Tempe Police (Maricopa County)

The end of the 19th century brought exploration
and entrepreneurship to the Southwest, and to the
Arizona Territory in particular. In 1871, Charles
Trumbull Hayden settled in what was to become the
incorporated "Town of Tempe" in November of 1894.
At that time, Tempe was comprised of a population
of 900 within a 1.88 square mile area. As with any
growing community, the need for order maintenance
grew and on January 14, 1895 George Compton was
elected Tempe’s first Town Marshall. He was paid
$32 a month to fulfill his official duties as
‘Supervisor of Streets, Collector of Tax and License,
and Water Master.’

By August 1901, Tempe’s population grew to 1,090 and
continued to grow at a moderate pace over the next
few decades. In 1914, the City Council instructed the
Mayor to buy a motorcycle for the Marshall to use in
capturing "violators of the speed ordinance." Between
1920-22 a night police officer was added to the force,
and in 1928 a German Shepherd police dog was loaned
to Tempe from the Los Angeles Police Department.