| Phoenix Police Museum | |
| Location: | 2nd Ave & Jefferson Street Phoenix, Arizona |
| Established: | 1995 |
| Website: | http://phoenixpolicemuseum.org/ |
The Phoenix Police Museum is located on 2nd Avenue and Jefferson Street, on the 1st floor of the Historic Phoenix City Hall. The museum highlights the history of the Phoenix Police Department from 1881, when Henry Garfias, was elected the first city marshal to the present. The museum also has an exhibit which explains the connection between the Phoenix Police and the "Miranda Rights". There are various educational exhibits in the museum some of which the community can participate and have an interactive experience.
In October 1993, a temporary six-month display of the history of the Phoenix Police was created and exhibited at the Historic Phoenix City Hall located at 17 S. Second Ave.. The response of the public to the exhibit was favorable.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
A petition was made by various organizations, such as the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, to the Arizona Humanities Council to help fund a study of police-related artifacts. The study proved that there was enough material in existence to open a small museum. Volunteers, with the help of the donations from local companies, worked on the museum project. Finally, on October 6, 1995, the Phoenix Police Museum opened its doors in the old Barrister Place. The Old Barrister Place was once known as the Old Jefferson Hotel, and is located at 101 S. Central Ave.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
In 2012, the museum moved to its current location at the Historic Phoenix City Hall. It so happens that the location was actually the home of the Phoenix Police Department from 1928 until 1975. The staff and those in charge of the museum are made up of volunteers who are former Phoenix Police officers and civilian personnel. The museum is a non-profit organization and the admission to the museum is free. Children can try on a real Phoenix Police uniform while visiting the museum.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
The following is a small list of some of the exhibits in the Phoenix Police Museum:[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
The museum also has a Memorial Room dedicated to the Phoenix Police Employees who have made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. Plus, there is also an exhibit honoring our K-9 partners who had duty in the line-of-duty.
In 1963, Ernesto Miranda was arrested by the Phoenix Police. He was accused and subsequently convicted of robbing, kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old woman. His case went up to the Supreme Court and the ruling changed the way police departments across the country interrogated suspects. In the museum you can view Miranda's official police report, his booking photo and his now-famous confession.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
One of the many pictures of the fallen Phoenix Police Officers on the wall of the Memorial Room is that of Officer William Hazelton "Haze' Burch, the first Phoenix Police officer to be killed in the line of duty. According to the "Officer Down Memorial Page", on February 5, 1925, Police Officer Haze Burch was shot and killed when he attempted to stop two men from siphoning gasoline from a car at the intersection of 8th Street and Jefferson Street. Officer Haze was 41 years old.[6]
The two suspects were wanted in Texas for the murder of Deputy Joseph Morgan of the Muskogee County, Oklahoma, Sheriff's Department and in Montana for the murder of Officer Charles Wilson of the Livingston, Montana, Police Department. Both suspects were eventually captured.[6]