George W. Gastlin born George Washington Gastlin (October 1, 1835 – October 2, 1895) was an American law enforcement officer and police captain, with the New York City Police Department, who founded the "Steamboat Squad" and served as its commander, during the 1870s and 80s.
NYPD police captain who headed the "Steamboat Squad" during the 1870s and 1880s.
Children
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The New York City waterfront where gangs of river pirates harassed shipping from 1866 to 1876.New York City Police possibly George Gastlin's "Steamboat Squad" fighting river pirates along the 19th century New Yorkwaterfront
Gastlin joined the 82nd New York Infantry Regiment as a corporal on May 21, 1861. He was promoted to sergeant before being discharged for disability on May 20, 1862.
Police careerEdit
He joined the NYPD on May 19, 1864, less than a year after the New York Draft Riots, and gradually rose up the ranks over the next few years being promoted to roundsman on February 15, 1868, and then sergeant on July 6, 1870. On June 9, 1876, Gastlin was appointed as head of the "Steamboat Squad", a special police unit formed to combat River pirates and street gangs active on the New York waterfront,[1][2] and was finally made a captain on September 20, 1878.[3]
On December 31, 1883, a meeting was held at the Astor House in honor of Gastlin and his work with the "Steamboat Squad". Organized by a 4-man committee under James Robbins (Stonington Line), J.S. Boden (Pennsylvania Railroad), C.H. Tucker (West Shore and Buffalo Railroad) and John S. Krems (Baltimore Transportation Company), at least 40 representatives from steamboat and railroad companies were in attendance including R.J. Cortes (White Star Line), W.H. Stamford (Old Dominion Line), E.A. Dereau (Stonington Line), John T. Robb (Pennsylvania Railroad), Andrew M. Underhill (Guion Line), James A. Smith (Citizens' Steamboat Company) and H.L. Freeland (Fall River Line). After giving a testimonial of the police captain's career, Andrew Underhill presented Gastlin with a custom-made gold shield on behalf of the committee along with a letter of thanks, placed in an elaborate gold frame, from all the companies involved.[2]
Under his leadership, the "Steamboat Squad" drove out most of the criminal element from Corlears' Hook by the time of his retirement on July 1, 1890.[1] He worked as a private detective for the next several years until poor health forced him to stop.
^ abAsbury, Herbert. The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the New York Underworld. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928. (pg. 77) ISBN1-56025-275-8
^ ab"Capt. Gastlin Appreciated. A Handsome Gold Shield Presented By Transportation And Other Lines". New York Times. 1 Jan 1884
^ ab"Obituary Record. George W. Gastlin". New York Times. 3 Oct 1895
Further readingEdit
Costello, Augustine E. Our Police Protectors: History of the New York Police from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. New York: A.E. Costello, 1885.
Walling, George W. Recollections of a New York Chief of Police: An Official Record of Thirty-eight Years as Patrolman, Detective, Captain, Inspector and Chief of the New York Police. New York: Caxton Book Concern, 1887.
August 31, 2023
george, gastlin, george, gastlin, born, george, washington, gastlin, october, 1835, october, 1895, american, enforcement, officer, police, captain, with, york, city, police, department, founded, steamboat, squad, served, commander, during, 1870s, borngeorge, w. George W Gastlin born George Washington Gastlin October 1 1835 October 2 1895 was an American law enforcement officer and police captain with the New York City Police Department who founded the Steamboat Squad and served as its commander during the 1870s and 80s George GastlinBornGeorge Washington Gastlin 1835 10 01 October 1 1835DiedOctober 2 1895 1895 10 02 aged 60 Manhattan New York NationalityU S Occupation s Police officer and private detectiveKnown forNYPD police captain who headed the Steamboat Squad during the 1870s and 1880s Children2 childrenThe New York City waterfront where gangs of river pirates harassed shipping from 1866 to 1876 New York City Police possibly George Gastlin s Steamboat Squad fighting river pirates along the 19th century New York waterfront Contents 1 Early life 2 Police career 3 Death 4 References 5 Further readingEarly life EditGastlin joined the 82nd New York Infantry Regiment as a corporal on May 21 1861 He was promoted to sergeant before being discharged for disability on May 20 1862 Police career EditHe joined the NYPD on May 19 1864 less than a year after the New York Draft Riots and gradually rose up the ranks over the next few years being promoted to roundsman on February 15 1868 and then sergeant on July 6 1870 On June 9 1876 Gastlin was appointed as head of the Steamboat Squad a special police unit formed to combat River pirates and street gangs active on the New York waterfront 1 2 and was finally made a captain on September 20 1878 3 On December 31 1883 a meeting was held at the Astor House in honor of Gastlin and his work with the Steamboat Squad Organized by a 4 man committee under James Robbins Stonington Line J S Boden Pennsylvania Railroad C H Tucker West Shore and Buffalo Railroad and John S Krems Baltimore Transportation Company at least 40 representatives from steamboat and railroad companies were in attendance including R J Cortes White Star Line W H Stamford Old Dominion Line E A Dereau Stonington Line John T Robb Pennsylvania Railroad Andrew M Underhill Guion Line James A Smith Citizens Steamboat Company and H L Freeland Fall River Line After giving a testimonial of the police captain s career Andrew Underhill presented Gastlin with a custom made gold shield on behalf of the committee along with a letter of thanks placed in an elaborate gold frame from all the companies involved 2 Under his leadership the Steamboat Squad drove out most of the criminal element from Corlears Hook by the time of his retirement on July 1 1890 1 He worked as a private detective for the next several years until poor health forced him to stop Death EditGastlin died from Bright s disease at his Seventh Avenue home on the morning of October 2 1895 after a two week illness 3 References Edit a b Asbury Herbert The Gangs of New York An Informal History of the New York Underworld New York Alfred A Knopf 1928 pg 77 ISBN 1 56025 275 8 a b Capt Gastlin Appreciated A Handsome Gold Shield Presented By Transportation And Other Lines New York Times 1 Jan 1884 a b Obituary Record George W Gastlin New York Times 3 Oct 1895Further reading EditCostello Augustine E Our Police Protectors History of the New York Police from the Earliest Period to the Present Time New York A E Costello 1885 Walling George W Recollections of a New York Chief of Police An Official Record of Thirty eight Years as Patrolman Detective Captain Inspector and Chief of the New York Police New York Caxton Book Concern 1887 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Gastlin amp oldid 1104622335, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
