Did You Know... (PI Historical Trivia 5)

New York City established its first formal police department in 1853 replacing the "constable and watch" system. Chicago soon followed in 1855, Philadelphia in 1856, and Boston in 1859. Early police agencies had limited jurisdiction and were only able to address crimes within the limits of their own cities. Accordingly smaller towns and communities were left without any police services or were limited to a county sheriff. In the absence of any local, state, or federal investigative units, people who wanted the return of their stolen goods or to be reunited with missing loved ones utilized private detective agencies for assistance. Detective agencies were employed by bank transport companies and the railroad to protect valuable cargo and passengers. Allen Pinkerton, who established the first private detective agency in the United States, was able to capitalize on this growing need for security and investigative services.