In his seventh annual report published in the 1900 Municipal Register of the City Of Hartford, Hartford Police Chief George F. Bill stated that the Hartford Police Department as of April 1, 1900 consisted of one Chief, one Captain, one Lieutenant, four Sergeants, eighty-five regular patrolmen and two supernumeraries doing duty as patrol drivers. Additionally there were ninety-seven supernumeraries, who were not paid unless called for duty. In an effort to keep up the discipline, appearance on the street and physical condition of the officers, a large spare room in the police station was converted into a gymnasium where the officers participated in weekly drills. Police Headquarters were located at the corner of Market and Kinsley Streets. The building, which was erected on the site of the old police lockup, was officially opened on October 13, 1898.

In his annual report for 1900, the chief remarked about the success of a newly formed bicycle squad... "Last season four officers were provided with bicycles, and I believe the law was more rigidly enforced than in any other city in the state."

In 1901 the Hartford Police Department started using an electric patrol wagon instead of the horse drawn wagon that was previously used.

Chief Cornelius Ryan:  1901 - 1904

Chief Bill Died in December of 1901 after 34 years of service in the Hartford Police Department. He was succeeded by Chief Cornelius Ryan. In 1902 the Chief remarked in the annual report about the newly acquired electric patrol wagon "It has exceeded my expectations under the most severe tests. It is superior to the conveyance previously used in cleanliness and speed and can be run economically. The wagon does the work of four horses at a nominal expense of about 18 cents per day for power. I can safely say that the wagon is admirably adapted for the use to which it is put, and the department has occasion to feel proud that it is one of the first in this country to be equipped with a vehicle that is modern and ornamental as well as useful."

In 1901 The Hartford Police Department logged 4,612 arrests, 2,671 of which were for drunkenness. One of the most publicized arrests in 1902 was involved the capture of William Randolph and George Collins, who were wanted in Union, Missouri, for bank robbery and the murder of a Pinkerton detective.

On May 30,1902 the Hartford Police department started using the new automobile ambulance, which, according to the Board of Police Commission, "gave perfect service."

One of the issues addressed by the Board of Police Commissioners in 1903 was that of the homeless, who were called tramps and transients. These unfortunates were often housed in jail cells at night. The Police Commission made a presentation to the City Council in January of 1903 recommending that Hartford adopt a system similar to those in adjoining cities where tramps and transients chopped wood for five hours each day in exchange for food and shelter provided by the city.

One of the other problems which involved the Police Department in the early part of this century was a smallpox epidemic. Hartford police officers were required to enforce the mandatory quarantine of those stricken with the illness, by standing guard. In June 1903 the Board of Police Commissioners requested additional funds from the Common Council to defray the costs involved in enforcing the smallpox quarantine.

Bicycles became an important mode of transportation for police patrols during the early part of this century. Records from the Board of Police Commission meetings show that the Police Department purchased eleven new bicycles in 1903.

[Editor's note:  The Great, Great Granddaughter of Chief Ryan, Jennifer (Ryan) Raftery, tells me that the Chief was known as "Fighting Con Ryan]