Police Heritage Museum, Inc.

 The Police Heritage Museum grew out of one police officer'sdesire to know more about the history of the York City Police Department. Theofficer's large personal collection of law enforcement artifacts, and theknowledge he gained during his research, became the impetus for the museum.Lat

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in 1994 a core group of individuals met to discuss theincorporation of a police museum. It was obvious the museum would providecommunity enrichment through preservation, education, and presentation of theimportant role law enforcement has played in community history through themaintenance of peace and order, thus ensuring community growth and prosperity.For over

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year and a half starting late in 1994, a smalldisplay area of twenty by twenty feet was maintained on the second floor of theFire Museum of York County. The Fire Museum well understood the difficultiesencountered when making an effort to start a museum, as some twenty yearsearlier their museum had an equally small beginning. If not for their generosity,kindness and guidance, the dream of this museum may have remained just that!The core group r

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ruited others from the private andprofessional sectors that shared an interest in establishing a museum toshowcase the history of policing and share this important part of our historywith others. In the spring of 1995 incorporation documents were filed andfollowing the receipt of the approval for incorporation, the first meeting washeld with officers and the board of directors being elected. The board of directorshas a strong diversity in it's members with retired and active police officers,past County Commissioner, a businessman and community leader, certified publicaccountant, attorney, firefighter, and 911 communications center supervisor.This diversity of directors brings unique levels of experience and perspectivesto the present and future operation of the museum.By design the museum's name

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s chosen so it did not denoteor focus on a single police department or agency. The board of directors did notwant to limit horizons, and felt even the smallest of law enforcement agencieshad something to offer the museum. The board of directors set an initial goalof finding a place to house the museum, where people would "enter thepast, see the present, imagine the future" of law enforcement.For the board of directors, obtaini

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a suitable location tohouse the museum's displays was a primary concern, and contacts with cityofficials looked promising. Through the City of York's Director of EconomicDevelopment and in co-operation with the Redevelopment Authority, a vacantcommercial storefront was secured. This was only the beginning of our project,as the building was empty for a number of years, and was in need of seriouscosmetic interior renovations. The roof had leaked, an asphalt tile floor hadto be removed, and walls had to be refurbished. Additionally, a partition wasbuilt, essentially cutting the building in half, with the rear used forconstruction of displays and storage, while the front is for the display ofmuseum artifacts.Artifacts over a century old have been secured

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om localand out of state law enforcement agencies. Agencies within York County havealready donated pieces of their history. Many artifacts have, and continue tobe, secured monthly through private gifts, and private funds. Althoughartifacts collected are too numerous to list, these include documents,publications, police and prison equipment, and individual officer's equipment,along with badges and patches. A few artifacts date to the 1700's; many moreare from the 1880's, and early 1900's to present.Since officially opening our doors to visitors in 1998,

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have hosted thousands of visitors, and have shown ever increasing attendanceand tours. The museum will remain a work in progress, with new and expandeddisplays, continuing search for new and unique artifacts, and an increasedinvolvement with schools, scouts and civic groups through tours.When the Police Heritage Museum acquired the property at 54Wes

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Market Street, our goal was to replace a vacant downtown storefront with ahistory museum that would educate the public about the history of lawenforcement, crime and punishment. We originally leased the building, and madeextensive renovations to the interior of the building in order to open thedoors. After a few years, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of thebuilding, and after purchasing the building replaced the aging roof system toprovide better protection to the artifacts contained within it. The PoliceHeritage Museum was able to revitalize one vacant downtown building.Immediately to the east of our building, sat the formerWoolworth's store

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which for years has been vacant and the subject of manypotential redevelopment plans, none of which ever came to fruition. Immediatelyto the west of our building, was a former jewelry store which went out ofbusiness in January of 2007. Weinbrom Jewelers were great neighbors, and theirclosing was a loss to t…