Baltimore Police 1st went Coatless in 1922

 1923 New York City Newspaper Report Showing a Baltimore Police Officer Coatless in Public
The below pic explains this pic, as does the rest of this article

The First day BPD went Coatless was 18 July 1922 but this was limited to our Traffic officers directing traffic
The remainder of the officers in Baltimore would have to wear their coats until 6 June 1925 when Commissioner Gaither issued an order, saying all members of the police department while working between the hours of 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. may remove their coats and go out in their "Shirt Sleeves" provided they wear a clean, and pressed "White Oxford Shirt," with a Black Tie.

1912 – 15 July 1912 – Officers had been wearing coats on duty and off duty, winter and summer, with no chance of going coatless in site. Marshall Farnan said he would be perfectly willing to have his men wear shirtwaist if it were practicable, but he says he doesn’t think it will be. “In the first place,” said the Marshal, “They wouldn’t have any place to put their pistols. [This was a time before the duty belt, wearing of a sidearm on our hip, back then, the gun was simply slipped into a pocket holster, within their coat] "If he had to wear a shirtwaist," continued the Marshal, "he would have to carry his pistol in his back pocket, and probably but in the pocket even at that, it would attract attention and be hard to get out quickly if he needed it." “Of course, a policeman doesn’t often need his gun, but when he does want it he wants it badly, and he wants a quick." That’s the main reason Farnan was so dead set against shirtwaists. HERE

1922 – 18 July 1922 – Traffic Officers will be allowed to appear coatless on job while wearing attractive white Oxford Shirts. These officers will start wearing long sleeve white Oxford shirts with a low, turned-down collar and a black tie as they preside to direct traffic on their assigned street corners.

1925 – 6 June 1925 – General Charles Gaither issued an order, effective, 6 June 1925 all members of the Baltimore Police Department who are on duty between 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. may remove their coats provided they are wearing a white Oxford shirt, and a black tie. This privilege has been granted for the previous two years for department’s traffic officers.

1956 – 29 June 1956 – Casual But Official, Patrolman Donald Miller displayed the latest open-neck short-sleeve police shirts that would be worn for the remainder of the [1956] summer by Baltimore's officers. Police officials stressed that only a specific model Oxford shirt has been approved, thereby eliminating the danger of patrolmen selecting the more brightly colored type shirts of their liking.

17 July 1922

Coatless Day Era Dawns - For Traffic Cop at Last

Beginning tomorrow 18 July 1922 regulators of vehicles and pedestrians will appear on job in attractive white Oxford shirts. The traffic cops start slinging a dog tomorrow. In white Oxford shirts with low, turned - down collars and natty little black four-in-hands they will preside at the street corners.

The era of the perspiring officer in the Go-Go Boxes is at an end.  Someone has taken pity on them.  Beginning at 8:00 AM tomorrow they will hang up their coats and go to work. Some “friend” of the policemen has donated money for 20 dozen shirts.

Instructions with Shirts

This friend has seen the plight of the cops.  The money was not forthcoming from the city, so he relieved their discomfort.
Today four shirts are being issued to each director of traffic.  With them go instructions as to the way they are to be worn.

On the left breast there is a pocket, over this the police badge will be pinned.  That and the necktie will complete the equipment.
The gift marks one deviation from the custom the police are used to.  They are in the habit of paying for all their equipment.  Small amounts are taken from each pay until these charges are covered.  But the shirts will not cost them a cent.  That isn’t the only reason they will be welcome, however.  If you have noticed any policemen standing in his “place in the sun” during the past few days, you’ll understand why the heavy coats are not popular and why they’re smiling today over the prospect of cooler times to come. Commissioner Gaither refused to divulge the name of the donor.  The money came last week, and Captain Stephen Nelson, of the traffic department, was ordered to get bids on the shirts. [A1]

Coatless Cops Rejected

The patrolman on the beat will continue to wear their coats.  It is pointed out that they have opportunities to avail themselves of the shade now and then.  But the traffic men had no escape from the heat.

