The 1912 City Charter set up a commission form of government for the city of New Orleans, consisting of a mayor and four councilmen elected at-large. The executive and administrative powers of the city government were divided among five departments, each with its own commissioner, designated from among the mayor and councilmen by majority vote of the Council. The commission council government remained in effect until the passage of the Home Rule Charter in 1954.

The Department of Public Safety, one of these five departments, was responsible for fire prevention and relief, police, health, and charity and relief. The Commissioner of Public Safety also served on the Board of Commissioners of the Police Department, the Board of Commissioners of the Fire Department, and the Board of Health.

The following men served as Commissioners of Public Safety during the years covered by these records:

E.J. Glenny (1916-1920) Stanley W. Ray (1920-1925) Paul B. Habans (1924-1930) Dr. Frank R. Gomila (1930-1946)