The Town of Wrightsville Beach was incorporated in March of 1899, but did not have an established police presence until 1916. On February 23, 1916, the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen passed a series of ordinances, as an addendum to the original Act of Incorporation establishing a seasonal “regular” police force. A police officer(s) patrolled the town between June 1st and September 1st of each year and in the winter months they hired “Winter Watchmen” to check on the homes that were generally vacant in the off season.