6 June 1925

Coats Off in Court

Coatless men were everywhere. In the Court of Common Pleas, Judge W Stuart Symington told the jurors, lawyers and witnesses that they might remove their coats and make themselves as comfortable as possible. All took advantage of the privilege except the Judge himself.

Mr. Gaither issued an order, effective today, 6 June 1925 that members of the police department who are on duty between 8A. M. and 4 P.M. may remove their coats provided they wear white shirts, white colors and black ties. This privilege has been granted for the last two years for Baltimore’s traffic police.

 

Unfortunately there is no better copy of this article available. we will look to see if we can find the original.

29 June 1956

1956 - 29 June 1956 - Casual But Official – Patrolman Donald Miller displays the latest open-neck short-sleeve style in police shirts which will be worn for the remainder of the summer by Baltimore officers. Police officials stress that only a specific model oxford hurt has been approved, thereby eliminating the danger of patrolmen selecting the more brightly colored type shirts of their liking.

A1 - Note, there was once a problem with payroll, and checks couldn't be issued, the commissioner General Charles Gaither, paid every officer on the force out of his pocket, he was re-reimbursed, but he didn't want his guys to go without pay, so he took it out of his own funds. While studying intersections working on a traffic safety board of some kind with Triple-A and other Police Chiefs around the country as they tried to establish a national standard for traffic lights. The commissioner of the NYPD felt two lights was enough, Gaither having studied this on his own, knew we needed a third light, he argued without a middle light, pedestrians, and left turning vehicles will be stranded every time a light changes. So, Gaither watched these police on these corners working the GO-GO - Semaphore and other intersections traffic devises. So, when a donation of 20 dozen shirts come in, it is his way of not just helping those he has watched work and admires, but also making sure they all have the same shirts, and they are hurts he approves of. I would bet money he bought the shirts for his men.

 

  These pics were ran to show officers can look more professional in a uniform without a coat than they do sweating while wearing a coat

 

 POLICE INFORMATION

Copies of: Your Baltimore Police Department Class Photo, Pictures of our Officers, Vehicles, Equipment, Newspaper Articles relating to our department and or officers, Old Departmental Newsletters, Lookouts, Wanted Posters, and or Brochures. Information on Deceased Officers and anything that may help Preserve the History and Proud Traditions of this agency. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

222-3333
Emergency Number

 

20 May 1987

Emergency Number - Call Police at 222-3333

The City Police Department's communication bureau will start an expanded operation at 8 A.M. tomorrow. Citizens in distress are urged to call the police on the new EMERGENCY NUMBER: 222-3333 Police officials, anxious to put the new nerve center in operation, predict that persons calling for police assistance will get "quick telephone response and prompt service."

Two of the major criticisms made by the International Association of Chiefs of Police last year was that the public had difficulty contacting the department on its overloaded telephone circuits and officers were slow in arriving at trouble areas.

150 More Radio Cars

To correct both problems the department has increased from five to ten the number of emergency telephone lines to communications, and added about 150 radio cars to its patrol fleet. In addition, patrol cars will be dispatched on four frequencies instead of the present two. Along with the increased number of dispatch frequencies and the additional emergency telephone lines the communications bureau has added more than a dozen men to operate the modernized system. The over-all change was precipitated by a general increase in calls for service, the added mobility of the department and a new and more accurate reporting and-records-keeping system which is gradually being phased into the department, district by district.

More Arrests Forecast

An official in the Planning and Research Division said that surveys have revealed that by culling the response time- how long it takes the police to get to the scene of reported crime the department will increase its arrest percentage. The cost of the new communications center was greatly reduced by the use of the department's maintenance crew which has worked on a crash schedule for the past four months to have it completed by tomorrow's deadline. The entire radio system was designed and installed by departmental personnel assigned to the communications bureau. The multi-position console was fashioned and constructed by the maintenance crew, which also ripped out partitions of four rooms and a hall to create one large room in which to locate the new facility. One official estimated that the department may have saved close to $200,000 by drawing on the talents of its members.

