Hamilton Police Historical Society & Museum

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Ancaster, ON
Hamilton Police Historical Society & Museum

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Welcome! This page is designed to engage members of the community interested in learning about, as well as contributing to our history.

Contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] In 1829, Sir Robert Peel established the Metropolitan Police Force in London, England, based at Scotland Yard. These 1,000 constables were the world’s first police officers. They were nicknamed ‘Bobbies’ or “Peelers” and were the direct forerunners of today’s modern policing. This new concept of Policing quickly made its way to Pre-Confederation Canada. On February 13, 1833, the Town of Hamilton was established by a statute of Upper Canada. The first Board of Police meeting took place at the Hamilton Court House on Monday, March 11th of that year. Under the direction of the Board of Police, High Bailiff John Ryckman was appointed to keep the peace, thus establishing him as Hamilton's first Police Officer. Hamilton was one of the first communities to adopt the concepts of Sir Robert Peel. In 1848 Dundas created its own police agency. In 1850, the Police Village of Ancaster followed suit to complete the trio of area pre-Confederation police departments. In August 1940, the Township of Saltfleet established a Constabulary to patrol its increasingly urban territory, and in 1949, in the wake of the post-war boom, Stoney Creek followed suit. Other area police departments included the Township of Glanbrook, Barton Township, Glanford Township (which may have been very short-lived), Flamborough, East Flamborough, Waterdown, Hamilton Beach, Hamilton Harbour Police, and Hamilton Parks Police. Over the years, many of these small departments were disbanded. Their territory was either taken over by the Ontario Provincial Police, or they amalgamated with other departments as municipalities merged or entered into joint agreements. In the 1960s, the provincial government removed policing from direct municipal control by establishing independent Police Commissions. Policing was no longer a ‘department’ of city hall. On December 31st 1973, there were only five Municipal departments remaining, including Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas, and Saltfleet. On January 1, 1974, these police forces were merged into one Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police Force under its own Board of Commissioners of Police. On February 22, 1986, the Hamilton Harbour Police was disbanded and its function taken over by the Hamilton Wentworth Regional Police Force. On January 1, 2001, the communities of Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Stoney Creek and Hamilton merged to become the ‘new’ City of Hamilton. At the same time, the Hamilton Wentworth Regional Police merged to become one Hamilton Police Service.

11/03/2026

PC Jim Hart poses with a junior member of the Grisenthwaite Generals. Possibly late 1950’s.

10/31/2026

P.C. Gord Hockridge and a Red Cross worker walk a cooler of blood donations outside to a 1961 Mercury Meteor cruiser. Perhaps Victoria Ave N.

10/30/2026

A 1970’s photo outside Old Central Station looking east on King William St at Mary St.

10/29/2026

1953 a motorcycle and Studebaker at Old Central Station garage. This part of Old Central was the 'barn' building where the police horses. ambulance and patrol wagon were first stored, at the turn of the 20th century

10/28/2026

July 5, 1977 was the day Old Central was closed and New Central was officially opened. Pictured at the centre of the photo is P.C. Liz Schwant, Retired Detective Sergeant Ted Buckett (93 yrs old and retired 33 years) and P.C. Randy Graham as they walk east on King William at Mary with Old Central behind them.

10/27/2026

Police Constable James Barron
Warrant Number: 20
Born: July 26, 1856
Serving with the Hamilton Police
Tuesday October 27, 1903
Age: 48 / 5 Children
Constable Barron was responding to a whistle for help from the J. Bidwell Mills residence on Catharine Street North in Hamilton at about 0100 hours in the early morning of October 26, 1903. Mrs. Mills and her son were home alone and called for help upon hearing noises in the backyard. Constable Barron went into the backyard to check and two men, possibly three, attacked him. He was shot at three times, two missing and the third striking him below the heart. Although badly wounded he summoned assistance by blowing his whistle. He died the following day, October 27, 1903. Although several theories were discussed it was resolved that he had disturbed a break and enter in progress.
Postscript
The murder of Constable Barron was never solved. Hamilton policemen at the turn of the century were unarmed. Most didn’t even have a dark lantern to light their way on the night shift. Those were reserved for officers working the beats in the downtown core but were so antiquated most refused to carry them because they smelled and leaked on their uniforms. As a result of his death, the Police Commissioners who for twenty (20) years had held out against arming the force, changed their minds and allowed officers on night shifts to carry fi****ms.

James was born in 1856 in New Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and in 1881 he joined the police service in Edinburgh, now called the Lothian and Borders Police, where he worked for two years. Records suggest he may have also worked in the Mavis Bank Asylum for a period as well. He was married in 1882 to Jean Pringle and they emigrated to Canada, choosing to settle in Hamilton later that year. He immediately joined the Hamilton Police Constabulary and worked until his untimely death at the age of 48.

10/26/2026

This photo shows a two-way radio system that is mounted in the trunk of a 1947/1948 Chevrolet Hamilton Police Car.

10/25/2026

For our OPP friends Ontario Provincial Police

An OPP truck in the 1940s.

10/24/2026

Hamilton Police march past Old Central Station with an ‘eyes right’ to Magistrate Walter Tuchtie, Chief Len Lawrence and Senior Officers in the 1964 Remembrance Day Parade. Today is the start of the Annual Poppy Campaign. Lets Remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we might have freedom.

10/23/2026

PC Wendell Haines and his cruiser at Sherman Ave Station. Across the street you can see the Playhouse Theatre, now Playhouse Cinema.

Address

314 Wilson Street E
Ancaster, ON

Opening Hours

2am - 4pm

Telephone

+19056486404

Website

https://hamiltonpolicemuseum.ca/

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