How To: Researching Police Records
The City Archives & Special Collections holds a large collection of records from the City’s police departments, dating back to 1804. These include administrative records, arrests, reports, newsletters, photographs, and more. New Orleans has experienced many changes in its structure of policing in the city, which are reflected in the records. This can make researching police records difficult. Here, we take researchers through the process of navigating our collection of police records and provide tips on searching and access.
History of Police Departments
Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, New Orleans experienced a combination of militia patrol, volunteer guards, and a paid police force as the new city government was formed. The earliest police records in the Archives’ collection come from the Commissaries of Police, formed by ordinance in 1805 and appointed by the Mayor to patrol and report on various activities within the city. They were also to report on the actions of the City Guard, also formed in 1805 and also under the authority of the Mayor. During the period from 1836 to 1852, the city was legally divided into three separate municipalities (the original French/Spanish city was the First Municipality, the newer “American” section was the Second, and the area to the east of the “old city” was the Third). While there remained a single Mayor for the entire city, most other functions, including police actions, were exercised by separate agencies within the individual municipalities. Police records from this time period are grouped by each municipality: The First Municipality Guard, The Day and Night Watch of the Second Municipality, and the Third Municipality Guard. Researchers can learn more about the Municipality Period of New Orleans in the exhibit “New Orleans Incorporated: 200 Years of the City Charter.”
By 1852, the City of New Orleans was reunited as one proper municipality (with the addition of the City of Lafayette) and the Department of Police was established by city ordinance to police the districts. The Department of Police operated roughly until the establishment of the New Orleans Police Department in 1882, with the exception of the Civil War years in which New Orleans was under federal occupation and martial law. Additional police intervention also occurred in the 1870s from the Louisiana State Metropolitan Police during the Reconstruction Era. It was during this time that the “Battle of Liberty Place” occurred. The Department of Police resumed control of New Orleans after the Metropolitan Police was dissolved in 1877, and finally in 1882 the New Orleans Police Department, as we know it today, was officially formed. Researchers interested in more information about the history of police departments in New Orleans should consult The History of the New Orleans Police Department.
Police districts and precincts are particularly important to make note of when researching NOPD records in the Archives. Many records, including arrests and beat books, are arranged by the precinct or district where the individual was arrested or the officer patrolled. To complicate things even more, the NOPD reorganized the precincts and districts of jurisdiction multiple times since the formation of the NOPD.
City Directories are a great resource for determining the changing police district/precinct boundaries. The “Soards’ Official, Society, and Church Guide” included at the back of city directories provides information on police precinct/district boundaries. New Orleans currently operates under eight police districts, as outlined in the document to the right. This overview was taken from a 1970s NOPD yearbook. Current information about police districts is available through the NOPD.
What police records are available on Ancestry.com?
Prior to the formation of the New Orleans Police Department in 1880, New Orleans had several different iterations of police departments, city guards, and day and night watches. The pre-1882 records of policing are referred to as the “Early Police Records,” and the majority of these are available on Ancestry.com. These include records of arrests, daily reports from city guards/ day and night watches, and registers of enslaved individuals incarcerated in police jails and employed in public works. The NOPD was officially formed in 1880, so the Arrest Books of the NOPD are available on Ancestry.com in a separate collection titled “New Orleans Police Department Arrest Books.” Researchers should note that Ancestry.com is accessible at all New Orleans Public Library locations or by subscription.
The police records below are now available on Ancestry.com; click to learn more information about each series. Be sure to check the “Conditions Governing Access” note; this will identify the title of the series as it appears in Ancestry. Researchers should note that these records were digitized from our collection of microfilm, and multiple series exist on each roll. Scroll through the digitized microfilm to see multiple collections (see video below on Browsing Collection). Researchers can also reference the inventory of Early Police Records (right) to see a list of records included in each Ancestry Series.
Tips on Searching and Browsing Collections
There are two ways to search police records on Ancestry.com. The first is if you are searching for a particular individual. You can include first and last names, locations, reasons for arrest, and names of enslavers to conduct a search of the collection of records. (See video to the right)
The second option is to “Browse this collection.” This is best for researchers that want to scroll through individual series of records to get a feel for what is available and identify search specific search terms, such as reasons for arrest. (See video below)
Arrest Records and Offense Reports
What is the difference between an arrest record and an offense report? Which one should you consult? In most cases, you will want both. Learn about each type of record in the section below. Researchers should note that the City Archives & Special Collections does not hold NOPD case files, but we do have many records that offer researchers information regarding arrests and incidents involving the New Orleans Police Department. Additionally, you will want to conduct a search of the Newspaper Databases for details of the arrest, including name, date, and location.
