From Wagons to Buses: Changes in Transportation

Published on December 01, 2022

The Denver Sheriff Camaro is parked in the courtyard of the Downtown Detention Center and Lindsey Flanigan Courthouse.

The Denver Police Department first used horse-drawn carriages in the 1880s to transport arrestees to jail. By 1915, the first motorized vehicles, known as paddy wagons, were adopted as inmate transport.

According to legend, the term "paddy wagon" – “paddy” being a derogatory slur referencing people of Irish decent – originated in the United States around the turn of the century, reflecting the large Irish immigrant population who were both arrested by, and worked for, American law enforcement. Paddy wagons were also referred to as Black Marias, a reference to the signature color and speed of a famous racehorse.

Denver Sheriff scout car parked in the vehicle sally port at the sheriff department.

Today we refer to these vehicles as scout cars, a term that was adopted from the military. The Denver Police Department relinquished its scout car duties to the Denver Sheriff Department in 1986. The DSD uses buses to transport inmates between facilities, as well. In fact, one bus transport received some media attention as it was, according to the Denver Post, “The Search for a Busload of Trouble." The article published on May 14, 1967 explains:

April 13, 1967 | A late spring snowstorm bared down on Denver as the statewide bus crew was preparing to leave county jail for Canon City. There were 19 prisoners in all: 15 men, 4 women, and three deputies aboard the bus. "Wagon 99" as they referred to the transport unit, left the county jail at 0815. Driving south on I-25, snow hit hard at the city limits. The snow was thick, wet, and heavy, obscuring the road ahead. The bus was stuck in a snow drift by 0930, just south of Castle Rock. The occupants of the bus had no food or water as nearly 32 inches of snow eventually fell. Temperatures dropped below freezing at night, as most did not have any heavy clothing to wear. After being stuck for nearly two days, the deputies and the prisoners were rescued without injury.

Denver Sheriff side view of the bus used to transport people in our care.

Today, the DSD buses are used to transport individuals in custody to and from the Denver County Jail, the Downtown Detention Center, and the Denver courts. The DSD also utilizes vans for statewide transport when moving people between Denver and other law enforcement facilities.