History

The Village of Lancaster appointed its first police officer on May 19, 1866. The appointments were then for 3 month periods, and the officers had to report on their activities to the Village Board on a monthly basis. The first documented Village of Lancaster Police Chief was George Nichter, who was appointed on May 10, 1920.

The Town of Lancaster Police Department was officially established by the Lancaster Town Board on June 20, 1932. Prior to that time, the Town of Lancaster was served by constables led by a Chief. The first Police Chief of the newly established Department was Edwin Sutton.

The Town of Lancaster Police Department started a police ambulance service circa 1953, with an ambulance that was donated to the Department. That ambulance service eventually separated and became the Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Police headquarters was housed in the basement of the Town Hall from 1950-1975. In 1975, the Department moved to a larger facility at the site of the former Nike missile base on Pavement Road in the Town.

The Village of Lancaster Police Department merged with the Town of Lancaster Police Department in 2003. On February 5, 2014, the Lancaster Police Department moved into the new Police and Court Facility next to our old police headquarters on Pavement Road.