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THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BAND WAS FIRST ORGANIZED IN 1903 BY A GROUP OF TWENTY PATROLMEN. THESE TALENTED PUBLIC SERVANTS MET FREQUENTLY, AND ONE YEAR LATER IN JUNE OF 1904 APPEARED AT THE HEAD OF THE THEN POPULAR, BUT LONG SINCE DISCONTINUED, ANNUAL POLICE PARADE. MEMBERSHIP IN THE POLICE BAND INCREASED WITH THE YEARS AND THE BAND CONTINUED TO GROW BOTH IN STATURE AND PRESTIGE. AS IT'S FAME MOUNTED, SUCCEEDING CITY ADMINISTRATIONS TOOK COGNIZANCE OF OUR MUSICAL COPS BOTH IN THEIR ROLE AS ENTERTAINERS AND AS MORALE BUILDERS FOR THE DEPARTMENT. EVENTUALLY THE POLICE BAND BECAME THE OFFICIAL BAND OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. IN 1925, AT THE REQUEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE, THE BAND SET FORTH ON A NATION WIDE CONCERT TOUR AND A FEW YEARS LATER, TOOK A LEADING PART IN THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION OF FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.IN 1953 THE POLICE BAND WAS COMPOSED OF 65 MEN AND PERFORMED AT 95 ENGAGEMENTS. ON FEBRUARY 8, 1954, POLICE COMMISSIONER FRANCIS ADAMS, ANNOUNCED THAT THE POLICE BAND WOULD BE DISCONTINUED IN ORDER TO AUGMENT THE PATROL FORCE.
IN 1991, THEN, FIRST DEPUTY POLICE COMMISSIONER RAYMOND W. KELLY REQUESTED THE RE-FORMATION OF THE POLICE BAND. BY THE FALL OF 1992 THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE BAND HAD PERFORMED AT THE START OF EVERY MAJOR PARADE IN NEW YORK CITY. THE BAND IS COMPOSED OF 80 ACTIVE UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN 1993 THE POLICE BAND RECEIVED ITS FIRST OF MANY PERFORMANCE AWARDS AT THE NEW YORK STATE FIREMEN' PARADE. THE POLICE BAND HAS APPEARED ON THE "TONITE SHOW" WITH JAY LENO AND HAS PERFORMED IN EVERY MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE SINCE. THE POLICE BAND HAS ALSO PERFORMED AT ALL TICKER TAPE PARADES FOR THE CITY INCLUDING THE N.Y. YANKEES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND N.Y. RANGERS STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP.
IN 1996 THE POLICE BAND WAS INVITED TO PERFORM FOR THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IN THE CITIES OF TOKYO AND CHIBA. THIS WAS THE FIRST GATHERING OF POLICE BANDS TO FORM THE WORLD POLICE BAND CONCERT SERIES. IN 2003 THE POLICE BAND WAS INVITED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN AND PERFORMED AT THE 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EDO GOVERNMENT WITH CONCERTS IN TOKYO AND FUKASHIMA. IN 2005 THE POLICE BAND PERFORMED IN JAPAN FOR THE WORLD POLICE BAND CONCERT FESTIVAL. PERFORMANCES AT THE AICHI 2005 EXPO, YOKOHAMA TOYOTA CITY, TOKYO OPERA HOUSE AND CHIBA. IN 2006 THE POLICE BAND PERFORMED IN HONG KONG, CHINA FOR THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD POLICE BAND CONCERT SERIES. THE POLICE BAND PERFORMED IN QUEBEC CITY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY MUSIC FESTIVAL IN 2005 AND 2007.
THE POLICE BAND HAS ALSO FORMED WITHIN ITS RANKS A STEEL DRUM ENSEMBLE, JAZZ ENSEMBLE AND PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
Click to see the 1899 Police Parade. " The Finest," on their annual parade and inspection, June 1, 1899. The head of the column is just turning into 14th Street from Broadway, the Morton House forming part of the background. Crowds line both sides of the cable car tracks, falling back as the Police Band heading the first division swings around Dead Man's Curve and passes the camera. Chief Devery makes a fine showing, as also do his men, with their white gloves and helmets, shining buttons and spick and span appearance in general.
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