Arrest Records
Arrest Books document basic information when arrests were made. They are organized by police district/ precinct, depending on the year, and are sometimes further organized by crime. The NOPD arrest books from 1880-1935 have been digitized and are available to view on Ancestry.com. Unfortunately, the volumes for 1936-1947 are unavailable due to condition issues. Volumes from 1948-1966 can be searched by staff. To request a search of arrest books, please Contact the Archives and include name of arrestee, date, and location of arrest.
This image is taken from an arrest book of drunk and disorderly individuals from 1961. Researchers will notice that sometimes additional, updated information is added to the arrest book, such as in the case of Mr. Dansby being taken to Charity Hospital following his arrest.
Offense Reports
Along with arrest records, researchers should also seek out the accompanying incident/ offense report filed by the police department. These reports offer a general summary of events and may include witness statements and information about the arrestee, if applicable. You can see the offense report linked to the Dansby arrest to the right. It includes a summary, witness statement, and an arrest record.
Offense reports (1920-1973) are only available for staff to search due to condition issues. To request a search of offense reports, please Contact the Archives and include name of victim or arrestee, date of incident, location of incident (if known) and item number (if known). Police file an offense (sometimes called incident) report each time police are called to a scene. Consequently, to search through even one day of offense reports is very time consuming. Please allow 2-4 weeks for staff to complete these searches.
Researchers looking for homicide reports can view digitized reports for the years 1893-1913. Homicide reports for the years 1893-1947 are available on microfilm in the Archives under the call number mf TP205h. From 1950-1965 are included with the NOPD Offense Reports described above.
Mugshots and Bertillon Cards
The Archives’ collection of Mugshots and Bertillon Cards have been fully digitized and are available to view through our digital platform. Our collection dates from 1890-1925. We do not hold mugshots or bertillon cards past 1925. Researchers should contact NOPD directly to inquire about the availability of mugshots outside of our collection.
The Bertillon system is based on a combination of physical measurements, photographs and physical descriptions as a way of identifying individuals and repeat offenders. The Bertillon system came to New Orleans in 1897. Throughout the early 1900s the NOPD employed Bertillon operators for criminal investigation and identification. These operators were responsible for recording Bertillon measurements and photographing crime scenes. Fingerprints were incorporated into the Bertillon system in New Orleans in 1918 and can be seen on many of the cards in this collection. While much of the complexities of the Bertillon system have since been abandoned, many of its contributions to criminal identification remain. Officers no longer measure an arrestee’s forearm, forehead, and middle finger, but the recording of physical descriptions and mugshot photos continue as standard practice.
Mugshot Collection
The crimes represented in this collection are considered petty and are recorded as “criminal occupations.” These include burglar, sneak thief, confidence (con-man), suspicious person, pick pocket, prostitute, and forger, among many others.
WPA Photo Collection
Researchers can also consult the Police Records series of photographs in the WPA Collection for images of the identification bureau organizing mugshots, bertillon cards, and fingerprints or arrestees.
Photographs
The New Orleans Police Department Collection of photographs has been digitized and is available for researchers to view online. Photographs cover police training at the Police Academy, Traffic Safety, numerous Special Divisions of the department, the House of Detention Farm, the construction of the new Police Complex in 1967 (which included the new House of Detention, Police Administration Building, and Traffic Court), as well as several photos taken during the course of investigations. Most photographs date from the 1940s-1970s, and capture many aspects of police life and policing in New Orleans.
View All NOPD Photographs
View Images
Microfilm and Original Police Records
Researchers interested in searching for police officers and internal documents for the NOPD should look at the administrative records in the Archives’ collection. These include beat books, annual reports, rosters, payroll records, press releases, oaths of office, and several other internal records that can help researchers interested in organizational records of the NOPD. A full listing of administrative records is available in the NOPD Finding Aid. Materials exist in a combination of paper records and microfilm and must be viewed by appointment in the Archives.
Police Rosters
Rosters of police officers are available yearly, 1882-1946. Available on microfilm, call number TP430.
Learn MoreBeat Books
Beat books, arranged by precinct, available for the years 1947-1954. Available on microfilm, call number TP43.
Learn MoreAnnual Reports
Annual reports of the NOPD available for the following year: 1889-2008; call number TP200
Learn MoreOur Beat
Our Beat is the New Orleans Police Department’s internal newsletter, published from 1949-2003. The publication includes information about the internal workings and organization of the department, new initiatives, news updates from police officers, and holiday cards. It also includes updates about stolen cars, criminal activity, and “wanted” individuals. This publication provides researchers with a detailed picture of the police department through stories written by and for police officers. The City Archives & Special Collections holds copies of the NOPD’s Our Beat for various years from 1949-2005, and is in the process of digitizing the series. Researchers can access digital issues, or schedule an appointment to visit the Archives and view the publication in person.
Current Information from NOPD
The Archives holds few records of the NOPD past 1970, outside of official publications and annual reports. Researchers should utilize the below portals for more current information from the New Orleans Police Department.
Created by Brittanny Silva, 2026