Akron Police Museum, Akron

The Akron Police Museum documents the history and development of the local police department through photographs, equipment, uniforms, records, and objects connected with law enforcement. Its collection includes vintage badges and patches, logbooks, newspaper clippings, radios, riot gear, confiscated weapons, counterfeit money, and early police technology such as polygraph and Breathalyzer machines.

Among the most distinctive objects are the keys to the original 1890 police jail and a restored 1965 Harley-Davidson police motorcycle. A second Harley-Davidson from 1995 is also listed among the museum’s holdings. Historic photographs show changing police uniforms, vehicles, chiefs, and major events, while some displays examine notable criminal cases. One section covers bank robber Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd, who was arrested locally in 1930.

The museum also preserves the personal side of police history. A memorial display presents photographs of officers who died in the line of duty, accompanied by an interactive screen where visitors can read individual stories. Other images record crime-scene vehicles, police dogs, public disturbances, and everyday department work, showing how policing methods and equipment changed across generations.