On this day, Aug. 12, in 1658, a so-called “rattle watch” was formed in the Dutch colony known as New Amsterdam, becoming one of the first public police forces in America.
The rattle watchmen patrolled what is now New York City, using wooden rattles to warn people of threats or fires.
The patrols carried green lanterns at night from sunset until dawn.
When the lawmen returned, they hung their lanterns on a hook by the front door of the watch house to show they were on the job.
Today, green lights are still placed outside the entrances of police stations as a symbol that the “watch” is present and vigilant.
