SPD History

Brief History of the Sacramento Police Department

Office in front of police car
Our Mission

The mission of the Sacramento Police Department is to work in partnership with the Community to protect life and property, solve neighborhood problems, and enhance the quality of life in our City.

The Sacramento Police Department has always strived to represent excellence in policing. One way we do this is by staying one step ahead by anticipating trends, being proactive in all areas, and acting before we must react to crises. One of our most important ways to stay a step ahead of crime is through open communication with the community we serve. You, the community, are our best eyes and ears for what is happening in your neighborhoods, as well as helping us find ways to reduce crime. Working with you in an open and collaborative manner also holds us accountable which benefits the community most.

History

In 1839, Captain John Sutter settled in a remote area, later building Sutter’s Fort, amongst a relatively small and quiet population. This was the beginning of the establishment of Sacramento. All was calm, until 1848 when the town was forever changed by James Marshall’s discovery of gold. The lawless Wild West town faced thievery, gunfights, and murders until 1849 when Marshal N.C. Cunningham was appointed, along with two deputies, to provide law and order. Our first small downtown law enforcement office and jail was relocated in the first City Hall, known as the Water Works building, in 1854.

When the City split from the County over rebuilding in 1863, J.T. Clark was chosen as the first police chief to run the Police Department. Policing in this rough-and-tumble political town meant dealing with nightly squatters and petty thieves, but in 1879, it involved the investigation of one of the most ambitious murder plots ever recorded. Three men, one a Public Administrator, conspired to kill 55 wealthy citizens for their money.

Sutter's Fort Artillery
Photo from 1911 of police officers with bicycles

Formative steps were taken to distinguish officers from citizens in 1881, when the City ordered the first uniform and 7-point star be worn. By 1895, the first police wagon and ambulance, the “Black Maria,” enabled convicted felons to be taken “up the hill” to the new Folsom State Prison. As the boundaries of the City expanded, our patrol efforts were aided by the addition of “Chug Chug,” the electric police wagon in 1907, along with bikes and motorcycles in 1910.

The Department formed specialized units, like traffic and detectives, and began developing its first Manual of Orders in 1915. At our Headquarters building, Captain Max Fisher was busy paving the way for the use of fingerprints to aid cases in the 1920s and 1930s. By 1940, two-way radios were installed in squad cars, replacing the need for officers to call in for their assignments on Gamewell callboxes located throughout the city. In 1949, we employed the first female officers and in 1953, we trained our first full-time police academy at McKinley Park.

The 1960s brought the winds of change as gangs and drugs exploded, and tempers flared resulting in the violent Oak Park Riots. Then tragedy hit when a plane crashed into Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour in 1972, killing 23 people despite our officers’ best efforts. Civilians expanded our force, and we opened the Rooney (1989) and Kinney (1994) substations to get us closer to the community and the people. Just before the turn of the century in 1999, the Sacramento Police Department celebrated its 150th year anniversary, and was more diverse and educated than ever.

Although we have developed more effective ways of policing and technological advances have aided our efforts, our department still faces the same challenges today as we did the in Wild West, yet our goal remains the same. We, the men, and women of the Sacramento Police Department, are committed to providing the highest level of police services to the citizens of Sacramento with honor, dignity, and professionalism.

1960s era photo of a police officer directing traffic while standing in front of their patrol car

SPD Through the Years

  1. 1849

    Sacramento Police Department Founded

    Marshal N.C. Cunningham was appointed the first Chief of Police, along with two deputies, to provide law and order in the newly incorporated City of Sacramento.

    Historic black-and-white sketch of the City of Sacramento in 1849
  2. 1854

    First Headquarters Building

    A downtown law enforcement office and jail were relocated in the first City Hall, known as the Water Works building, in 1854.

    Historic black-and-white sketch of the Police Department's first headquarters building
  3. 1895

    First Police Wagon

    Sacramento PD gets its first police wagon/ambulance called “Black Maria” (pronounced: Mah-ri-uh).

