About the PSPOA
The PSPOA Has a Proud Tradition of Service to Palm Springs and the PSPD
THE EARLY YEARS
The City of Palm Springs was incorporated in 1938.The Police Department was operating as a Police Protection District with four officers.
- J.Lloyd Boller was Chief of Police from 1938 to 1939.
- From 1939 to 1940 the Department was headed by W. H. BISPHAM.
No Radios
- Officers were notified of an assignment by looking up, or down, Palm Canyon Drive to a red light suspended by wire across the street. If the light was on, the officer called the Station to get his message.
The City purchased the District in 1940 and on October 30, 1940 there was an official Palm Springs Police Department.
- The City began paying the Chief, Officers and other employees.
- The population of the city was less than 2000.


The Department consisted of the following personnel:
- Chief Norman Harstad (1940-1941) @ $300 per mo.
- A Sergeant @ $175 per mo.
- 5 Patrol Officers @ $150 per mo.
- 2 Clerk/Dispatchers @ $150 per mo.
- A car and radio were purchased outright and motor officer and motorcycle were financed by donations.
The City closed down sometime between Easter and June 1st. It came back to life around October 1st. Because the City Fathers could not justify salaries for full time officers until Autumn, a skeleton crew worked the summer months.
The majority of officers were seasonal. As the demand for police decreased in Palm Springs during the summer months, it increased in resorts like Catalina, Avalon, Laguna Beach and Lake Tahoe. It was not unusual to see Palm Springs' finest working in these cities for the summer.
There was one fringe benefit that all city employees received, regardless of seniority: 30 days paid vacation. This was justified by local doctors who recommended getting out of the heat and dryness of the desert, for health reasons. This was discontinued about 1960.
The first Police building was located on North Palm Canyon. The village was too small for addresses. But, it was located roughly where the Lobster Company restaurant is now.
By 1947 the Department had grown to 17 employees. Under the direction of Chief August "Gus" Kettmann, (4/1/45 - 2/28/53 and 1/17/55 - 6/14/64), the Department had a budget of $55,000. Orest Johnson was Acting Chief of Police during Kettmann's absence.
ALL OF THIS IN 2300 SQUARE FEET!