Who We Are?

Our Mission

The Richmond Police Museum was founded to collect and preserve the department’s rich history.  The collection will be used to educate both law enforcement officers and the public.  The historical and current displays should foster a mutual understanding and respect between law enforcement and the public.

The Beginning

Captain David L. Martin had been collecting and displaying Police memorabilia for years.  He set up a display for the Richmond Retired Police Officers Association.   During these annual retiree re-unions, discussions led to the idea of establishing a Richmond Police Museum.  The idea was presented to former Police Chief Rodney Monroe and he approved the idea if space could be located within the current police facilities.  A search was started but space was very limited, and the process slowed, but the project was not forgotten.

In the fall of 2010, former Richmond Police Officer and retired ATF Agent Jim Crotty contracted David Martin and retired Captain David Haywood about going to the former Police Training Academy which had been located in the basement of the Mosque (Landmark) to recover police memorabilia before it was totally lost to the tools of remodeling.  The trio was pleasantly surprised at the old treasures they were able to recover.  The black board from the main classroom, the work out type equipment from the fitness room and numerous items were recovered from the firing range.  The large check off mirror which stood outside of the classroom was recovered, refinished by Jim and donated to the FOP John Marshall Lodge.  Jim made a second trip to the old academy when he recovered tiles from the old swimming pool.  In addition to being the leader in recovering some very valuable historic Richmond Police items, Jim placed on loan to the Museum numerous items from his personal collection.

In the fall of 2011, a room and space in the Nancy White Thomas Library at the Police Training Academy was identified by Captain Gary Ladin.  The use of this space was approved by Chief Bryan Norwood and numerous items have been placed there.

We have had a great response from other officers and their families wanting to place historical police items on loan to the museum for display.  We are in the process of obtaining additional display cases and having doors designed for the library shelves so the items can be properly secured and displayed.

Review the posted pictures showing the items recovered from the Mosque and some of the items that will be displayed in the Museum.