Phoenix Police Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Phoenix Police Museum

Phoenix Police Museum
Established	1995
Location	2nd Ave & Jefferson Street Phoenix, Arizona

The Phoenix Police Museum is a cool place to learn about the history of the Phoenix Police Department. It's located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, on the first floor of the old City Hall building. The museum shows how the police department has grown since 1881, when Henry Garfias became the first city marshal. You can also find out about the "Miranda Rights" and how they connect to the Phoenix Police. The museum has many fun and interactive exhibits for everyone to enjoy.

History of the Museum

In October 1993, a special display about the Phoenix Police Department's history was set up. It was shown for six months at the Historic Phoenix City Hall. People really liked it!

Because of this, different groups, like the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, asked for help. They wanted to study old police items to see if there was enough for a museum. The study showed there was plenty! Volunteers and donations from local companies helped make the museum a reality.

Finally, on October 6, 1995, the Phoenix Police Museum opened its doors. It was first located in a building called the Old Barrister Place. This building used to be known as the Old Jefferson Hotel.

In 2012, the museum moved to its current home. Guess what? This new location, the Historic Phoenix City Hall, was actually where the Phoenix Police Department was located from 1928 to 1975! The museum is run by volunteers. Many of them are former Phoenix Police officers or staff. It's a non-profit organization, which means it's run for a good cause, not to make money. The best part is, admission to the museum is free! Kids can even try on a real Phoenix Police uniform when they visit.

Cool Exhibits to See

Museum volunteer staff

Child interacting in a Police Cruiser

The Phoenix Police Museum has many interesting exhibits. Here are just a few of them:

The Jail Rock

One of the oldest exhibits is the "Jail Rock." Before Phoenix even had a jail, Jack Swilling, who helped start Phoenix, was a constable. To keep prisoners from escaping, their legs would be chained to this "jail rock."

Old Marshal's Office

You can see a pretend old marshal's office made of wood and brick. It even has a jail cell! There's a figure that looks like Marshal Henry Garfias and a prisoner.

Arizona Rangers and Their Tools

Learn about the Arizona Rangers and the special tools they used for their work.

Old Police Cars

• A 1919 Model T Police Cruiser is on display. This car had a 20-horsepower engine and could go up to 45 miles per hour!
• See a Chevrolet Celebrity Police Cruiser from the 1980s.

Early Police Communication

Check out an old Gamewell Co. 1920 Police Telegraph, also called a Call Box. Police officers used these boxes to know when headquarters needed them. Later, horns and flashing lights also helped officers get messages.

Evolution of the Department

There are many exhibits that show how the police department has changed over time. You can see how officers, their uniforms, and even their weapons have evolved from the beginning until now.

Police Helicopter and Jail Gate

• The first helicopter used by the Phoenix Police Department is there. It's a Hughes 300C model, first used in 1974.
• You can also see an original gate (door) from a prison cell.

Patches and Badges

The museum has a display of many different police patches and badges.

K-9 Partners

There's also a special exhibit honoring the amazing K-9 (police dog) partners who served the department.

Gallery of Museum Exhibits

The Memorial Room

The museum also has a special Memorial Room. This room honors Phoenix Police employees who have given their lives while on duty.

One of the many pictures in the Memorial Room is of Officer William Hazelton "Haze" Burch. He was the first Phoenix Police officer to be killed while on duty. This happened on February 5, 1925. Officer Burch was 41 years old.

See also

• List of historic properties in Phoenix, Arizona
• Cave Creek Museum
• Children's Museum in Phoenix
• Pioneer and Military Memorial Park
• Wells Fargo Museum
• Martin Auto Museum
• List of museums in Arizona
• Phoenix Police Department