The earliest record known of the existence of the Bay City Police Department is in the City Directory of 1877 – 1878.  Initially, the department consisted of two (2) Marshall’s.  One Marshall named James A. Wells and an unnamed Assistant Marshall.  In the 1879 – 1880 City Directory, James Miller was Marshall with eight (8) patrolmen.  The many liquor and gambling establishments that existed during the thriving lumbering era due to the rampant lawlessness caused one (1) reason for the growth of the department.  Thus, the establishment of the Police Department became a necessity.  Records show that in 1881, Nathaniel N. Murphy became Chief of Police of the Bay City Police Department.

Until 1905, there were two (2) cities adjoining the Saginaw River, Bay City and West Bay City, each having their own separate police departments.  Chief George V. Davis was in charge of the West Bay City Police Department located at Midland and Walnut.  Bay City’s Police Department was located on Saginaw between Center and Fifth Street.  The Bay City Police Department moved from the Saginaw Street location to City Hall at Tenth and Washington Avenue when the building was completed in 1894.  In 1905, the two (2) cities consolidated into the present Bay City merging the two (2) police departments into one (1).

GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Bay City is eleven (11) square miles and has a population of approximately 37,000 (according to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau).  The city is divided into five geographical districts.  In addition, Central High School and Handy Middle School have been identified as community policing districts.

Each geographical district is subdivided into smaller geographical areas called sectors.  There are 36 sectors located throughout the city (21 on the east side and 15 on the west side).