    Historic black-and-white photo of Sacramento’s first police wagon
  4. 1949

    First Female Police Officers

    Officers Frances Strother and Delora Sutter were the first female police officers hired by Sac PD and assigned to the department’s “Juvenile Unit”.

    Historic photos of some of the first female police officers
  5. 1953

    Sacramento Police Academy Opens

    Sac PD began operating its Academy full-time.

    Historic black-and-white photo of the first graduating class from the Sacramento Police Department, taken March 2, 1953
  6. 1964

    1964 Police Department Expands

    North Sacramento is annexed into the City of Sacramento and 29 existing NSPD officers are absorbed into the Sacramento Police Department.

    Historic collage of ballot initiatives and flyers relating to the proposed 1964 merger of the Cities of Sacramento and North Sacramento
  7. 1974

    First Female Black Police Officers

    Officers Flossie Crump and Felicia Allen-Jones graduated from the Sacramento police academy and became the first two black female police officers on December 13, 1974.

    Historic employee ID photos of the first female black police officers, in full uniform
  8. 1989

    South Command Police Station (JERPF)

    Sac PD moves into its first decentralized police substation in the community, housing the South Command. The facility originally was home for South and East patrol officers and named the Joseph E Rooney Police Facility (JERPF), Sac PD’s 37th Chief of Police.

    Historic black-and-white photo of the South Command Police Station (JERPF)taken from across the street
  9. 1994

    North Command Police Station (WJKPF)

    Sac PD moves one-half of the patrol force (North and Central patrol) into its second field substation. Today, it still is home to police North Command operations, and is named after Sac PD’s 39th Chief of Police, William J Kinney.

    Historic black-and-white photo of the North Command Police Station (WJKPF) taken from the sidewalk
  10. 1998

    Air Operations and Mounted Units are launched

    Sac PD begins patrolling the skies (by helicopter) and streets (on horseback), as the department staffs full-time Air Operations and Mounted Units.

    A photograph of two Sacramento Police Department Air Unit officer pilots, in full jumpsuit uniforms sitting in a helicopter cockpit
  11. 1999

    SacPD utilizes ICCs

    Sac PD begins using In-Car Cameras (ICC) in the marked police vehicle fleet.

    A photograph of an in-car camera mounted in a police patrol vehicle. The vantage point is from the vehicle's front passenger seat facing towards the center of the windshield, where the camera has been mounted.
  12. 2001

    Sac PD moves into Hall of Justice

    Police Department Headquarters moves from its temporary building downtown and moves to its current Freeport Blvd location, which is named after Chief John P Kearns, who was Sac PD’s 40th Chief of Police.

    A photograph of the monument and American Flag outside Police Department Headquarters, located at the corner of Claudia Drive and Freeport Blvd.
  13. 2006

    Communications Center Opens

    Sac PD opens its 911 Communications Center, a state-of-the-art facility that has significantly more space, an in-house training facility and the ability to support regional emergency communications.

    A photograph of the Communications Center and it's surrounding parking lot
  14. 2008

    Old patrol substation closes

    Sac PD closes the old patrol substation located at 625 H St. This facility housed all of patrol and specialty unit operations before the department decentralized services to the communities.

    Historic black-and-white photograph of the old patrol substation located at 625 H St
  15. 2008

    Central Command Police Station (300 Richards)

    Sac PD expands into its third field police substation located on Richards Blvd, located in the River District – North of Downtown Sacramento. This facility houses one-third of patrol operations (for police Districts 3 & 6), as well as a majority of Metro Operations personnel and equipment.

    A photograph of the Central Command Police Station (300 Richards) taken from across the street
  16. 2012

    First Female Deputy Police Chief

    On June 30, 2012, Captain Dana Matthes was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police, making her the first female to ever be promoted to that rank in the Sacramento Police Department.

    A portrait photograph taken of the first female Deputy Police Chief, Dana Matthes, in full uniform with the American flag in the background
  17. 2015

    Officers begin wearing Body-Worn Cameras

    On October 27, 2015, the Sacramento City Council accepted a grant award to evaluate, develop, and implement the $1.5M Body-Worn Camera (BWC) program over a two-year period. Today, every sworn officer in field operations wears a BWC.