DIAL 222-3333
Officers man the new Communication Bureau at Central District Police Headquarters.
The emergency number under the new system, 222-3333, and went into use on 20 May 1967.

Emergency Number
Timeline

1921 - 4 March 1921 - Marine Unit Radios Installed - Commissioner Gaither announces telephone-radio communication from his Marine Unit. He announced he would be using Navy surplus telephone-radios. The radios would be installed in Deputy Marshal George G. Henry’s office, as well as both police boats the Lannan and the Carter. These were set up as one-way radio’s in which the Marshal could pass information on the two police boats. The boats could then go to one of eight police call boxes strategically placed on shore. It would be nearly two years later in June of 1923 that they would have the system converted over to a Two-way radio system. In this instance, they used the most current military surplus radio equipment, set first in the Robert D. Carter, and most of the Fire Department’s Fire boats with more boats to follow. Note: On 4 March 1933 - Radio Communication was established for the first radio communications system between Patrol Vehicles and a Central Dispatcher went into service using the same surplus telephone-radios Commissioner Gaither picked up for the Marine unit nearly 10 years earlier all of this first suggested to the Board of Estimates in September of 1931. 

1933 - 4 March 1933 - The First Radio Communications system between Patrol Vehicles and Headquarters took place while testing between the Northern District [Keswick & 34th] from Central Dispatch, Broadcasting from Police Headquarters. Everything went on the air for the first time at noon on 4 March 1933 - Station WPFH  (Police Broadcasting Station - Spent the morning making the tests using the 19 vehicles that had been equipped with receivers. An Acronym was made for WPFH - Wonderful Protection For Homes- Note Commissioner Gaither first suggested this system to the Board of Estimates in September of 1931

1967 - 21 May 1967 at 8 am, Baltimore Police started a new emergency police number, it started in the Central District where those with an emergency were instructed to dial 222-3333 This number would remain in use until 1 March 1985 when the Baltimore Police officially began its use of the 911 emergency call system. Switching from SA 7-1200 to contact police in the event of an emergency to dialing 222-3333, this new number would last from this date in 1967 until 1 March 1985 when our 911 system was implemented  

1971 - 27 July 1971 - the Community Relations and Youth Divisions were combined into a new division known as the Community Services Division. The creation of this division and the resulting centralization of Administrative functions provides an effective channel of communication between the Police Officer and the community he serves. The major thrust of our expanded Community Services function is aimed at our young people. It is the Division's job to keep clear the channel of communication between officers and the community. The accomplishment of this mission is aided by the division's two Summer Camp operations located at Camp Perkins and Camp Ritchie. Also, our Officer Friendly Program geared for its first full year of operation. 

1972 - 30 August 1972  - To convert the department's mobile communications system to more versatile portable transceivers and to incorporate 450 MHZ channels. The portable transceivers greatly increase police service to the citizenry by reducing response time for emergency calls, by providing a uniform communications system for command personnel to direct personnel in emergency situations, and by promoting a more efficient and safer foot patrol coverage. The incorporation of 450MHZ channels created an even more efficient communications ay1tem by allowing more practical frequency allocations. 

1975 - 19 September 1975, the department in cooperation with the State's Attorney's Office and various taxicab companies became part of the "Civilian Radio Taxi Patrol" in an effort to increase police service to the citizens of Baltimore. If, while on duty, a cab driver, whose vehicle is identified by a "Civilian Radio Taxi Patrol" shield on the right and left rear-quarter panels, obaerve1 anything demanding immediate police attention, he notifies his dispatcher, who in turn calls the Communication Division via a special Hotline. This program is another example of the department's efforts to involve the citizens of Baltimore in a united fight against crime. 

1982 - 11 January 1982 - The department began it's Telephone Reporting system telephone reporting unit, police will not argue with citizens who specifically request police service. According to Dennis Hill, the Police Emergency Number, 222·3333, will remain the same. If a person calls this number and requests a patrol car, one will be sent within an average of six minutes.

