Notable Dates

  • 1870 April 17th: (published in the New York Times):  Disgraceful Riot in Madison - An assassination attempt was made on Miss Edith O'Gorman, the well-known public lecturer on Madison Avenue.
  • 1872 August 30th:  (published in the New York Times):  Michael Sandford proprietor of the Waverly House at Madison New Jersey was shot and fatally injured at 11 o'clock on Wednesday evening.
  • 1886: a gift was presented to the "Police Department of the Borough of Madison".  The book "Professional Criminals of America" written by Inspector Thomas Byrnes, Chief of Detectives of the New York City Police Department.  The book over 400 pages, containing over 200 photographs of important and dangerous criminals.  The book was published by Byrnes in order to serve as a medium in the prevention and detection of crime by circulating pictures, together with accurate descriptions and interesting information regarding their crimes and methods.
  • 1890: October 30th: "The new lock-up was initiated on Wednesday evening.  Marshall Squire found a drunken man near the Presbyterian Church and placed him in the iron cage.  In a few hours he was sober as a judge and was permitted to go".
  • 1894: August 24th: "We need a new lock-up in Madison.  In cases where the justices commit persons to the county jail it necessitates not only considerable trouble.  A small brick building with the necessary appurtenances, would not cost a great deal of money and then it would be handy in cases of emergencies.  In Summit, Millburn and Dover we find such building and they have proven great value".
  • 1908: December 4th:  The members of Madison's finest have new uniform hats.  The old "helmet style" uniform has have been discarded and the new caps that are worn by the New York and Newark Police Department have taken its place.  
  • 1915 August 13th: Residents petition "urge the town council to take immediate action" and hire additional patrol officers to provide adequate police protection at night.
  • 1920: the town council adopted an ordinance creating the position of Chief of Police.
  • 1921: Patrolman John J. Smith was appointed to the Madison Police Department as the first motor policeman.  The motorcycle and Patrolman Smith's salary was paid for by Geraldine R. Dodge.
  • 1923:  The first traffic signal is installed in Madison.
  • 1929 September 5th:  The first police car is placed into service; a Ford Model A.
  • 1931 January 16th:  A second patrol car is purchased and the first to be equipped with a siren; the siren was taken from the old hook and ladder truck. 
  • 1930 February 26th:  All major New York City newspapers published a story of Patrolman Martin Jennings and Edward Hinch made a remarkable capture of a burglar in progress at 2:25am Cresent Road.  Making there early morning rounds Jennings and Hinch noticed the wet foot marks on the front steps and they traced the footprints to a window. The man arrested, Thomas Anderson, 26 East 18th Street, New York City, was in the possession of burglar tools and a revolver.  Anderson a career criminal who served time at Trenton State, Sing Sing, Sannemora and other prisons always wore gloves so as not leave fingerprints.  Attached to the soles of this shoes were small heels from women's shoes so that by walking on his toes the impression of these small heels were left in the ground making one think a women.  Anderson had just finished burglarizing the home of famous clock maker Seth Thomas in New Vernon.  Anderson was wanted in burglaries in: Montclair, Bernardsville, Morristown, Convent, the Oranges, Newark amongst other places.
  • The teletype system was installed.
  • 1934 January 4th:  All personnel were equipped with new nightsticks "the fact that on several recent occasions disorderly persons have attacked the arresting officer when the latter attempted to make an arrest is belived to be responsible for the charge".
  • 1938: Madison Police went on the air for the first time.  They used a two-way radio communication and operated on a temporary permit.
  • 1939 March:  Cooperation of the Madison and Florham Park Police Deparmtent made possible by the use of the Madison two-way radio system and the rereceiving set installed in the FLorham Park Police car.
  • 1942 May 14th:  "A teletype machine was installed in Police Headquarters yesterday afternoon.  With the new machine the police    The teletype has been installed as a national defense measure and will be retained for the duration.  A similiar machine was used by the police before they had inter-car radio service, but it was removed by Mayor Gruver about six years ago as an economy measure. 
  • 1946: Madison Police Officers chartered Local 92 of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association.  In the 1930s, Madison Officers succeeded from Local 43 to start Local 78 with Florham Park.   
  • 1953 October 2nd:  About 75 police chiefs and guests heard New York City Police Commissioner Martin H. Meaney give the principal address at the annual convention of the State Association of Chiefs of Police at the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building.
  • 1957 January 21st:  The Morris County Police Academy, under the direction of Chief Edward Hinch of Madison, concluded a significant training course in Madison's Hartley Dodge Memorial.  For the first time in New Jersey, municipal Law Enforcement officers received training in chemical tests to determine intoxication.  The instructors Troopers from the New Jersey State Police instructed 34 students from 16 municipalities from Morris, Essex and Union Counties ranged from Chief to Patrolman .  The intensive five day training course. 
  • 1961 December 19th:  Sergeant Harry Bartow was shot by a deranged man on Wayne Boulevard.  The man was later arrested by Officers Joseph Markovich, Samuel Artiglere and Detective Jack Dunne.
  • 1966: A range was built behind the John Avenue Town garage.  Firearms training was held at the West Orange Armory prior t o1966.
  • The first presentation of the Martin P. Jennings Memorial Award for Meritorious service was presented to Sergeant Robert Smith.  Sergeant Smith was recognized for his courage in entering a burning house at 210 Main Street where several children were trapped inside.    
  • 1986: The first computer was installed at police headquarters.