HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistory of the Bozeman Police Dept_Chapter 031
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Chapter 3
Bozeman Police Department Established
With the end of Mayor Bogert's address, the Bozeman City Council adopted the
first ordinance, which was to establish a governmental framework. Ordinance number
one, section one, established the Bateman Police Department.
City Ordinances
of the
City of Bozeman in Gallatin County Montana Territory
Ordinance No. l
Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Bozeman
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Section 1: The City Council shall appoint two policemen who shall be Night Watchmen
and who shall be paid such salary as shall be fixed by the Council, and whose term of
office shall be one year from their appointment and qualifications and until their
successors shall have been duly appointed and qualified; provided, however, that the
City Council may at any time remove any of said officers for inefficiency, neglect of
duty, or corruption in office.
Section 13: It shall be the duty of the City Marshall to suppress riots, disturbances and
breaches of the peace; to apprehend all riotous, disorderly persons and disturbers of the
peace, and all persons in the act of committing any violation of any of the Ordinances of
the City, or who may have committed any such offense, and to take such person or
persons forthwith into custody, and if in the daytime, or on any secular day, to bring such
prisoner or prisoners before the Police Magistrate to be dealt with according to law, and
if in the night time or on Sunday, to keep such person or persons in custody until the next
day, for examination or trial by such Police Magistrate. Whenever the Marshall shall
have knowledge of the breach of any Ordinance, or when informed by any person of any
violation of any City Ordinance, he shall make complaint or cause the same to be done
before the Police Magistrate and obtain a warrant for the arrest of the offender. He shall
be keeper of the City Prison, and City Pound, and be the custodian of all chattel property
belonging to the City. He shall have general supervision of Police and Night Watchmen
when on duty, and assign their rounds and stations, and direct them in discharge of their
duties. And generally he shall perform all duties properly belonging to his office or that
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may be devolved upon him by Ordinance or order of the City Council, or direction ofthe
Mayor as Chief Executive thereof He shall give band to the City, with two sufficient
' sureties, to be approved by the City Council, in the penal sum of two thousand dollars.
' Section 14: All Policemen or Night Watchmen appointed permanently by the City
Council, shall give bond to the City, with sureties, to be approved by the Council, in the
penal sum of one thousand dollars.
' Section 17: All officers of the City Government shall take and subscribe the official oath
prescribed by the Statute of the Territory of Montana.
' Adopted and approved April 12, 1883
' J.V. Bogert, Mayor
J.J. Davis, City Clerk
The revised statutes of the Territory of Montana that was passed by the
Legislative Assembly on February 21, 1879, Article II, Section S75 contains this "official
oath" It reads as follows:
"
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I wi11 support, protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States, and the organic act of the Territory of Montana, and
' that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity; that I have not paid or
contributed, or promised to pay or contribute, either directly or indirectly, any money or
' other valuable thing, to procure my nomination (or appointment) except for necessary
and proper expenses expressly authorized by law; that I have not knowingly violated any
election law of this territory, or procured it to be done by others in my behalf; that I will
not knowingly receive, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing for the
' performance or non-performance of any act or duty pertaining to my oflce, other than
the compensation allowed by law."
' This oath of office is very similar to the oath taken by today's Police Officers and
the Bozeman City Manager is the city official who administers this oath.
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On April 19, 1883, the minutes of the City Council meeting state:
On motion of
Story, it was ordered: That the Mayor re=engage as Night Watchmen, Joseph Didawick
and George Herendeen, at the rate of ninety dollars per month, each."
The wording contained in the minutes give a strong indication Night Watchmen
were employed by the City of Bozeman prior to incorporation.
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The band of Jacob Oakwood, as City Marshall, in penalty of two thousand
dollars, with Charles Kind and John Mitchell as security thereon, and dated April 18,
1883, was approved."
"On motion by Davis, the Cammittee on Public Buildings were directed to rent
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the
old jail
far six months at twenty dollars per month.
This "old jail" was the log building that was built by the County in 1869 and used
as the County jail. In 1881, the County built the first Courthouse and second jail on a
prece of ground located and Main and Fourth that was donated by W.H. Tracy.
' By City Council action, tie Bozeman Palice Department became a reality with
three police officers ready to serve and protect the citizens of Bozeman. Jacob Oakwaad
was elected by papular vote to serve as City Marshall and his two Night Watchmen who
were appointed by the new City Council were Joseph Didawick and George Herendeen.
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