In which city were the first African American police officers appointed?

• A. Chicago
• B. New Orleans
• C. Atlanta
• D. New York

Answer: (B)

The earliest instance of African American men serving as formal police officers happened in New Orleans, during the Union occupation in the Civil War era. This move to appoint Black officers to help maintain order established the first formal African American police presence in the United States. Other cities—Chicago, New York, and Atlanta—did not appoint Black police officers at that early date; their first Black officers appeared later as policing and civil rights progressed.