The first Village Marshal was Daniel Huntley – a schoolteacher.  He served for one year.  Mr. Huntley was again elected as the first City Marshal and again served one year.

The village had neither a police department nor jail of its own, borrowing a neighboring lock-up when a rare occasion demanded. After the first Outagamie County jail was built in April of 1854, the story goes that Appleton's first paddy wagon was a wheelbarrow, used mostly to trundle drunks off to jail.

Records show that the city was reluctant to organize a police department. At the insistence of the county board, the 1869 council voted in January of that year to establish a permanent police department. The decision provided for one marshal and "such policemen as thereafter should be needed." As the city grew, so did the need for more police officers.

In January 1869, the City passed an ordinance that established a permanent police department for the City.  The first police officer was George Weber.  Officers were appointed each April, for a one-year term.  Officers worked 12-hour shifts, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days a week and were paid $2 for each day worked.  The City had one officer on duty until 1877, when a second officer was appointed.  This additional officer was paid $1.75 per day.

1869

In September 1870, the first police station was in the 100-block of North Oneida Street.  It was a 2-story building.

The idea of hiring a night policeman was launched in the fall of 1873, but not without a fight. The first motion to hire a night patrolman for the city at large was rejected by the city council.

By 1884, the department had three patrolmen besides the marshal, and by 1895, the force had grown to eight men. Six of these officers walked night beats throughout the city, and the marshal and one other officer were on daytime duty.

Up until 1890, the city paid a small monthly allowance to its lawmen, which in 1869 was $2.00 per night; businessmen made up the difference on the theory that they had more to lose. By the turn of the century, the police department had a real police patrol wagon and were paid $55.00 per month. The first patrol wagon was drawn by one horse, but in 1908 it was a two horse wagon manned by two policemen.

In 1898, the new Police & Fire Commission took over testing and making appointment to the Department and from that time on the appointments were permanent.

When the department got a patrol wagon, it and the horses were kept at the No. 1 fire house.  The patrol driver also lived at the fire house and was on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with (2) 1/2-days off a week.

The first two captains were appointed on the Department in January 1902.  Their names were W. Baker and M. Garvey.  September 1911 became the time for the first motorcycle officer.

• Between 21-55 years of age

• Ability to read and write

• Ability to do arithmetic

• At least 5’8” tall

• Minimum weight of 140 lbs

All members of the Department passed the criteria, except Ed Finnegan, who as 65 years old.  Ed was then appointed Director of the Poor Farm.

The Appleton Police Department purchases its first motor patrol wagon (August 1914).

1914

In April 1922, Mildred Hl. Gardner was appointed as the first female police officer on the force.

In January 1929, the title of “City Marshal” was officially changed to “Chief of Police.”  The first official Chief of Police was George T. Prim, a retired lieutenant of the Chicago Police Department.  Chief Prim served from 1888 to 1913 on the Chicago Police Department.  He was hired as the City Marshal of Appleton in 1917, and retired as Chief of Police in 1941.

In May 1950, the Appleton Police Department moved into it's own building on the southwest corner of Morrison and Washington Streets.

At this time the police force numbered 38 men, had three squad cars and six motorcycles. In 1960, the station was enlarged considerably; the force had increased to 66 men, 18 crossing guards, seven squads, and 11 motorcycles. 

When a Milwaukee-based department store (Gimbel's) decided to locate in Appleton in March 1969, the police department moved to a "temporary" location on the corner of Appleton and Franklin Streets. They remained there until January 8, 1976 when they move to their current location.

The list of marshals and police chiefs is long with the earliest changing frequently since they were elected officials. The city council did not recognize its department head as a police chief for many years. Only after 17 marshals with a total of 76 years of service (1853-1929), Marshal George T. Prim, who assumed his duties on 1917 with a police force of 16 men, became Police Chief Prim by city council decree. Chief Prim served for 24 consecutive years until 1941 and only one other person , Fred Hoefer served longer with 27 years as marshal.

Appleton police officers first wore a shoulder patch in December 1961. It was a diamond shaped black and gold patch worn on the left sleeve of the officer's uniform. The current star-shaped badge was adopted in the summer of 1963.  The department changed to it's second patch in February 1966. The current patch has been worn since May 13, 1996.

1950-1996

Today, the Appleton Police Department employs the finest, expects their best, and serves our community in the pursuit of the highest quality of life.  We promote leadership throughout, and deliver excellence in innovative policing at the neighborhood level.

Staffing levels in January 2005, include the following positions: 

1 Chief of Police
2 Deputy Police Chiefs
4 Captains
16 Lieutenants
6 Investigators
1 Operations Coordination Specialist
2 Evidence Officers
12 Police-School Liaison Officers
1 Drug Investigator (MEG Unit)
3 Community Resource Unit Officers
1 Resource Development Unit Officer
56 Police Officers, assigned to patrol

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