Samuel J. Battle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel J. Battle
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| Born | January 16, 1883 New Bern, North Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | August 7, 1966 (aged 83) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Police career | |
| Department | New York Police Department |
| Badge number | 5548 |
| Years of service | 1911–1941 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Other work | Parole commissioner |
Samuel Jesse Battle (born January 16, 1883 – died August 7, 1966) was a very important American police officer. He made history by becoming the first African-American officer in the New York City Police Department. He joined the police force on March 6, 1911.
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Who Was Samuel J. Battle?
Samuel Jesse Battle was born on January 16, 1883. His hometown was New Bern, North Carolina.
He had a brother-in-law named Moses P. Cobb. Moses was also a police officer. He worked for the Brooklyn Police force in the 1890s. Moses helped Samuel learn about police work.
Samuel was a tall and strong man. He was 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighed 280 pounds. People often called him "Big Sam."
A Heroic Act
In the early 1920s, Samuel Battle saved another officer's life. This brave act earned him a lot of respect. His fellow officers then voted for him to join the Sergeant's Academy. This was a big step in his career.
His Police Career
Samuel Battle joined the police force in 1911. His first assignment was in a neighborhood called San Juan Hill, Manhattan. This area is now where Lincoln Center is located. It was an important African-American neighborhood before Harlem became well-known.
Soon, he moved to Harlem. More and more African-American people were moving there. Samuel Battle continued to break barriers in the police force.
- In 1926, he became the first African-American police sergeant.
- In 1935, he became the first African-American police lieutenant.
Helping During Difficult Times
In 1935, there were serious events known as the Harlem Riots. These events involved a lot of unrest. Samuel Battle, as the first black lieutenant, played a key role.
After three days of trouble, he helped calm things down. He shared flyers showing himself with a young boy who was thought to have been hurt. This helped to ease the tension in the community.
Working for the Community
In 1941, Samuel Battle started a new job. He became a parole commissioner. In this role, he worked with young people in Harlem. He focused on helping them stay out of trouble.
He started special programs for youth. These included summer camps and sports activities. He wanted to give young people positive things to do.
Calming a Riot
In 1943, another major event happened. A white police officer shot an African-American suspect. This caused more unrest in Harlem.
The Mayor of New York, Fiorello LaGuardia, asked Samuel Battle for help. Battle was called in to calm the situation. He spoke about how important it was for people to get along. He helped to bring peace back to the area.
Samuel Battle retired as a parole commissioner in 1951. But he kept working for the Harlem community. He stayed active in many local activities.
He passed away on August 7, 1966.
His Lasting Legacy
Samuel Battle left a strong mark on history. In 2009, a street intersection was named after him. It is at 135th Street and Lenox Avenue in New York City.
He was also shown in the TV series Watchmen. In the show, he welcomed another black police officer, Will Reeves, to the police department in 1938. He warned him about the challenges he might face.
See also
