Ivan Putilin

Ivan Dmitrievich Putilin was the first chief of the detective police of Saint Petersburg. Not a single major case in those years was investigated without his participation or under his supervision. He belonged to the type of Russian people who left a lasting memory among the citizens of Petersburg thanks to their selflessness and love of the Motherland.

Ivan Putilin was born into the family of a collegiate registrar. The family lived in extreme poverty. At the age of 10, he was enrolled in a district school, where he did not show any special abilities. He began working at 14 and at 20 decided to go to Petersburg. With the assistance of his elder brother, who served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he entered the police in 1850 as a low-ranking office clerk. From the very beginning, Putilin went through a difficult and dangerous school of personal detective work. He often disguised himself as a tramp or laborer and, risking his life, infiltrated criminal groups, learned the plans of thieves and robbers, and visited inns and dens where the homeless and criminal poor lived. In 1889, Putilin retired and settled on an estate in Novoladozhsky Uyezd. Shortly before his death, he wrote his memoirs, Forty Years Among Robbers and Murderers. The place of death and burial has not been established. Ivan Putilin’s service record: On 31 October 1850, appointed as a clerical official to serve in the Economic Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. On 28 July 1854, received his first rank in the Table of Ranks, collegiate registrar. On 13 December 1854, enrolled as junior assistant to the quarter overseer. On 28 May 1856, appointed senior assistant to the quarter overseer. On 31 October 1856, class rank of provincial secretary. On 23 February 1858, entrusted with acting as quarter overseer. On 22 December 1860, collegiate secretary. On 20 February 1863, titular councilor. On 31 December 1866, by order of the Saint Petersburg Chief of Police, temporarily appointed head of the Detective Police. On 1 August 1867, appointed head of the Detective Police. On 21 December 1867, collegiate assessor