Plano Police Department

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plano Police Department is the police force in Plano, Texas, United States.

[edit] History

Settlers began coming to the area where Plano is now located about 1845, the town was not incorporated until June 2, 1873. In the initial corporation, Plano was a general law city and was not made a home rule city until 1961. In April of 1881, the City Council room, Mayor’s Office and the City Court were located in the back room of C.J.E. Kellner’s saddlery shop on the west side of Main Street. Documents regarding city business prior to 1881 most likely burned in the August 27, 1881 fire which destroyed the entire business district.

The city marshal functioned as chief law enforcement officer until 1957, when the Plano Police Department was organized. The mayor continued to act as city recorder in disposing of citations to traffic violators and misdemeanor cases occurring within the city limits until 1959.

On January 1, 1957 Otho J. Nitcholas, Sr. was appointed Plano’s first Chief of Police. Wallace Williams, the last Town Marshal joined the Police Department as a patrolman, as did the last Night Watchman, J.T. Sheridan. For more history go to the History of Plano Police Department.

Officers with the Plano Police Department are entrusted with the authority to conduct investigations concerning violations of criminal and traffic laws throughout the city.