Preserving Good Order & The Public Morals Therein

In 1841 — the same year that Kingston was proclaimed the Capital of United Canada — the Mayor and Common Council formed the community's first police force. The goal was to "rectify the unprotected condition of the Town of Kingston ... and afford the necessary security of the inhabitants."

Dedicated to "the preservation of good order and the public morals therein", the five-member police force's major problem was immediately apparent: dealing with the 'drunk and disorderly'. By 1842 there were 136 licensed taverns in Kingston and surrounding area to serve a population of approximately 8,500.

Taverns of the time served as meeting places for working people and the poor of the community, providing companionship and amenities not available elsewhere. A Select Committee reported in the early 1840s, however, that on one street, over a distance of 180 yards, there were no fewer than 13 licensed tavern or drinking houses, four of which adjoined one another.

Now, more than a century and a half later later and with new responsibilities in the former Township of Kingston, the force comprises some 150 uniformed officers and 35 civilian workers under the direction of Chief of Police William J. Closs. With an annual budget of $12.5 million, it now serves a population of more than 110,000. From its first accommodation in the guard room in the combined Court House and Gaol of the day, the force moved progressively to its current 50,000 square-foot headquarters in downtwn Kingston.

Kingston's police force is unique in that the city is — and has been almost from its origins — a garrison town, a university town and a penitentiary town. These institutions have significantly shaped both the police force and the community. Because of the special demands originating with these institutions, the police force developed a level of sophistication above that of other forces of comparable size early in its existence.

True to its founding purpose of crime prevention and apprehension of law-breakers, Kingston's police force also embraces the broader role of improving the overall quality of life. Increasingly, its orientation is more community-based, recognizing the need for co-operation between the providers of police services and the communities they serve.

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Information: Ian Milne, 613-544-4447