Police Sirens – Necessary Noise Makers
Police sirens are a very important part of policing paraphernalia. They serve an important purpose of attracting attention and clearing the way for the police vehicle to pass unhindered.
Police sirens were never intended to be used for what they are used today; at least not sirens in their individual capacity. It was around 1799 that a Scottish physicist named John Robison decided to make a rather unconventional musical instrument that would be powered by air blown through hollow bamboo. He called this musical instrument a ‘Siren’. A lot has changed since this first siren that was intended for entertainment purposes. In fact, the very purpose of the police siren has drastically changed through the ages.
Nevertheless, the siren still emits a very loud wailing noise, like it’s predecessor the stopcock organ siren. However, the new purpose of the siren has held fast to a position in society and has served man well by sounding a warning alarm in times of danger. The siren has been used through the years by many departments and for various occasions. One will be familiar with the commonest siren that will probably be the police siren. Then there is the fire engine siren, air raid siren, ambulance siren – the list goes on.
Police sirens have been adapted to improved technology and this was probably what brought the change in the way sirens worked. A police siren consisted of, and in most cases still does, a hollow tubular cylinder with perforations along the length of the cylinder. Inside this cylinder is another cylinder with slots cut along the length. The inner cylinder fits closely inside the outer one. Both the cylinders are of the same length and no longer than a few inches long. When the inner cylinder spins at a great revolution it emits a very loud wailing sound. This is the characteristic sound of a police siren that can be heard miles away.
The inner cylinder can be rotated manually by turning a handle that sets a few gears into motion sounding the police siren or this can be accomplished with the help of an electric motor. In years gone by police vehicles had similar police sirens mounted on them. An officer would sound the police sirens by rotating a handle while another officer drove the vehicle. The police sirens served as a warning to others to clear the way and let the police vehicle pass unhindered. The sirens were so loud that people heard them miles away and those who would not give way just had to because the police sirens made such an awful loud noise that people just wanted the vehicle to pass and stop the noise.
While the mechanical police sirens are still used on buildings such as police stations and banks many mechanical police sirens have given way to electronic sirens. These police sirens have no moving parts. Instead they have an electronic circuit that creates an electrical frequency that is amplified and fed to speakers mounted on poles or in vehicles. This made as much noise but was more convenient to use and maintain.
While the technology of police sirens has changed their purpose has remained constant through the ages. There is perhaps no better way to get the attention of people around one than with the use of a police siren. Electronic or mechanical police sirens are an important part of tactical gear every police vehicle must have.
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