The Daily Dispatch: December 28, 1865., [Electronic resource]

Our police.

In the good old days, long gone by, when the roaring of the falls of the noble "Jeems" was all that broke the silence of the night in Richmond; when a murder was a matter of excitement for weeks, and when we could fill columns of our paper with the particulars of a burglary, we listened with wonder at the marvellous tales of the ubiquitous metropolitan policeman, and wondered why Mr. Mayo did not organize such a force in Richmond. How innocent we were then!

But now, since we have been brought within the pale of "civilization," beyond which we were excluded for four years, new institutions and new arts have been introduced amongst us, which have led to the establishment of the long-wished-for police organization, which makes Richmond, beyond all doubt, a "flourishing place."

While we regret very much the necessity for establishing such a force as the one we now have, we are glad that the necessity has been promptly met. We have now one hundred and twenty policemen armed and for duty. Major Claiborne, the efficient chief, with the confidence and respect he enjoys from the citizens, needs only the support and co-operation of the authorities to bring our city back to its former peace and quiet.