. When a building was discovered to be on fire, the loud cry of 'fire! fire!' aroused the inhabitants and the firemen. When the fire was extinguished, those returning from it cried, 'All out! All out!'

When Troy incorporated in 1816, the police force consisted of six constables who were elected annually. The cost of maintaining the 'City Watch' was seven hundred and sixty-four dollars and eighty-one cents according to the report of the first Chamberlain.

It was also part of the duty of the Watchmen of the City in 1816 to pick up the fire buckets left at a fire and bring them back to the market house within twelve hours after such fire had been extinguished.

In the year 1829, the police force of Troy consisted of a 'High Constable' and six constables. Revilo Clark was High Constable and his subordinates were Lewis G. Dole, Justin Kellogg, Ezra Moseley, John Burtis, Jr., William Follett, Lyman J. Rundell. Daniel H. Stone was Police justice.

In 1830, the force of constables was increased by the addition of four 'Special Constables:' John Prescott, John Bulmson, Lewis G. Dole, and Joseph C. Vaughan. The regular constables were William Y. Wilson, Robert Martin, Ezra Moseley, Martin Russell, William Follett, Edward Lyons. Gad Dumbolton was High Constable and George Butler, Chief Justice.

In 1833, the system of Ward Constables went into effect. Each ward had its own constable. The Ward Constables then were Elam N. Buel, Robert Martin, Ezra Moseley, Elisha Lovett, William Follett and Martin Russell, who represented the six separate wards respectively. In addition there were four Special Constables.

One year later an office of Public Crier and Bellman was created. John Lawrence and Sheldon Morris served. It was part of their duty to give the alarm should occasion arise.

It wasn't until 1851 that a Night Police Force was organized in Troy, but as you will learn in the following weeks getting a professional police force organized in Troy had some serious bumps and grinds along the way.