The peculiar position of our city and its rapidly increasing population, make it of the utmost importance that we have an efficient police organization, and that the most perfect system for the department may be immediately adopted, and such men only as are discreet, faithful, and active, placed in that body. The mere existence of a good and active police in a city like ours, is enough, of itself, to keep in check the flood of vicious characters that are continually pouring in upon our city by the ready channels of communication that concentrate at this point from the larger cities and towns. The presence of a faithful police will also ensure a proper observance of our ordinances among our own citizens.
Inauguration speech of Charles McNeill Gray, 12th mayor of Chicago, March 7, 1853.