Cleveland Police Museum

Cleveland Police Museum The history of the men and women of the Cleveland Division of Police - Our Story, Our Way.

The Cleveland Police Historical Society exists to collect and preserve Cleveland’s significant police history, and to use its collections and programs to interpret police history to foster mutual understanding and respect between law enforcement officers and the public.

Cleveland’s First Police Traffic Whistles, described in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on July 19, 1909.
02/13/2025

Cleveland’s First Police Traffic Whistles, described in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on July 19, 1909.

Secretary of Police Charles S. Smith, Badge Number 6
02/02/2025

Secretary of Police Charles S. Smith, Badge Number 6

Written by Cleveland Police Historical Society and Museum volunteer Commander Robert Cermak, Ret.

Heroes Roll Call: Our February Heroes
02/01/2025

Heroes Roll Call: Our February Heroes

The Cleveland Police Museum in honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversaries of their End of Watch. These officers made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and serving the City of Cleveland. Learn their stories at www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/heroes

Heroes Roll Call:  Patrol Officer David J. Fahey, Jr.,  #2453
01/24/2025

Heroes Roll Call: Patrol Officer David J. Fahey, Jr., #2453

The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of Cleveland’s fallen officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch. While assigned to the First Neighborhood Police District on January 24, 2107, he and his partner were dispatched to assist another agency investigating a fatal motor ...

National Law Enforcement Appreciation DayNational Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was first established in 2015. It was...
01/09/2025

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was first established in 2015. It was created by the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) organization, in collaboration with other support groups and partnerships within the law enforcement community.

The need for such a day arose amidst complex societal dynamics. Law enforcement officials often face criticism, which can overshadow the incredible service they provide. C.O.P.S. established this dedicated day to promote public appreciation and support for law enforcement.

The inaugural event in 2015 encouraged communities to see officers not as uniformed figures, but as human beings risking their lives daily to create a safer world. It also called on citizens to unite behind the shared goal of stronger, safer neighborhoods.

For communities, LEAD represents an opportunity to build trust, foster understanding, and develop stronger relationships with the officers who serve them. Showing support can go a long way toward improving dialogue and collaboration.

Heroes Roll Call: Our January Heroes
01/01/2025

Heroes Roll Call: Our January Heroes

The Cleveland Police Museum in honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversaries of their End of Watch. These officers made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting and serving the City of Cleveland. Learn their stories at www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/heroes

𝓖𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓸𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷.Shane H. Bartek  #18, Appointed 08/21/2019; End of WAtch 12/31/2021.
12/31/2024

𝓖𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓸𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷.
Shane H. Bartek #18, Appointed 08/21/2019; End of WAtch 12/31/2021.

Shane H. Bartek was appointed to the Cleveland Division of Police on August 21st, 2019. As a member of the 145th Police Academy Class he described his new career as his “dream job.” After graduating from the Academy, he proudly served in the 5th District. Shane was a graduate of Brea-Mid Park Hi...

Heroes Roll Call: Patrol Officer Hilary S. Cudnik, Sr.,  #1939
12/30/2024

Heroes Roll Call: Patrol Officer Hilary S. Cudnik, Sr., #1939

The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.

120 years ago today, Cleveland police took their first official fingerprints!  In 1904, our Bureau of Criminal Identific...
12/29/2024

120 years ago today, Cleveland police took their first official fingerprints! In 1904, our Bureau of Criminal Identification, led by George Koestle, added fingerprinting to it's tools for criminal identification. Prior to fingerprints, officers used mug shots and the Bertillon System (measurements of different body parts) to help them track down and identify individuals.

Koestle used a magnifying glass to see the ridges, whorls and loops of a fingerprint. He also trained Cleveland's officers in how to properly collect fingerprints.

https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/historical/criminal-identification-fingerprinting/?highlight=fingerprint

Heroes Roll Call: Edward Claybrooks,  #248
12/27/2024

Heroes Roll Call: Edward Claybrooks, #248

The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.

Happy Holidays!  Cleveland Patrolman William C. Keidel  #318 created this lovely postcard in 1935.
12/24/2024

Happy Holidays! Cleveland Patrolman William C. Keidel #318 created this lovely postcard in 1935.

Heroes Roll Call: Chester Burmeister,  #1281
12/23/2024

Heroes Roll Call: Chester Burmeister, #1281

The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.

Heroes Roll Call:  Detective Edward W. Butler,  #1039
12/16/2024

Heroes Roll Call: Detective Edward W. Butler, #1039

The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.

"December always brings traffic headaches of bad weather, short days and holiday excitement. If all of us, whether we ar...
12/16/2024

"December always brings traffic headaches of bad weather, short days and holiday excitement. If all of us, whether we are motorists, pedestrians or parents of sleigh-riding youngsters, cross accidents off our Christmas list.” So said Eliot Ness's accident prevention unit when they launched a new campaign to keep Cleveland's streets safe.

When Eliot Ness became Cleveland's Public Safety Director in 1935, Cleveland had the highest traffic fatality rate in the country. Ness developed a four-pronged approach to address this sad safety record: creation of the Accident Investigation Unit; establishment of a police ambulance force; implementing high-profile police patrols throughout the city; and launching the Accident Prevention Unit, a program to educate the public on traffic safety.

In 1939, the Accident Prevention Unit along with the Community Relations Department launched the “Save a Life for Christmas” campaign. The slogan had been chosen at a Cleveland Safety Council meeting in November. The police distributed over 25,000 posters bearing the slogan and a picture of Santa Claus in an attempt to raise traffic safety awareness, especially among the throngs of holiday shoppers filling Cleveland’s downtown streets.

The police even recruited Santa to help with the campaign! Patrolman John C. Chevin of the Public Relations Bureau traveled the city as Santa Claus, preaching safety and stressing the slogan: Save a Life for Christmas. He was chosen because of his jolly soul and also because he was a first class actor.

https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/eliot-ness/eliot-nesss-save-a-life-for-christmas-campaign/?highlight=save%20a%20life

Today is National Day of the Horse!  We celebrate all of the amazing horses that have served with the Cleveland Police, ...
12/13/2024

Today is National Day of the Horse! We celebrate all of the amazing horses that have served with the Cleveland Police, including Skippy the Morgan Horse.

Skippy was a Morgan horse who served with the Cleveland Division of Police in the late 1930s and early 1940s. His rider was Patrolman Anthony E. Welling # 687 (Appointed 08/10/1934; Retired 09/23/1972; End of Watch 03/26/1991). Welling and Skippy were a fixture on Cleveland’s downtown streets for many years.

Skippy was perhaps best known for saving a string of horses during the infamous Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus Fire on August 4, 1942

https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/historical/artifact-spotlight-skippy-the-morgan-horse/?highlight=tony%20welling

Not even your local traffic cop can help you track down those last minute gifts!Patrolman Arthur W. Guenther graces the ...
12/12/2024

Not even your local traffic cop can help you track down those last minute gifts!

Patrolman Arthur W. Guenther graces the cover of The Cleveland magazine in December, 1926.

Arthur W. Guenther, Badge Number 46; Appointed 04/01/1923; Died as the result of auto accident injuries 12/19/1961.

Heroes Roll Call: Lieutenant Edward G. Lentz,  #14
12/09/2024

Heroes Roll Call: Lieutenant Edward G. Lentz, #14

The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch. On December 9, 1957, while on supervisory patrol duty, Lentz was flagged down by Alonzo Buchanan. Three men invaded Buchanan’s home, stole three guns and $425.00. Lentz drove...

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1300 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH
44113

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Wednesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm

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+12166235055

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