"Police Force, New York City" is a short included on disk one of the DVD set "Perils of the New Land"--a collection of films about the immigrant experience in America. Although the film is listed as begin released in 1910, the title of the film says 1904 and re-copywritten 1910. So, perhaps it was just re-released in 1910 and actually occurred a bit earlier.
The film looks more like a documentary and does not have a traditional narrative. However, in the early days of film, such movies were very common. Like so many of the Edison films of the era, it simply shows the New York police demonstrating various techniques--I assume in an interest of creating public support. Such harrowing (?) feats as stopping runaway horses and catching thieves in the harbor are recreated here in this film. While none of it seems all that interesting, compared to the average film of the day, it's about the norm--and mostly of use for its historical value.
The film looks more like a documentary and does not have a traditional narrative. However, in the early days of film, such movies were very common. Like so many of the Edison films of the era, it simply shows the New York police demonstrating various techniques--I assume in an interest of creating public support. Such harrowing (?) feats as stopping runaway horses and catching thieves in the harbor are recreated here in this film. While none of it seems all that interesting, compared to the average film of the day, it's about the norm--and mostly of use for its historical value.