History of Alton, NH Police Department

Law Enforcement in Alton NH began in the late 1800s. Constables, which were men that provided the law enforcement services, worked part time for the Town. Documents, located at the Town Hall, date back to 1829. These documents show that these Constables specifically assisted with the lawful collection of taxes. It wasn’t until 1896 that the Constables took on the form of Officers of the Law. Still, these men only worked part time, in addition to their full time jobs elsewhere. Fifty-eight years later (1954), Alton elected their first Chief of Police.