Vigiles

Whether or not his force included vigiles from the city is uncertain.

"Someone from the vigiles is here," she was saying.

The vigiles arrived, and, as most policemen would in such circumstances, the first thing they did was to search the girl.

Sabinus and his police were working with the vigiles, trying to copy their techniques.

In an instant the vigiles saw the mortal danger.

Job and his friends (Office of the dead, vigiles)

Oh, by the way, have the local vigiles clean this carrion up before they start to stink."

A major duty of the Vigiles was to enforce preventative measures against conflagrations.

Kleton, go and get the vigiles and let's get this over with.

Malcolm took her to the barracks of the vigiles and explained the function of the special cohort.

The Vigiles patrolled the streets of Rome to watch for fires and served as a police force.

The vigiles, mistaking the sound of horns for a signal that a fire has broken out, burst into the residence (78).

The young Emperor Nero helped to direct the vigiles in fighting the flames.

The commander of the vigiles nodded.

Though it seemed a ridiculous time to deal in pleasantries, Sabinus could now build on the low chuckle of the vigiles.

With mounting, almost hypnotic horror, the palace staff watched the vigiles trying to contain the fire at the base of the Palatine.

The fourth honors Julius Placidianus, the prefect of the vigiles.

Vigiles were stationed at the harbour cities of Ostia and Portus.

So man the siphons, vigiles!

The reality of this was seen in 31 when Tiberius was forced to rely upon the vigiles against the soldiers of his own guard.

An extract from the Vigiles des Morts :

If you know of any such Christians, report them at once to any member of the vigiles or the Praetorian Guard.

Again the vigiles were sweating at their task when Sabinus and his police arrived, but this time he saw that he would have a problem with morale too.

The 7,000 vigiles would doubtless side with Nero--they had been accused of doing a miserable job in containing the flames and were also looking for scapegoats.

A praefectus vigilum, or "Prefect of the Watch" was put in charge of the vigiles, Rome's fire brigade and police.