When Irish immigrants came to the United States, they had a rough time. Many times, they lived in poverty in the poorest neighborhoods of their cities and towns. However, for those Irish immigrants who went to New York City, joining the New York Police Department was a way out of poverty.
At one point, NYPD was nicknamed “The Irish Police” because
by the late 19th century, more than half of the officers in the NYPD
were Irish-born or first-generation Irish Americans. The Irish made up all
ranks of the department, from the lowest to the highest ranks.
This image of police departments across the country being made
up of Irish Americans made its way into popular television shows like Looney Tunes,
specifically “Bugs
and Thugs.” Even radio shows and movies got in on the concept. While modern
police departments are more diverse, recent shows like “Copper” and “Blue
Bloods” showcase the evolution of the Irish in the police departments.
Thomas
Francis Byrne is one of the most famous Irish Americans in the NYPD. He was
known a the “Original Sherlock Holmes within NYPD. Byrne was born in Dublin and
came to New York with his parents when he was a child. Initially, he served as
a firefighter but switched to the police department. He served as the head of
the NYPD detective department from 1880 to 1895. One of his achievements was
the “Rogues Gallery,” which was the forerunner of the modern-day database for
criminals.
Today, the NYPD
Emerald Society keeps this legacy and heritage alive. The organization
began on March 16, 1953, and is known for its bagpipes and traditions at
parades and memorials. It was set into
motion by policewomen Doris Burke,
Lillian Reilly, Mary Paterson, and Eileen Romancheck. Each year, the Emerald Society
gives out the Patrick J. O’Connor medal to an officer who performed their duty
in a life-threatening situation. It was named in honor of a member who was
killed in the line of duty.
Today, the NYPD is more diverse, but the heritage of its
Irish past still lingers to this day. The department has the Emerald Society,
Pipes and Drums, and even a Gaelic Football Club. Their roots remain strong,
though they are branching out to become even more diverse.
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