Canal Zone Police facts for kids

The Canal Zone Police was a special police force from the United States that worked overseas. They were in charge of keeping the Panama Canal Zone safe. This force had more than 400 officers.

Their main job was to protect property in the Canal Zone. They also handled general police duties, just like police do anywhere else. They used many types of vehicles to do their job. These included boats, horses, motorcycles, and patrol cars.

The Canal Zone Police was divided into two main parts. One was called the Atlantic Division and the other was the Pacific Division. They operated about 25 police stations across the Canal Zone. Because of their work, the Canal Zone was a much safer place to live and work.

The force stopped operating on March 31, 1982. This happened because of special agreements called the Torrijos–Carter Treaties from 1977. These treaties said that the country of Panama would take over control of the Canal Zone. Today, the Panamanian National Police is responsible for keeping the Canal complex safe.

What They Wore

The Canal Zone Police had different uniforms over the years. At first, their uniforms looked a lot like military outfits. They often wore a special hat called a campaign hat.

Later on, their uniforms changed. They started to look more like the uniforms worn by state police in the United States. Their headwear also varied. Officers might wear an octagonal peaked cap or even a Stetson cavalry hat, which is a wide-brimmed hat.

The Torrijos–Carter Treaties

The Torrijos–Carter Treaties were two important agreements. They were signed in 1977 by the United States and Panama. These treaties decided the future of the Panama Canal.

Before these treaties, the United States controlled the Panama Canal Zone. This was a strip of land around the Canal. The treaties agreed that Panama would gradually take full control of the Canal and the land around it. This process ended on December 31, 1999. The Canal Zone Police was disbanded as part of this change.