PART ONE : THE EARLY YEARS : 1718-1900 Early law enforcement in San Antonio, from the alguacils of the Villa de San Fernando de Bexar, to the Texas Rangers, vigilantes, and City Marshals of early San Antonio.

LEFT: View of "Bat House" Courthouse & Jail, served as City Marshal's HQ until 1890s. RIGHT: Uniformed San Antonio Police Officers c.1900

PART TWO : EARLY 20th CENTURY :1900 - 1950 The Department acquires automobiles, motorcycles, radios and other technology, establishes a Training Academy, and becomes a professional, modern police organization.

LEFT: The San Antonio Police and Fire Building, built in 1915. Served as Police Headquarters until 1962. RIGHT: Traffic Police on motorcycle, c. 1934.

PART THREE : SAPD AT MID CENTURY : 1950 - 1980 SAPD enters the era of Civil Service. City population expands and the Department grows in manpower and modern technology.

LEFT: New SAPD Headquarters on Nueva Street - Original 1962 one-story building. RIGHT : SAPD Laboratory Car and Equipment, c. 1960.

PART FOUR : SAPD PREPARES FOR THE 21st CENTURY : 1980 - 2000 SAPD enters an era of Community Partnerships made possible through decentralization of services and accountability at all levels.

SAPD in the 1990s. LEFT: New Central Substation, opened in 1996. RIGHT : Bike Patrol Officers in front of the Alamo.

PHOTO CREDITS: Photos are from the SAPD archives, except the Uniformed Officers c.1900, which is from the SA Parks and Recreation Department, Market Square Archives, and used with permission.