Charles Henry Price Papers

Charles Price grew up in Rochester, New York. Price graduated from Madison High School, where he played basketball and football and ran track. Price wanted to go to college to study physical education, but World War II ended those dreams and he was drafted. He served in the special intelligence unit in Europe as part of the Tuskegee Airmen. Using his mathematical skills, Price helped calculate the time that it would take enemy bombers to reach the other planes, so that they could be ready to return enemy fire. After being honorably discharged, Price returned to Rochester and began to work as a janitor at Eastman Kodak company. Price graduated from Monroe Community College and took specialized course work at several other northeastern universities.

Price signed up to join the police force after discussing careers with his friends and one of them mentioned that there were no black people on the police force and how black people were not wanted on the police force. Price accepted the challenge and took the civil service exam. In 1947, Price became the first black police officer. He faced racism and discrimination on the work face. When he was sworn in as an officer, he was sworn in separately from the other white officers. Price was also told not to come to City Hall with the other officers to get sworn in. On one occasion, he responded to a call from a woman, who then complained because she wanted a white officer.

Charles Price was one of the first responding officers to arrive at the scene of the July 1964 uprising, where an unhappy predominantly black community fought back against officers. The community was unhappy because they were denied basic human rights and struggled with police brutality and unfairness in the legal system.

Later, Charles Price became a provisional detective lieutenant. He was placed in command of the Police Bureau’s Community service units. With this command, Price became the highest ranking black man on the Rochester Police Force. The Community Service Unit was established in 1966. The responsibility of the unit was to work from the neighborhood level upward to inform the public of police services. Charles Price served as security for famous figures such as Martin Luther King Junior and Malcolm X on their visits to Rochester New York. Price worked his way up to Captain and later retired from the Police force in 1985.

Charles Price died on May 21, 2021. He was predeceased by his wife Pauline Price and survived by 2 children and four grandchildren.

Murphy, George. “Now I'm a Plain Detective” Democrat and Chronicle. [Rochester, [NY], May 2, 1970.

Craig, Gary and Murphy, Justin. “Charlie Price remembered as pioneer for Black Officers in Rochester, New York.” Democrat and Chronicle. [Rochester, [N.Y.], May 17, 2021.

Tucker, Jack. “Charlie Takes the Dare” Democrat and Chronicle. [Rochester, [N.Y.], January 27, 1967.

“ Captain Price Made His Mark on the City Streets” Democrat and Chronicle. [Rochester, [N.Y.], February, 3, 2008.

Corn Hill Neighbors Association. “Charlie Price, Rochester’s First Black Police Officer and Cornhill Native, dies at 98” Cornhill Gazette. [Rochester, [N.Y.], May 24, 2021.