John Cameron (police officer)
Encyclopedia
John Cameron was an American law enforcement officer and police captain with the New York City Police Department
. Although best remembered for his performance during the New York Draft Riots
, Cameron was one of the most prominent senior police officials during the post-American Civil War
era and the oldest serving police officer at the time of his death in 1873.
on September 30, 1807. He was appointed to a position on the police force by Mayor James Harper
and, upon the organization of the Metropolitan Police Department
in 1857, he became captain of the Seventh Precinct. He remained there for nearly four years until the double murder committed by Charles Jefferds in 1860 prompted his transfer to the Twenty-Second Street Police Station. During the New York Draft Riots
in 1863, although his stationhouse was burned down by a mob, he was one of the few police captains able to mount a defense against the rioters. He organized the defense of several key buildings in Manhattan
including the State Armory and the Union Steam Works, the latter being guarded by Sergrant Francis J. Banfield
and a police squad of 20 officers. He similarly led police patrols against rioters during the New York Orange Riot of 1871.
He remained at the Twenty-Second Precinct for 12 of his 25 years of service and "distinguished himself by his strict impartiality in the discharge of his duties". He had been in charge of the Eighteenth Precinct when, on the morning of January 1, 1873, Cameron started out from the station house on his way to Central Office with the morning returns and collapsed while trying to overtake a trolley car at the corner of Twenty-Second Street and Third Avenue. Cameron was brought to a nearby drugstore
by an Officer Green while doctors were sent for, but Cameron died before help could arrive. The physicians, Dr. White and Dr. Fresch, stated that he had died of a heart attack. Cameron was the third prominent police official, after Inspectors Daniel C. Carpenter
and James Leonard, to die in similar circumstances.
Upon his death, Cameron's brother was immediately contacted by telegraph and arrived in the city that evening. Cameron's body was removed to his home on Cannon Street until the day of his funeral when it was escorted by a police detail to St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. The services were attended by a large group of officers and officials as well as delegations from the Freemasons, the Alma Lodge (U.D.), the Puritan Lodge, F.A.M. and Morton Commandery were present. The Knights Templar
assumed charge of his remains while Masonic services were performed. Survived by his wife and daughter, his family received $1,000 as a member of the Police Mutual Benefit Society and the Police Mutual Aid Association.
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
. Although best remembered for his performance during the New York Draft Riots
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
, Cameron was one of the most prominent senior police officials during the post-American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
era and the oldest serving police officer at the time of his death in 1873.
Biography
John Cameron was born in Norwalk, ConnecticutNorwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
on September 30, 1807. He was appointed to a position on the police force by Mayor James Harper
James Harper (publisher)
James Harper , was an American publisher and politician in the early-to-mid 19th century. James was the eldest of four sons born to Joseph Henry Harper, , a farmer, carpenter, and storekeeper, and Elizabeth Kolyer, daughter of Jacobus Kolyer and Jane Miller.-Childhood and starting in...
and, upon the organization of the Metropolitan Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
in 1857, he became captain of the Seventh Precinct. He remained there for nearly four years until the double murder committed by Charles Jefferds in 1860 prompted his transfer to the Twenty-Second Street Police Station. During the New York Draft Riots
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
in 1863, although his stationhouse was burned down by a mob, he was one of the few police captains able to mount a defense against the rioters. He organized the defense of several key buildings in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
including the State Armory and the Union Steam Works, the latter being guarded by Sergrant Francis J. Banfield
Francis J. Banfield
Francis J. Banfield was an American soldier, law enforcement officer, police sergeant and founding member of the New York City Police Department "Steamboat Squad". Born in England, he emigrated to the United States as a child. He worked as a painter in his youth and later served in the...
and a police squad of 20 officers. He similarly led police patrols against rioters during the New York Orange Riot of 1871.
He remained at the Twenty-Second Precinct for 12 of his 25 years of service and "distinguished himself by his strict impartiality in the discharge of his duties". He had been in charge of the Eighteenth Precinct when, on the morning of January 1, 1873, Cameron started out from the station house on his way to Central Office with the morning returns and collapsed while trying to overtake a trolley car at the corner of Twenty-Second Street and Third Avenue. Cameron was brought to a nearby drugstore
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
by an Officer Green while doctors were sent for, but Cameron died before help could arrive. The physicians, Dr. White and Dr. Fresch, stated that he had died of a heart attack. Cameron was the third prominent police official, after Inspectors Daniel C. Carpenter
Daniel C. Carpenter
Daniel C. Carpenter was an American law enforcement officer and police inspector of the New York Police Department. He was one of earliest leading detectives on the police force during the mid-19th century and also had a prominent role in the Police Riot of 1857 and New York Draft Riots in 1863...
and James Leonard, to die in similar circumstances.
Upon his death, Cameron's brother was immediately contacted by telegraph and arrived in the city that evening. Cameron's body was removed to his home on Cannon Street until the day of his funeral when it was escorted by a police detail to St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. The services were attended by a large group of officers and officials as well as delegations from the Freemasons, the Alma Lodge (U.D.), the Puritan Lodge, F.A.M. and Morton Commandery were present. The Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
assumed charge of his remains while Masonic services were performed. Survived by his wife and daughter, his family received $1,000 as a member of the Police Mutual Benefit Society and the Police Mutual Aid Association.
Further reading
- Bernstein, Iver. The New York City Draft Riots: Their Significance for American Society and Politics in the Age of the Civil War. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.
- Cook, Adrian. The Armies of the Streets: The New York City Draft Riots of 1863. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1974.
- Costello, Augustine E. Our Police Protectors: History of the New York Police from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. New York: A.E. Costello, 1885.
- McCague, James. The Second Rebellion: The Story of the New York City Draft Riots of 1863. New York: Dial Press, 1968.