On April 20th 1832, the village of Buffalo was abolished and the City of Buffalo was incorporated. From its inception the City of Buffalo has been the second largest city in the State of New York. Ebenezer Johnson was our city's first Mayor. At the time, Buffalo was comprised of five geographic areas which were known as "wards"

The citizens of Buffalo relied upon three constables for personal protection as well as protection of their property. 

The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 provided a way of hauling goods from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes for transportation westward, thus making the City of Buffalo a gateway to the west.

A demand for additional police protection became progressively more evident as Buffalo continued to grow. The citizens of the City of Buffalo became increasingly alarmed by the rowdy activities occurring each night in what was then known as the "Canal District". Mayor Johnson submitted a proposal to the Common Council on March 16th 1834, which described the urgent nee to establish a city watch.

Finally on September 19th 1834, the Common Council passed a resolution that enabled the Mayor of the City of Buffalo to appoint Watchmen.

In 1842, the first railroad entered the city when the Buffalo and Attica Railway was built.

Though the force if watchmen had grown to a total of eight Watchman and one Captain by 1845, the demands for protection by the 20,000 residents of Buffalo were becoming increasingly more difficult to meet. Although his recommendation was denied, the Mayor had submitted a proposal to the Common Council, which called for doubling the size of the watch force, in order to adequately guard the city as its ever-growing population continued to climb.

In the 1860s an Act of the State Legislature created the Niagara Frontier Police District, which encompassed Buffalo and Tonawanda in Erie County and Wheatfield in Niagara County.

Six to eight constables comprised the early membership of the Buffalo Police Department around the late 1830s. It was not until 1855 that the first police chief was appointed. Officers first received uniforms in the 1860s. During this period the State 

Legislature created the Niagara Frontier Police District, which encompassed Buffalo and Tonawanda in Erie County and Wheatfield in Niagara County. This new organization included a board of commissioners, a superintendent, captains, detectives, and over one hundred patrolmen. In 1870 the district was divided and the City of Buffalo has been served by a single police district ever since.

Finally in 1866, an uniformed force known as the Niagara Frontier Police District was established by the New York State Legislature. David W Reynolds was Superintendent of the force that policed the entire Niagara Frontier, which at the time consisted of Buffalo, Tonawanda and Wheatfield.

On April 26th 1871, a new law was enacted which call for the formation of the Buffalo City Police Department. The outlying areas were no longer included in the creation of the new police force. The City of Buffalo Police Department, as we know it today, had been established. Upon its inception, the Buffalo Police Department consisted of five precincts.

By 1875, the population of the City of Buffalo had grown to 134,557.

In 1875, the Morse Telegraph System was installed in the department, this technological achievement was a great asset in the advancement of our department's communication system.

The Buffalo Police Department was continuing to grow and by 1884, Precincts 1 through 10 were in place. 

The strength of the force also continued to grow, it now consisted of 4 Captains, 6 Lieutenants and 240 Patrolman.

According to the census figures of 1892, the population of the City of Buffalo had reached 267,567.

As the end of the year 1899 approached, Mayor Diehl and the citizens of Buffalo prepared for not only a new year, but a new century. William S. Bull was the Superintendent of Police and Police Headquarters was located at the corner of Franklin and Seneca Streets. A captain commanded each of the departments thirteen precincts.

The City of Buffalo was preparing for the Pan-American Exhibition which was to be held in Buffalo in 1900. Due to the Spanish American war, the exhibition was postponed until 1901.

As the City of Buffalo thrived and expanded, the Buffalo Police Department continued to grow. in 1908, Precinct 14 opened. Precinct 15 at South Park and Whitfield opened in 1924 followed by the opening of Precinct 16 on Bailey Avenue in 1925. Precinct17, the last precinct in the precinct system, was established at Colvin and Linden Avenues in 1927.

The early part of the century also brought much technical advancement to our police department.
in 1907, the department purchased the first automobile and by 1910 the first patrol car was placed in service.

The first training school was organized in 1918.

By the year 1920 the population in the City of Buffalo had risen to 506,775.

In 1932, Buffalo's new City Hall was built in an Art Deco architectural design, it was the largest "City Hall" anywhere in the world.

A new police headquarters building was erected at the corner of Franklin and Church Streets in 1937 and still is the location the Buffalo Police Department calls "home".

 Population continued to soar in our City, by 1950 we had 580.132 residents. After the 1950's, population in the City began to decline with the suburban sprawl beginning its early stages. The population of
Buffalo began to decline and in 1960, had fallen to 532,759.

Precinct 2 was abolished in 1954 followed by the closing of Precinct 1 and Precinct 14 in 1961.

Prior to 1977, only a very few civilians held positions with the Buffalo Police Department. In September of 1977, the position of Report Technician was established and civilians were hired by the Department to fill the newly created title. Today, the Buffalo Police Department employs over one hundred Report Technicians and numerous other civilians positions have been added to our staff. In 2003 the last Police Officer radio dispatcher retired, leaving an all civilian dispatch operation.

A computerized Electronic Mail System was installed in the Department in December of 1989. The new system replaced our extremely antiquated teletype communication method.

Within the last decade, some of the most dramatic changes have occurred within the Buffalo Police Department. We have gone from typewriter to computers and copy machines and have the capability of dispatching calls for police service over a voiceless computer system.

Even the Police Officers were given a new look, in December of 1990 the Buffalo Police Department issued new uniforms. Light blue shirts, leather winter jackets, "Buffalo Coats" and "Ike Jackets" were all retired. The installation of a Department "Quarter Master" works to keep our Police Officers looking sharp in their dark blue shirts and dark blue pants that remain as the uniform of the day.

In 1995 all of the cities fourteen precinct station houses were closed and five police districts were established.

By the end of the year 2000, three newly built police district station houses and two existing police buildings were refurbished and occupied as district station houses.

2003 brought major changes to the Buffalo Police Department. Due to a declining population, now at 292,648, a dwindling tax base and far less Federal and State aid provided to the City and the implication of financial constraints, the department was forced to evaluate its entire operation. A plan was undertaken to streamline, consolidate or eliminate operations in order to keep the department free from financial difficulty.

One of the operations eliminated was The Men’s Cell Block operation located on the fourth floor of Police Headquarters at 74 Franklin St . The handling of those duties were assumed by the Erie County Sheriffs Department at a set cost paid by the city.

Another major change was the implementation of one-officer assigned to a patrol car and the establishment of a five wheel platoon system.

Throughout its history the members of the Buffalo Police Department have carried out their duties with respect, integrity and excellence.