Welcome to the New Bedford Police Department
On behalf of the men and women of the New Bedford Police Department, I would like to personally welcome you to our department’s website. It’s our hope that this site will provide you with a greater understanding of the services that the department provides to our community. Additionally, we will continue to work to update our web page with information that all members of the community will find useful and important. Our goal is to keep our community members familiar with the many officers, individuals and activities of the New Bedford Police Department…[read more]
History of the Police Department
In 1794, the first organized police force in New Bedford was created to protect against theft. The men were called Watchmen and protected businesses and gardens. The group was named the Bedford Association.
As New Bedford grew, largely in part to its whaling industry, so did the need for a more organized police force. In 1824, the Bedford Association became the Night Watch. Their primary focus became preventing robberies in the businesses.
In 1826, The Ark story as it has become known unfolded in the city waterfront. “The Ark” was a house built on top of the deck of an old whaling ship named Camillus with a four foot walkway around the outside. The name the Ark came from the stern board of an old ship that was no longer used and broken up. The new half house half boat building was located at the corner of Water Street and High Street. (High Street travelled east to west between Kempton Street and Middle Street from County Street to Water Street and is no longer there)
It quickly became a brothel and deteriorated in both building condition and moral character. Its existence was an offense to the community, and the good citizens wanted it removed… read more