Keeping Law & Order in Tallahassee 1826 - 1973 Paperback – April 20, 2025

This book traces the Tallahassee Police Department through almost 200 years, with the focus on the period between its founding in 1826 until 1973, when the department moved into its headquarters on East Seventh Avenue. The narrative, which is set against the history of Tallahassee, concludes with a short synopsis of events through 2020, including plans for a new building to accommodate the expanding operations of the agency whose sworn duty is to protect and secure the citizens and property in Tallahassee. Through careful research, the authors describe the evolution of the department as it adapted to the ever-changing shifts in culture, politics, economics, education, and technology. Publicly funded from the beginning, the police force grew from a one-man City Marshal, chosen primarily for his physical prowess, to a Chief of Police and the organization that exists today. The book aims to provide a timeline of the fundamental changes that have occurred through the department’s history. Read more