Los Angeles City Marshal

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The Los Angeles City Marshal was the chief law enforcement officer of Los Angeles in the city's early years.

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 city had no jail.^[1][2]

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 1875 it totaled to $115 per month).^[1] In 1872, a city ordinance was passed which required the city marshal to register and license dogs.

In 1876 the position was replaced with that of Chief of Police, with the appointment of Jacob T. Gerkins as the first chief.^[1]

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