Dominion Police

The Dominion Police Force was the federal police force of Canada between 1868 and 1920. It was active in Eastern Canada, while the North-West Mounted Police covered the vast North-West Territories. In 1920, the two merged to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.Dominion Police - The Canadian Encyclopedia
== History ==
=== Formation ===
The force was established on 22 May 1868, in response to the assassination of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, a prominent Irish-Canadian politician, believed to have been killed by elements of the Fenian Brotherhood. It was built from the Western Frontier Constabulary, a spy service established by Sir John A. Macdonald, and organised by Gilbert McMicken, who became the Dominion Police's Commissioner for the Upper Canada region in 1869.
=== Welland Canal Bombing Attempt, 1900 ===
On the morning of 21 April 1900, Jackie Nolan and John Walsh lowered satchels of dynamite into Lock 24 of the Welland Canal, a part of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Nolan and Walsh were arrested two hours after the attack while trying to flee to Buffalo via Niagara. "J. Karl Dullman", who had been sighted meeting with the pair previously, was also arrested. The three conspirators were sentenced to life. Dullman was uncovered as being "Dynamite" Luke Dillon, an Irish nationalist who had previously bombed both Scotland Yard and the British House of Commons. Inspector John Wilson Murray later took credit for uncovering Dillon's deception.Dynamite Dillon - Scottish Military Disasters
Dillon was released from prison in July 1914, while Nolan was released in late 1915. Walsh died of liver failure in the prison hospital in 1909.
=== Crippen Case, 1910 ===
After receiving word that Dr. Hawley Crippen had been sighted on a ship bound for Canada, Chief Inspector Walter Dew of Scotland Yard boarded a faster ship and arrived in Quebec. Dew spoke with Chief Constable Augustin McCarthy of the Sûreté du Québec and Inspector Denis of Levie, both of whom had been dispatched by the Attorney General of Quebec.The Long Arm of the Law (Await Arrival of Ship - 28 July 1910 - The Victoria Times) Chief Constable Charles GavreauUnsuspicious of Plans of Arrest is the Fugitive - 30 July 1910 - The Richmond Palladium and Sun TelegramGauvreau of the Dominion police during the Crippen case - Alamy of Ottawa was also dispatched to aid in the arrest.The Long Arm of the Law (Will Be Deported - 29 July 1910 - The Victoria Times)
== Duties ==
Dominion Police officers kept guard around Canadian government buildings and dockyards, functioned as bodyguards for government leaders, and operated an intelligence network that infiltrated the Fenian Brotherhood.
They also enforced the law on Indian reserves, attended to the extradition of fugitives of foreign countries, and investigated disappearances, as well as keeping track of released convicts.
== Structure ==
=== Commissioners ===
* Gilbert McMicken (1869 - 1871) (Upper Canada region)The Protectors of Royalty in Canada - G. B. Van Blaricom - 1 October 1909 - Maclean's
* Charles-Joseph Coursol (1869 - 1876) (Lower Canada region)
* Hewitt Bernard (1871 - 1876) (Upper Canada region)
* Zebulon Aiton-Lash (1876 - 1880) (First national commissioner)
* Augustus Keefer (1880 - 1885)
* Colonel Sir Arthur Percy Sherwood (1885 - 1919)
* Colonel Gilbert Godson-Godson (1919 - 1920)
=== Others ===
* James Parkinson (Served as head of the Secret Service Branch, c. 1909)
== Uniform ==
Officers wore a blue uniform; a spiked helmet, adorned with the Dominion coat of arms; trousers with a wide red stripe; and a red and white band around his left arm, indicating the officer was on duty. 
== Links ==
* Dominion Police on Wikipedia
* Dominion Police on the Canadian Encyclopedia
== References ==
Category:Real police forces
Category:Real Canadian police forces
Category:Real Canadian federal police forces
Category:Real Dominion Police