The 1805 city charter provided that the "Mayor shall superintend the police of the said city, and make regulations for the watchmen and city guard." This Guard was formally organized by ordinance dated May 18, 1805,initially composed of a captain, a lieutenant, a sergeant, three corporals, and thirty-two gendarmes, all of whom agreed to serve for a minimum of three years. Approximately one-half of the force served as a mounted police until later in the year when a Council resolution did away with the mounted unit. The captain was in command of the Guard, but it was always subject to the orders of the Mayor. Subsequent ordinances and resolutions increased the size of the Guard,directed it to operate in various sections of the city, and specified particular duties for its members. These duties included arresting slaves who were out at night without permission of their masters; ringing the church bells on the hour and when fires were discovered; making regular rounds, during which they were to enforce the general police regulations; and standing watch at theatre performances and other "spectacles."

An ordinance dated November 5, 1817 required Guard members to enter into a security bond with a solvent person to ensure their good conduct and punctuality. It also divided the city into three districts with a guardhouse in each. A depot of muskets at each guardhouse was controlled by the captain. That legislation further specified duties of the force with respect to the arrest of those disturbing the peace, vagrants, soldiers,sailors, and slaves breaking curfew, and runaway slaves. The Guard also saw to the closure of coffeehouses and other establishments at the stated hours,inspected the city's lamps, and assisted Guard units in other districts when disturbances broke out. During the day a detachment of men at each Guardhouse was at the disposal of the Mayor and Recorder, and was to assist the Commissaries of Police and any citizen in need of aid.

Later legislation provided for: the city's lamplighters to function as members of the Guard when not lighting lamps (1821); the reestablish- ment of a small mounted force (1833); and the formation of a three-member committee, appointed by the Recorder, to examine every officer on the force and to dismiss those who did not understand and speak both English and French (1835). On February 6, 1836, just prior to passage of the city's second charter, a new ordinance organized a City Watch to assume the duties of the Guard. The very detailed provisions of this legislation were in effect for only a brief period, if indeed they were implemented at all.