In early 1933, Pensacola Police Officers in front of City Hall, which is now known as the Pensacola Museum of History. Chief of Police Albert Anderson is in the front row, fifth from the left. The officers in plain clothes were known as “Special Officers.” They were later renamed as detectives.
For the year of 1933, Albert Anderson was Chief of Police. During that short period, he and his officers posed for two photos. At the time, officers wore their weapons were carried under their coats. In the top photo, the officers are wearing their winter uniforms, made from heavy wool. The black hats absorbed the heat from the sun, keeping the officers warm.
Later in 1933, some PPD Officers again stand in front of City Hall for a photo. Interestingly, Albert Anderson was replaced in early 1934 by Chief Willie O’Connell, who had held the post before Anderson was appointed a year before. In the photo, the officers are dressed in their summer uniforms, consisting of lighter wool. The hats were white, which was cooler in the summer. This photo, taken in 1936, show the officers in front of their police station, now known as the Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson Street. Their new summer uniforms consisted of their firearms on their belt along with Sam Brown belts for support. Many of the officers wore cross-draw holsters, meaning that the weapons were worn on the non-gun-hand side – backwards. A couple of different badges were worn, and four different hat badges were worn. In the summer uniforms, all wore bowties, but the winter uniforms consisted of either bowties or long ties. The motorcycle officers (kneeling in the front row) wore special shoulder patches, Jodhpur pants and high leather boots.
