George Gastlin

Who was George Gastlin?

George W. Gastlin was an American law enforcement officer and police captain with the New York City Police Department who founded the "Steamboat Squad" and served as its commander during the 1870s and 80s. He joined the NYPD on May 19, 1864, less than a year after the New York Draft Riots, and gradually rose up the ranks over the next few years being promoted to roundsman on February 15, 1868 and then sergeant on July 6, 1870. On June 9, 1876, Gastlin was appointed as head of the "Steamboat Squad", a special police unit formed to combat River pirates and street gangs active on the New York waterfront, and was finally made a captain on September 20, 1878.

On December 31, 1883, a meeting was held at the Astor House in honor of Gastlin and his work with the "Steamboat Squad". Organized by a 4-man committee under James Robbins, J.S. Boden, C.H. Tucker and John S. Krems, at least 40 representatives from steamboat and railroad companies were in attendance including R.J. Cortes, W.H. Stamford, E.A. Dereau, John T. Robb, Andrew M. Underhill, James A. Smith and H.L. Freeland. After giving a testimonial of the police captain's career, Andrew Underhill presented Gastlin with a custom-made gold shield on behalf of the committee along with a letter of thanks, placed in an elaborate gold frame, from all the companies involved.