Henry Breckenridge

Peabody Police Department

The City of Peabody is a vibrant suburban community 15 miles north of Boston, bordered by Lynnfield on the west, Danvers and Middleton on the North, Salem on the east, and Lynn on the south. Peabody has a land area of 16.5 square miles with a population of approximately 55,000. The Peabody Police has100 sworn officers, twenty sworn Reserve Officers, twelve civilian Dispatchers, two Animal Control Officers, Chief's Executive Assistant, Chief's Financial Assistant, seven Clerks, a Parking Clerk and multiple volunteers. History In the 1850's part-time constables and "Night Watch" men were hired by the town to preserve law & order. By 1872 the town records listed officers instead of constables. Full time police officers were Lewis Manning, James E. Blanchard, and Joseph W. Skinner, the first chief & "Keeper of the Lockup". He was followed by John F. Moore (1879-1880) and Thomas W. Peaseley (1881-1895). In 1874 the town voted to fix up the old fire house on Foster Street , to be used as a "Watch House" and police station. By 1883 the police station had been moved into the basement of the "new" town hall, where it remained until 1980. The first police report to the selectmen and citizens in 1893 listed the force consisting of Chief Peaseley and ten patrolmen.