Max F. Schmittberger
Encyclopedia
Maximilian Frances Schmittberger (July 27, 1851 - October 31, 1917) was an American law enforcement officer and chief police inspector for the New York City Police Department
from 1909 until his death in 1917. He and Captain John Price
were both wardmen closely associated with Inspector Alexander "Clubber" Williams
while a precinct captain in the Tenderloin district
. Schmittberger later became a star witness testifying before the Lexow Committee
on police corruption
within the NYPD.
on July 27, 1851. Four years after his birth, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City
. He was educated in public schools and was employed in two or three other occupations prior to joining the Municipal Police Department
on January 8, 1874. He reportedly had "a quiet demeanor and dislike of publicity", traits which he held from his days as a patrolman until his last days on the force. He gradually rose through the ranks becoming a roundsman on April 2, 1880, a sergeant on March 6, 1883, and a captain on December 8, 1890.
He was assigned to the "Broadway squad" during the 1870s and 1880s where he and John Price
became closely associated with the then head of the Tenderloin district
Captain Alexander "Clubber" Williams
. Schmittberger later testified before the Lexow Committee
, agreeing to turn state's evidence, and implicated a number of high-level police officials involved in police corruption. Among these officials included Williams, now a police inspector, who Schmittberger claimed he had collected bribe money from gambling resorts and brothels, amounting to between $180-200 a month, then turning the money over to Williams. He also claimed to have carried out similar activity during his involvement was the "steamboat squad" and in other posts. Schmittberger was the only police official to emerge unscathed from the Lexow inquiry, his former colleges either allowed to retire or were dismissed from the force, and was called a "squealer" by members of the NYPD.
On May 2, 1903, Schmittberger was finally made a police inspector by Commissioner Francis Greene. He became the technical head of the police force in his later career, he was considered a gifted speaker and an excellent organizer as well as a notoriously strict disciplinarian. He often made unexpected visits to police stations when the patrolman were preparing to go out on duty and watched to see if they saluted the officer at the desk as well as if the desk sergeant returned the salute in the proper manner. If the patrolmen did not salute, Schmittberger would order the officers to salute and then perform the ceremony "in smart military fashion to his satisfaction". On the afternoon of July 31, 1905, his wife Sarah Golden died of cerebral meningitis
at her home in Far Rockaway, New York. She had fallen ill earlier that year and was taken to Far Rockaway by her husband so that she might recover. Her funeral was held at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church and interned at Woodlawn Cemetery.
In mid-August 1917, he became ill and received a six month leave of absence from the force. Although it was presumed his condition was improving, he caught a severe cold two months later after leaving his home. His cold quickly turned into pneumonia
and he died at his East 61st Street home on the night of October 31, 1917. His seven children, six sons and one daughter, were at his bedside at the time of his death. Upon news of his death, the flags of all the police stations in New York were ordered to be lowered at half-mast and remained so until his funeral.
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
from 1909 until his death in 1917. He and Captain John Price
John Price
John Price is a former English cricketer, who played in fifteen Tests for England from 1964 to 1972....
were both wardmen closely associated with Inspector Alexander "Clubber" Williams
Alexander S. Williams
Alexander S. Williams was an American law enforcement officer and police inspector for the New York City Police Department...
while a precinct captain in the Tenderloin district
Tenderloin district
Tenderloin District may refer to:*Tenderloin, Manhattan*Tenderloin, San Francisco, California...
. Schmittberger later became a star witness testifying before the Lexow Committee
Lexow Committee
Lexow Committee . The name given to a major New York State Senate probe into police corruption in New York City. The Lexow Committee inquiry, which took its name from the Committee's chairman, State Senator Clarence Lexow, was the widest-ranging of several such commissions empaneled during the...
on police corruption
Police corruption
Police corruption is a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain financial benefits, other personal gain, or career advancement for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest....
within the NYPD.
Biography
Max F. Schmittberger was born in Würzburg, GermanyWürzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
on July 27, 1851. Four years after his birth, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was educated in public schools and was employed in two or three other occupations prior to joining the Municipal Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
on January 8, 1874. He reportedly had "a quiet demeanor and dislike of publicity", traits which he held from his days as a patrolman until his last days on the force. He gradually rose through the ranks becoming a roundsman on April 2, 1880, a sergeant on March 6, 1883, and a captain on December 8, 1890.
He was assigned to the "Broadway squad" during the 1870s and 1880s where he and John Price
John Price
John Price is a former English cricketer, who played in fifteen Tests for England from 1964 to 1972....
became closely associated with the then head of the Tenderloin district
Tenderloin district
Tenderloin District may refer to:*Tenderloin, Manhattan*Tenderloin, San Francisco, California...
Captain Alexander "Clubber" Williams
Alexander S. Williams
Alexander S. Williams was an American law enforcement officer and police inspector for the New York City Police Department...
. Schmittberger later testified before the Lexow Committee
Lexow Committee
Lexow Committee . The name given to a major New York State Senate probe into police corruption in New York City. The Lexow Committee inquiry, which took its name from the Committee's chairman, State Senator Clarence Lexow, was the widest-ranging of several such commissions empaneled during the...
, agreeing to turn state's evidence, and implicated a number of high-level police officials involved in police corruption. Among these officials included Williams, now a police inspector, who Schmittberger claimed he had collected bribe money from gambling resorts and brothels, amounting to between $180-200 a month, then turning the money over to Williams. He also claimed to have carried out similar activity during his involvement was the "steamboat squad" and in other posts. Schmittberger was the only police official to emerge unscathed from the Lexow inquiry, his former colleges either allowed to retire or were dismissed from the force, and was called a "squealer" by members of the NYPD.
On May 2, 1903, Schmittberger was finally made a police inspector by Commissioner Francis Greene. He became the technical head of the police force in his later career, he was considered a gifted speaker and an excellent organizer as well as a notoriously strict disciplinarian. He often made unexpected visits to police stations when the patrolman were preparing to go out on duty and watched to see if they saluted the officer at the desk as well as if the desk sergeant returned the salute in the proper manner. If the patrolmen did not salute, Schmittberger would order the officers to salute and then perform the ceremony "in smart military fashion to his satisfaction". On the afternoon of July 31, 1905, his wife Sarah Golden died of cerebral meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
at her home in Far Rockaway, New York. She had fallen ill earlier that year and was taken to Far Rockaway by her husband so that she might recover. Her funeral was held at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church and interned at Woodlawn Cemetery.
In mid-August 1917, he became ill and received a six month leave of absence from the force. Although it was presumed his condition was improving, he caught a severe cold two months later after leaving his home. His cold quickly turned into pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and he died at his East 61st Street home on the night of October 31, 1917. His seven children, six sons and one daughter, were at his bedside at the time of his death. Upon news of his death, the flags of all the police stations in New York were ordered to be lowered at half-mast and remained so until his funeral.
Further reading
- Costello, Augustine E. Our Police Protectors: History of the New York Police from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. New York: A.E. Costello, 1885.
- Garcia, Robert The Descendants of Max F. Schmittberger Chief Inspector of the NYPD. 2008.
- Marcuse, Maxwell F. This Was New York!: A Nostalgic Picture of Gotham in the Gaslight Era. New York: LIM Press, 1969.
- Morris, Lloyd R. Incredible New York: High Life and Low Life of the Last Hundred Years. New York: Random House, 1951.
- Stead, William Thomas. "Satan's Invisible World Displayed, Or, Despairing Democracy: A Study of Greater New York". Politics and People: The Ordeal of Self-Government. New York: Arno Press Inc, 1974. ISBN 0-405-05901-9