    A photograph of an officers in full uniform, centered on the gear located on ther torso including their body-worn camera device
  18. 2017

    First Black Chief of Police

    Daniel Hahn, formerly a Captain with the department, returns to the Sacramento Police Department after 6 years as police chief of a neighboring agency. Chief Hahn is sworn in and becomes the first black Chief of Police for Sac PD, assuming command of the department on August 11, 2017.

    A spotlighted photo of the first black Chief of Police, Daniel Hahn, standing in front of the American Flag and a Sacramento Police Department shield-logo mounted on a wall behind him
  19. 2020

    UAS Team is formed

    In July 2020 the Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) or “Drone” team is formed withing the police department, is now one of the largest programs operated amongst California law enforcement agencies.

    A photo of an uncrewed aerial system hovering in the foreground. in the background you can see an officer standing in front of a parked patrol vehicle piloting the uncrewed aerial system
  20. 2021

    First Female Police Chief

    Kathy Lester, a 27-year veteran of the department, is named as the 46th Chief of Police for the Sacramento Police Department. She is sworn in on December 31, 2021.

    A portrait photograph taken of the first female Deputy Police Chief, Katherine Lester, in full uniform with the American flag in the background
  21. 2022

    First Black Female Lieutenant

    Sabrina Briggs, a 14-year veteran of the department, worked in patrol and in the Internal Affairs Unit. She was later promoted to and became the first African American female sergeant for the Sacramento Police Department. On May 7, 2022, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, making her the first African American female lieutenant for the department.

    A portrait photograph taken of the first black female Lieutenant, Sabrina Briggs, in full uniform with the American flag in the background
  1. 1849

    Sacramento Police Department Founded

    Marshal N.C. Cunningham was appointed the first Chief of Police, along with two deputies, to provide law and order in the newly incorporated City of Sacramento.

    Historic black-and-white sketch of the City of Sacramento in 1849
  2. 1854

    First Headquarters Building

    A downtown law enforcement office and jail were relocated in the first City Hall, known as the Water Works building, in 1854.

    Historic black-and-white sketch of the Police Department's first headquarters building
  3. 1895

    First Police Wagon

    Sacramento PD gets its first police wagon/ambulance called “Black Maria” (pronounced: Mah-ri-uh).

    Historic black-and-white photo of Sacramento’s first police wagon
  4. 1949

    First Female Police Officers

    Officers Frances Strother and Delora Sutter were the first female police officers hired by Sac PD and assigned to the department’s “Juvenile Unit”.

    Historic photos of some of the first female police officers
  5. 1953

    Sacramento Police Academy Opens

    Sac PD began operating its Academy full-time.

    Historic black-and-white photo of the first graduating class from the Sacramento Police Department, taken March 2, 1953
  6. 1964

    1964 Police Department Expands

    North Sacramento is annexed into the City of Sacramento and 29 existing NSPD officers are absorbed into the Sacramento Police Department.

    Historic collage of ballot initiatives and flyers relating to the proposed 1964 merger of the Cities of Sacramento and North Sacramento
  7. 1974

    First Female Black Police Officers

    Officers Flossie Crump and Felicia Allen-Jones graduated from the Sacramento police academy and became the first two black female police officers on December 13, 1974.

    Historic employee ID photos of the first female black police officers, in full uniform
  8. 1989

    South Command Police Station (JERPF)

    Sac PD moves into its first decentralized police substation in the community, housing the South Command. The facility originally was home for South and East patrol officers and named the Joseph E Rooney Police Facility (JERPF), Sac PD’s 37th Chief of Police.

    Historic black-and-white photo of the South Command Police Station (JERPF)taken from across the street
  9. 1994

    North Command Police Station (WJKPF)

    Sac PD moves one-half of the patrol force (North and Central patrol) into its second field substation. Today, it still is home to police North Command operations, and is named after Sac PD’s 39th Chief of Police, William J Kinney.

