In 1846 Peter G. Camden became the eleventh Mayor of St. Louis.
In 1846 Peter Camden was elected Mayor as a member of the old
American Party. During Camden's administration the City issued
bonds for $25,000 to purchase stones and raise the eastern bank
of the Mississippi River which had threatended to cut a new
channel. There was a possibility the river might cut a new path
through the American Bottoms and miss St. Louis altogether. The
harbor on the St. Louis side of the river was also improved.
Like Mayor Pratte, Camden favored the use of gas for street
lights, and during his term the system was extended. The police
system of the City was made a regular department of the
municipal government in 1846. Before this time there had been
night watchmen and some daytime patrol duty, but no regular
Police Department. The Ordinance approved on August 17, 1846,
included the duties of the City Marshal, City Guard, Day Police
and the Keeper of the Calaboose. These four divisions of the
department reported directly to t