In 1820, Lemuel Rogers was appointed Town Constable and two men were appointed to patrol the city at a stipend $50 per year. By January of 1830, the salaries for the beat walkers were increased to $60 per year. They were to work two nights a week and on Saturdays. Their duties included waking a beat once before midnight and once after midnight.

In 1858, the City Council voted to elect three night watchmen. One was to be appointed Captain and paid $500 annually; the other two men would receive $450 annually. The first three watchmen were: Ike Barklett, J.W. Moore and A.D. Smith, who was named Captain.

One of the watchmen's duties was to respond to the ringing of the bell in the center of Clarksville. This served to notify them when there were problems and to alert the area of potential crisis.

From 1858 until 1861, the position of Captain varied from quarter to quarter. Other watchmen elected during that time were S. Woodrum, J. Crockett, Thomas Jackson, William Moore and J.J. Rawls.

From time to time, the watchmen would fail to respond to the bell ringing and the City Council would suspend them for dereliction of duty. In August of 1859, it was recommended that J.W. Moore not only be suspended, but appear for trial before the City Council for violating laws, disturbing the peace and "outraging humanity". There is no known record of what transpired during the trial but it was some time before Moore was again involved with the watchmen. However, it is known that he did return and even served at Captain several times.

After the incident, the City Council decided to levy a penalty against the watchmen for neglect of duty. The Captain was to be charged $1.00 for each infraction and the watchmen were to be penalized fifty cents.

In 1861, J. Crockett was made Workhouse Keeper; it was his job to see that people convicted of breaking city laws were confined until their sentence was served. His salary was the same as the night watchmen, but he was also permitted personal use of the house and to charge convicts forty cents a day for board.

As early as 1861, it was determined that the City of Clarksville should be divided into beats for the purpose of giving the watchmen some uniformity in their walks. Around this time it was also decided that the bell ringing was unnecessary and other methods would be used to patrol and alert the city.

In February of 1862, the City Council voted that the watchmen would go on duty at dusk and remain on duty until daylight the following morning. It was further decided at that time a fourth watchman be elected to serve. The four would be: J.W. Moore, William Moore, Thomas Jackson and I.N. Bartlett.

City Council records and minutes are missing from June 1862 until March 21, 1865.

In June of 1865 a man named Tarpley, (no first name listed) was appointed watchman but there were no funds to pay him. Therefore it was agreed by the council that any fees he collected pertaining to his office were to be his compensation. Very little information is recorded regarding the police during this period of time as the City of Clarksville was preoccupied with rebuilding its local government.

In October of 1865 the City Council agreed to elect four night watchmen to be paid $500 per annum. A committee was formed to confer with the applicants and their names presented for voting. However, many changes were to occur before the end of the year. The City Marshall was to be charged with the selection of a police force that was to be increased by five "prudent citizens". It was recommended that the Captain serve for a period of one year. Elected were Robert Gibson, T.J. Savage, John Goff, and Moore (first name not listed). It is assumed that at some point it was decided to simply stay with four candidates.

On April 29, 1866, Mayor J.A. Bailey had recorded an Ordinance pertaining to the police force. It contained the following 9 sections:

Section 1 provided that the number of policemen, the time they were to serve, their rate of pay and when they were be paid was to be determined by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Section 2 stated that the City Marshall was to head the police force and would be required to submit written monthly reports to the City Board. To be included were the number of arrests made and any derelictions of duty by the officers.

Section 3 required that after being elected, the officers were to go to the Mayor and be qualified. This included taking an oath hot to violate the ordinances and laws of the City.

Section 4 necessitated the City Marshall, as head of the police force and all watchmen, to bring all persons before the City Recorder for trials regarding city laws and before the Justice of the Peace or the Recorder for state law trials.

Section 5 granted the City Marshall or watchmen with the right and duty to arrest all persons committing an offense under his observation, or brought to his knowledge and take them before the City Recorder.

Section 6 specified that they were to consider themselves conservators of the public peace and were to seek to prevent rather than redress offenses. That in all arrests they made were to be as gentle and respectful as the circumstances permitted.

Section 7 addressed that their duty was to be assiduous in their conduct, sober in their habits and to keep the laws, not permitting others to violate them with impunity.

Section 8 advised that if they failed to perform their duties, failed to remain sober, exhibited harsh actions toward anyone they arrested, if they took money or some kind of reward not to arrest someone, disregarded Board orders, they would be called before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and be reprimanded by the Mayor, or be fined not over $50 or be dismissed from the services of the City.

Section 9 simply repealed all earlier ordinances pertaining to these provisions.

Other men elected during 1867 were M. W. Carkaff, James Walsh, John Robinson and G. Yates.

By 1878, Clarksville had almost fully recuperated from the problems associated with the Civil War. The City of Clarksville had become a force to be reckoned with as a tobacco producing area with its own port on the Cumberland River. Considered successful by surrounding communities, it was to become the scene of a catastrophe that threatened to destroy it.

On April 13, 1878, Officer Frank Phillips became involved in a situation in which a suspect refused to be arrested. A violent fight occurred before the suspect was brought under control. The suspect died in jail later that night. Sheriff James Mosley placed Officer Phillips, for his personal safety, in jail. The alarm for fire was sounded.

The fire, clearly arson, began in a small building on Franklin Street and quickly spread to the center of town. The fire destroyed the fire station and everything else in its path. Realizing the potentially disastrous situation, city officials telegraphed the City of Nashville requesting assistance. The Nashville fire fighters loaded a special train with their fire equipment and started for Clarksville. However, by the time the train arrived, it was too late to save the downtown area. When the fire was finally out, over 15 acres had burned and 63 buildings had been destroyed.

By 1889, the Police Department was composed of five officers with an average monthly salary of $78.00. The Chief was Alexander Stafford, with officers Granville Holleman, Joe Murphy, J.K. Smith and Pat Ginley.

By 1891, other officers hired were Charles Collier (former Sheriff), William Rollow and J.E. Robinson. In 1892 Jack Stone was to join the roster.

In 1895, J.E. Robinson became the Chief of Police, a job he was to hold for the next forty-three years.