He was promoted captain on 29 May 1880,[2] and on 9 June 1881 he was appointed adjutant of the Suffolk Artillery Militia (later the 3rd Brigade, Eastern Division, Royal Artillery Militia),[3] holding the position until he was promoted major on 24 November 1885.
[4][5] In 1890 Wodehouse joined the City of London Police as Assistant Commissioner.
In March 1902 he narrowly lost the election (by 95 votes to 100) of the Court of Common Council to replace Sir Henry Smith as Commissioner, although he had been Acting Commissioner since Smith's retirement at Christmas 1901.
[6] He initially agreed to stay as deputy to the new Commissioner, Captain William Nott-Bower, but on 1 October 1902 he transferred to the Metropolitan Police as Assistant Commissioner (Executive), responsible for executive business, supplies and buildings.
[12] He was awarded the King's Police Medal (KPM) in the 1914 Birthday Honours.