THE PROSPECT PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

When the subject of policing in New York City comes up, the New York City Police Department is the only game in town – or are they? There are many lesser known agencies performing law enforcement work with the City of New York as well as obsolete departments that policed sections of the city before New York City existed as we know it today.

This is the story of an obsolete department that policed a little slice of the city during the 19th century. Since the 1860s Prospect Park, in Brooklyn has been one of the crown jewels of NYC. Today, the 78th Precinct of the NYPD is responsible to police the park, but that wasn't always the case. There was a time when the Prospect Park Police Department kept park goers safe and secure. This is their story.