Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records
MSS.138
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
September 10, 2013
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie, Indiana, 47306
765-285-5078
libarchives@bsu.edu
Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records MSS.138
Table of Contents
Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3
Biographical Note / Historical Note / Administrative History......................................................................4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4
Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................5
Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 7
Series 1: Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, subject files, 1886-1985............................ 7
Series 2: Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, oversize photographs, undated.................. 8
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Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records MSS.138
Summary Information
Repository
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Muncie Metropolitan Police Department. (Muncie, Ind.)
Title
Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records
Date
1971-1985
Extent
0.2 Cubic feet 1 box
Language
English
Text [Box]
1, Records
Preferred Citation
Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University
Libraries
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Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records MSS.138
Biographical Note / Historical Note / Administrative History
The Muncie Metropolitan Police Department was organized in response to passage of an Indiana state
law requiring the creation of a municipal police department for cities the size of Muncie. The governor
appointed a Board of Police Commissioners upon whom the responsibility lay for police recruitment.
On March 23, 1893, the Commissioners met on the second floor of the Patterson Building at the corner
of Main and Walnut in Muncie and formed what was to be called the Metropolitan Detective and Police
Force. A.W. Chapman, president of the Board of Commissioners presided, while Dr. G. H. Searcy served
as the examining physician. Marshal James Miller, a former farmer who had served as city marshal under
the old system, was named chief and granted a salary of $1000 a year. The new patrolmen, all political
appointees, were given $50 a month as pay and were required to furnish their own uniforms. Two twelve
hour shifts were instituted and headquarters was first established in the Paterson Building. However,
after two gambling houses had been raided, the police committee received notice to vacate the premises
by Arthur Patterson, owner of the building. Headquarters was moved to the Streeter Building at 112 W.
Washington and remained there until eventually moving into the City Hall building.
The men hired as patrolmen in 1893 were known for their strength and ability to run fast, as in the
beginning, the policemen had no patrol wagons to transport prisoners and sometimes had to haul their
prisoners in bodily. One old veteran recalls seeing prisoners brought in on bicycle handles and in
wheelbarrows.
The police officers wore uniforms of dark blue cloth with wide pantaloons, a low-cut vest and a doublebreasted Prince Albert coat. No mention is made of a gun as being part of the uniform, but there was a
general distribution of a mace or nightstick, which was made of wood about eight inches long. One end
was carved into a grip and the other end was loaded with lead.
Muncie's early experience with municipal police enforcement included involvement with social order
crimes, usually dealing with drunkenness or prostitution. Littering was another favorite target of the
police officers. The activity of the new department reflected the values of the "respectable" Muncie
community, validating the theory that elite fears of an immigrant population prompted development of
police departments throughout the country.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of various publications dealing with the Muncie Police Department, including
a manual of rules and regulations, newspaper clippings, a 1971-1972 street guide and a guide to the
Department entitled, "To Serve and To Protect."
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Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records MSS.138
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series:
Series 1: Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, subject files, 1886-1985
Series 2: Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, oversize photographs, undated
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State
University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to
Archives and Special Collections.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation from Bertie G. Turner on
1993/04/15.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
EAD finding aid created 2012/10/04 by Julie Hausknecht. EAD finding aid revised 2013/08/02 by Leslie
Nellis.
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Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records MSS.138
Controlled Access Headings
Genre(s)
• Documents
• Manuals (instructional materials)
Geographic Name(s)
•
•
•
•
Delaware County (Ind.)
Delaware County (Ind.)--History--20th century--Sources
Muncie (Ind.)
Muncie (Ind.)--History--20th century--Sources
Subject(s)
• Police
• Stoeckel Archives of Local History
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Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records MSS.138
Series 1: Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, subject files, 18...
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, subject files, 1886-1985
Article, The Police Marksman, The off duty killers, 1981 Jan.
General rules and regulations, job descriptions, evaluations, undated
Newsclippings, 1980-1985
Publication, Drug abuse, undated
Publication, To serve and to protect, police, city of Muncie, Indiana,
Box
Folder
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
1
6
1
7
1
8
1
9
1
10
1971-1974
Street guide, 1971-1972
Unit lists, 1972-1985
Metropolitan police bill, 1886
Publication, Fraternal order of police, annual state convention, 1950
Manual for metropolitan police department, undated
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Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records MSS.138
Series 2: Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, oversize photogra...
POVA.014 Series 2: Muncie Metropolitan Police Department records, oversize photographs,
undated
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