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The Blackwater Police Department is a law enforcement organization featured in Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2.

History[]

Background[]

Run by Oswald Dunbar, the Blackwater Police Department is one of two uniformed police forces in the series, maintaining order throughout West Elizabeth south of the Upper Montana River, namely in the Great Plains and Tall Trees regions. It remains one of the most numerous and effective law enforcement bodies in the West, with the only comparable one being the Saint Denis Police Department.

Not much is known about the department’s history besides the infamous "Blackwater Massacre" of 1899, a chaotic gunfight which featured legendary gunslinger Landon Ricketts, along with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and the Van der Linde gang, which was in the process of a massive $150,000 ferry robbery.

Events of Red Dead Redemption 2[]

In the aftermath of the Blackwater Massacre of 1899, the town goes on lockdown, along with the rest of southern West Elizabeth, with Pinkerton agents primarily patrolling the area, much to the displeasure of many residents.

After the crisis blows over, Blackwater continues to grow and by 1907 it has become among the most popular and industrialized towns in the West, with many NPCs remarking that the law is particularly well enforced. The small police station is situated on the east side of Blackwater; however, the city is building a new, bigger police station on a plaza in the northern end of the town, which is featured in Red Dead Redemption.

By 1907, the police department's primary adversary is the sadistic Skinner Brothers gang mutilating travelers in Tall Trees.

Their uniform consists of a dark blue coat with gold buttons, a badge, and a police hat.

Events of Red Dead Redemption[]

The Blackwater Police Department is unique in that it is the only uniformed, non-military law enforcement in Red Dead Redemption. In addition to this, it also has a modern rank structure. Players will notice a significant presence of the Blackwater Police Department throughout West Elizabeth, meaning committing even minor offenses can be very dangerous. This goes for both the player and the random NPC citizens.

Blackwater, being a bustling frontier city and burgeoning capitol, requires a larger police force than smaller settlements. However, they also share jurisdiction over the rest of the West Elizabeth territory and can be seen, outside of the city, and patrolling the city's outskirts on horseback. Its officers are well-equipped with weapons such as the High Power Pistol, Semi-automatic Pistol, Winchester Repeater, and Pump-action Shotgun.

The Blackwater Police Department has a mounted division (covering most of the territory) in addition to regular, dismounted officers (seen only in the town itself) using its considerable size to its advantage. There is one police station in Blackwater; it is located near the territorial government building and is shared with the Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshals. The Blackwater Police also appear to be more capable in combat and have a smarter AI, as many players have noted; the officers are better able to climb ladders, navigate small spaces, and gain better firing positions. Their weapons are also more powerful than most law enforcement agencies, making them a very formidable fighting force. In addition, up to 50 officers can be mobilized at a time for confrontations in Blackwater.

The uniform worn by the Blackwater Police now consists of dark blue trousers, blue button-up coats, and a dark blue custodian helmet with the Department's insignia.

Known members[]

Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online[]

Red Dead Redemption[]

Trivia[]

Red Dead Redemption[]

  • Instead of there being a lawman to collect the bounties from Marston in Blackwater belonging to its local police department, the Sheriff Dell Hopkins from New Austin will give out the money, accompanied by U.S. Marshals. This is likely because there is no designated police captain in Blackwater with the authority to handle bounties.

Undead Nightmare[]

  • Despite their size, they make no appearance in Undead Nightmare, neither as survivors nor as Undead.
    • However, undead in police uniforms can be seen in a few promotional screenshots, complete with their badges and some with custodian helmets.

Red Dead Redemption 2[]

  • One of the bounties - Otis Skinner - if brought alive will eventually tell the player to "get lost unless you are searching for a deputy badge." Interestingly one of the drawers of the police department has a deputy badge. It is in the drawer next to a wall that leads to a back alley behind the Police Department.
  • If John accumulates a significant bounty in Blackwater, lawmen will not arrive on horseback to engage in pursuit as they usually do. Instead, wagons carrying six officers each will go after him.
  • If the player interacts with Blackwater Lawmen they will not speak. This is possibly a glitch similar to the one in MacFarlane's Ranch where female NPCs will not respond to the player.
  • In Red Dead Online, the Blackwater lawmen can only speak in "Call to Arms" if the location is set at Blackwater.

Gallery[]

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