    Historic black-and-white photo of the North Command Police Station (WJKPF) taken from the sidewalk
  10. 1998

    Air Operations and Mounted Units are launched

    Sac PD begins patrolling the skies (by helicopter) and streets (on horseback), as the department staffs full-time Air Operations and Mounted Units.

    A photograph of two Sacramento Police Department Air Unit officer pilots, in full jumpsuit uniforms sitting in a helicopter cockpit
  11. 1999

    SacPD utilizes ICCs

    Sac PD begins using In-Car Cameras (ICC) in the marked police vehicle fleet.

    A photograph of an in-car camera mounted in a police patrol vehicle. The vantage point is from the vehicle's front passenger seat facing towards the center of the windshield, where the camera has been mounted.
  12. 2001

    Sac PD moves into Hall of Justice

    Police Department Headquarters moves from its temporary building downtown and moves to its current Freeport Blvd location, which is named after Chief John P Kearns, who was Sac PD’s 40th Chief of Police.

    A photograph of the monument and American Flag outside Police Department Headquarters, located at the corner of Claudia Drive and Freeport Blvd.
  13. 2006

    Communications Center Opens

    Sac PD opens its 911 Communications Center, a state-of-the-art facility that has significantly more space, an in-house training facility and the ability to support regional emergency communications.

    A photograph of the Communications Center and it's surrounding parking lot
  14. 2008

    Old patrol substation closes

    Sac PD closes the old patrol substation located at 625 H St. This facility housed all of patrol and specialty unit operations before the department decentralized services to the communities.

    Historic black-and-white photograph of the old patrol substation located at 625 H St
  15. 2008

    Central Command Police Station (300 Richards)

    Sac PD expands into its third field police substation located on Richards Blvd, located in the River District – North of Downtown Sacramento. This facility houses one-third of patrol operations (for police Districts 3 & 6), as well as a majority of Metro Operations personnel and equipment.

    A photograph of the Central Command Police Station (300 Richards) taken from across the street
  16. 2012

    First Female Deputy Police Chief

    On June 30, 2012, Captain Dana Matthes was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police, making her the first female to ever be promoted to that rank in the Sacramento Police Department.

    A portrait photograph taken of the first female Deputy Police Chief, Dana Matthes, in full uniform with the American flag in the background
  17. 2015

    Officers begin wearing Body-Worn Cameras

    On October 27, 2015, the Sacramento City Council accepted a grant award to evaluate, develop, and implement the $1.5M Body-Worn Camera (BWC) program over a two-year period. Today, every sworn officer in field operations wears a BWC.

    A photograph of an officers in full uniform, centered on the gear located on ther torso including their body-worn camera device
  18. 2017

    First Black Chief of Police

    Daniel Hahn, formerly a Captain with the department, returns to the Sacramento Police Department after 6 years as police chief of a neighboring agency. Chief Hahn is sworn in and becomes the first black Chief of Police for Sac PD, assuming command of the department on August 11, 2017.

    A spotlighted photo of the first black Chief of Police, Daniel Hahn, standing in front of the American Flag and a Sacramento Police Department shield-logo mounted on a wall behind him
  19. 2020

    UAS Team is formed

    In July 2020 the Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) or “Drone” team is formed withing the police department, is now one of the largest programs operated amongst California law enforcement agencies.

    A photo of an uncrewed aerial system hovering in the foreground. in the background you can see an officer standing in front of a parked patrol vehicle piloting the uncrewed aerial system
  20. 2021

    First Female Police Chief

    Kathy Lester, a 27-year veteran of the department, is named as the 46th Chief of Police for the Sacramento Police Department. She is sworn in on December 31, 2021.

    A portrait photograph taken of the first female Deputy Police Chief, Katherine Lester, in full uniform with the American flag in the background
  21. 2022

    First Black Female Lieutenant

    Sabrina Briggs, a 14-year veteran of the department, worked in patrol and in the Internal Affairs Unit. She was later promoted to and became the first African American female sergeant for the Sacramento Police Department. On May 7, 2022, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, making her the first African American female lieutenant for the department.

    A portrait photograph taken of the first black female Lieutenant, Sabrina Briggs, in full uniform with the American flag in the background