The Pensacola Police Historic Society

By Mike Simmons

The Pensacola Police Department turns 204 years old today, as does the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. On July 19, 1821, Andrew Jackson sat in his office at the Government House in Ferdinand Plaza and wrote the commission of James Craig as Alguazil (police officer) of Pensacola, marking the birth of the Pensacola Police Department. Among the additional appointments was Henry D. Piere as the sheriff for Escambia County.

This makes the Pensacola Police Department one of the oldest and most distinguished departments in the United States. According to the website, Oldest.org, PPDs establishment comes in at fourth oldest, behind Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Columbus, OH, It predates New York City, Houston, Memphis, Fort Worth, San Francisco, San Jose, Milwaukee, Boston, Chicago, and hundreds of others.

Don’t worry, there won’t be a cake. Can you imagine what 204 candles would do?

[1] https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032317075&view=1up&seq=151&q1=henry+pierre