PATERSON, N.J. – The Paterson Police Department is highlighting the legacy of Frederick G. Graul, one of the city’s first police officers and a Civil War veteran, in a recent historical post shared on social media.
Graul joined the Paterson force in 1866 and, within days, helped stop a burglary at Broadway and East 18th Street. He was appointed chief of police just ten years later and served in that role until his death in 1905.
The department noted that early Paterson officers, including Graul, wore surplus Civil War uniforms during a post-war surge in police hiring.
Graul is remembered for helping shape the foundation of the modern Paterson Police Department.