The Town of Greece

The Official Site of Greece, NY

Departments

History

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The roots of the Greece Police Department can be traced back to the first Town Board Meeting which was held on April 2, 1822. At that first meeting, three Town Constables were appointed. Their responsibilities were many and varied. The duties of the Town Constables included, but were not limited to settling family problems, neighbor disputes and catching stray animals. In 1869 the first Town Lock Up was built at a cost of $25.00. In 1908 a 20 mile per hour speed limit was posted on West Ridge Road (for motor vehicles) and the Constables were empowered to "arrest speeding violators."

The Town Constables were utilized from 1822 through 1932. In 1932 the Greece Police Department was formed. Milton Carter was appointed the first Chief of Police along with three part-time Police Officers. They were Frank Pritcher, William Gray and Howard Conor. The total budget of the Greece Police Department for the first year (1932), was less than $5,000.00 The Greece Police Department was housed in a room at the Barnard Fire Department from 1932 to the mid 1950s.

When the Greece Town Hall located at 2505 West Ridge Road was renovated and enlarged in the mid 1950s the Greece Police Department moved into the lower level. The Greece Police Department was housed at the Greece Town Hall until September 1975. The Department then moved to it's present day location on Island Cottage Road. In 1988 the Headquarters Building was completely renovated and enlarged.

The Greece Police Department patrols and protects 42 square miles of land (which is 4 square miles larger than the City of Rochester), and serves, a population of approximately 100,000 people.