100 Years Ago: Sept. 12-18

From The Indianapolis Times, Saturday, September 19, 1925: An army of more than 3,350 armed men, with various degrees of authority, walk city streets, patrol highways and roads in an elaborate police system of espionage that has been established gradually throughout Marion County was revealed today in a survey by The Indianapolis Times. The force has never been challenged by lawfully elected and appointed officers. Less than 1,000 are paid police — city, 525; private detectives, 140; State motor police, 44; fish and game wardens, 48; Federal officers, 33; sheriff and deputies, 22; constables, 10. The others are operating from a highly developed sense of guardianship or the thrill of the game. The list of volunteer agents of authority includes 2,000 members of the Horse Thief Detective Association. Another 350 are composed of railroad detectives, custodians, night watchmen, and merchant police.