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 The Town of Carmel Police Department was created in 1940, after the New York State Legislature formally authorized the creation of town police departments
throughout New York State. Prior to 1940 the Town was patrolled by Constables, who were appointed by the Town Board. In earlier days it was an elected office. In
1940 the Town of Carmel Police Department consisted of two officers, Wallace Barrett of Mahopac and Morgan Seymour Sr. of Carmel. In 1944 Wallace Barrett
was appointed as the first Police Chief of the department, and in 1945 the appointment of George Hiller of Lake Secor expanded the police department to
three officers. During this time period the town was rural in nature with numerous farms and a summer recreational area with several large hotels on the shores of
Lake Mahopac. The first officers used their personal vehicles as police cars and were considered on duty 24-hours a day. They worked out of their houses and
there was no formal police station. The police department did not obtain an official headquarters until 1959, when space was allocated in the old Carmel Town Hall
located on McAlpin Avenue which now houses the Carmel Historical Society.
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 The town has undergone changes from a rural nature, to a suburban town
with a population estimated at 35,000 residents. The Town of Carmel's population boom is due mainly to it's close proximity to New York City, the
city of White Plains, and the neighboring city of Danbury, Connecticut. The Town is situated near three major highways and is serviced by a nearby
Metro North train station located in Croton Falls. The police department moved to it's present location in the ground floor of the new Carmel Town Hall in 1975.
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The full service department presently consists of 35 sworn police officers and eight civilian employees. In addition to
patrolling the town 24 hours daily, the police department offers a host of extra services to the public. The DARE program
is offered to all the fifth grade students in the two school districts and private schools in town; Neighborhood Watch
Program; Operation ID; Dark House Program; Bicycle Safety Class; a Young Boater's Safety Course; Nursery School
Police Familiarization Program; Halloween Safety Course and the Kid Care Program; as well as tours of the police department.
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