Metropolitan police
John F. Dickson was born in New York City on November 30, 1821. He worked as a printer before his appointment the police force in 1850 and, upon the organization of the Metropolitan Police Department in 1857, joined the force as acting Captain of the Sixth Precinct. He remained in command of the precinct until Captain Joseph Dowling, who had formerly sided with Mayor Fernando Wood and the Municipal police force during the Police Riot of 1857, replaced Dickson upon joining the Metropolitan police in 1859. Relegated to the rank of police sergeant, he served under noted police captains John Jourdan, Thomas J. Kennedy and Edward Walsh.