Los Angeles City Marshal


The Los Angeles City Marshal was the chief law enforcement officer of Los Angeles in the city's early years.
The City Marshal was an office created in 1850 upon the city's incorporation. The title was City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector. The title of Chief of Police was added in 1871. In 1876 the position of City Marshal was eliminated. Jacob F. Gerkens as the first officer to hold the new title of Chief of Police. J.J. Carrillo continued as Tax and Licence Collector in 1876 - 1877.
The second City Marshal, Jack Whaling, was shot in 1853. This led to the creation of the "Los Angeles Rangers", a volunteer force who assisted the City Marshal and County Sheriff. At this time, law enforcement was limited and the Marshal had use of but one small county jail.
In 1869, William C. Warren was appointed as City Marshal and was given command over a force of six officers. He was responsible for being the city's dog catcher and collecting taxes. He was paid 2.5% of all tax monies he collected. In 1872, a city ordinance was passed which required the city marshal to register and license dogs.
NameTenureTitleNotes
Samuel Whiting1850City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
Alexander Gibson1851City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
William Reeder1852City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
A. S. Beard1853City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
George W. Cole1854City Marshal
Alfred Shelby1855City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
William C. Getman1856–1857City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
F. H. Alexander1858–1859City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
Thomas Trafford1860–1863City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
J. P. Owenby1864City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
William C. Warren1865–1867City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
John Trafford1868City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
William C. Warren1869–1870City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
Francis Baker1871–1872City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
and Chief of Police
R. J. Wolf1873–1874City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
and Chief of Police
Juan José Carrillo1875–1876City Marshal, Tax and Licence Collector
and Chief of Police