San Diego Police Department

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) is the primary law enforcement agency for the city of San Diego, California. The department was officially established on May 16, 1889.

History

Prior to the establishment of the San Diego Police Department, law enforcement services were provided by the San Diego City Marshal beginning in 1850. The first City Marshal, Agoston Haraszthy, appointed Richard Freeman a marshal, making Freeman the first African American lawman in California. In ?, due to lack of willing individuals to take up the position, the City Marshall disbanded.

In 1885 the office of City Marshal was reestablished, and in 1889, with a new city charter, the police department was established. All but one police officer at the time of the establishment were White, except for one Hispanic sergeant. The sixth police chief, Edward Beshyhead, also founded the San Diego Union, a predecessor to the current San Diego Union-Tribune.

In 1939, the department moved into their headquarters on Harbor Drive, which they used until moving to their current building in 1986; in 1998 the former headquarters was placed onto the National Register of Historic Places. During World War II, one third of the department was drafted into the United States Military. In 1973, the first uniformed female officer joined the department.