An ordinance of July 1, 1836 established a Night Watch for the Second Municipality composed of one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, three sergeants, and forty-nine watchmen. The men were to be under the supervision of the captain, who also had charge of the arms and other property of the Watch. He was to submit a report to the Recorder each morning of the previous night's proceedings (a copy also went to the Mayor) and was to keep a register of the Watch and its activities. The force was always at the orders of the captain and was also to report for duty during the day whenever called upon by the Mayor or Recorder. It was divided between posts at the Municipality Hall (1st and 2nd wards) and in the 3rd ward. The officers were required to give security to assure the faithful performance of duties and all members of the Watch were to swear to enforce the laws of the Municipality.

By ordinance of June 28, 1836 a High Constable was to be elected to serve as head of the Day Police. He was required to be in attendance at the Recorder's Court daily and was charged with distributing the other constables to best serve the peace and quiet and safety of the citizenry. The High Constable was also to employ "intelligent and discreet persons" to function as a secret police. Each day he was to report any police matters to the Recorder and was to keep a register of free persons of color and suspicious strangers.

The members of the Night Watch were to walk their beats continuously while on duty. They were to arrest slaves out at night without passes; to arrest suspicious persons; to report on the lamps; to order the closing of cabarets "after gunfire"; to arrest offenders causing any breach of the peace; and to sound the alarm for fires. The armory was to be used only when conditions warranted, as determined by the Recorder or the commanding officer.

Later ordinances provided for: the arrest of vendors out after 11 PM without passes and of slaves and free persons of color even with passes (1838); the captain to hire an armorer to keep the weapons in good order (1838); and the captain's responsibility for sounding the municipality's bells in case of fire (1842). Various legislation also provided for watchmen to be stationed at the St. Mary Market, at the basin of the navigation canal, and along the river to watch for ships discharging substances into the water.