1985 - 1 March 1985 - Baltimore City Police officially begins it's 911 emergency call number, a program that was in the works since the first call came in at 11:36 am from someone that had locked their keys their car. Prior to 911 emergency calls went into 222-3333 and non-emergency calls went into 396-1111 

1996 - 2 Oct 1996 - Baltimore becomes the first Police Department in the country to use the Non-Emergency 311 system. We had only started using 911 11 years earlier on 1 March 1985.

P.O. Box 222-3333

Click HERE or on the Above Article to see full size article

The Baltimore Sun Monday

4 March 1968

1-800-223-2525

In 1985, 911 comes to Baltimore

15 February 1985, Baltimore Sun reports 911 to begin in 1 March 1985

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll 

 

Page 2

 

2007
Alfred L. Parks  02/24/07
Arthur F. Meeks  02/06/07
Capt. James S.M. DiPino 01/27/2007
Carroll Wise  04/16/07
Daniel Jonczak  12/10/07
Douglas Coster 05/23/07
Edward S. Bohager  02/04/07
Eugene Price  05/01/07
Francis L. Miller  10/28/07
George B. Mortimer, Jr.  04/11/07
George W. Nitsh  11/21/07
George Watkins  08/06/07
George Williams  12/19/07
Harry Hilnbrand  08/16/07
Jason Smith, Jr.  08/20/07
John Cunningham  04/18/07
John Distefano  12/02/07
John E. Markell  09/11/07
John J. Mcgee  07/18/07
John M. Burford  02/03/07
John P. Matthews  12/28/07
Juanita Cooper  09/22/07
Kenneth J. Morgan  09/21/07
Lawrence J. Malat  04/07/07
Louis A. Brandt  03/17/07
Martin E. Freeburger   03/16/07
Maurice Weisberg  02/21/07
Paul Shrader 12/29/07
Robert Ewing  03/01/07
Robert M. Kuhn  07/26/07
Robert Prescott  09/15/07
Stanley Brown  11/30/07
Thomas Riley, Iii  05/31/07
Vernon Dranbauer, Jr.  03/04/07
Vincent T. Beck   02/19/07
William Delahanty  11/18/07
William Depaola 04/06/07
William G. Bory  04/08/07
William Seibert  09/20/07

2006
Arthur Simonsen  12/20/06
Charles Eyler, Jr.  02/06/06
Charles George, Sr.  09/12/06
Charles H. Lucas  06/08/06
Charles W. Kurth  05/16/06
Claude H. Lamb  04/17/06
Donald E. Barnett  10/08/06
Donald E. Oakjones  12/20/06
Edward Hamilton, Jr.   03/19/06
Edwin L. Harvey  09/17/06
Elmer D. Mccoy  06/22/06
Elmer L. L'ecuyer  02/18/06
Ernest Gardner, Jr.  03/13/06
Ernie D. Meadows  05/02/06
Floyd Rowzee  11/14/06
George Carmichael  02/28/06
George E. Bewley  12/21/06
George Wehn, Sr.  02/22/06
Gharles G. Jones, Jr.  03/22/06
Harry G. Metzbower 03/18/06
Harvey Poseno  09/15/06
Herbert Cline, Sr.  05/29/06
Herbert Dowling   10/13/06
Herbert Ryan  07/07/06
John Ryan  12/23/06
John Streett  05/06/06
John Warren  01/10/06
Joseph B. Lovett, Jr.  12/22/06
Joseph C. Brady  05/02/06
Joseph J.F. Beling, Jr  09/21/06
Joseph L. Palmerino, Sr.  07/30/06
Joseph Sullivan  12/24/06
Leo Barclay   11/29/06
Leonard Byrd  05/19/06
Lloyd Green  01/01/06
Melvin J. Lipinski  05/01/06
Paul S. Miller   09/21/06
Robert H. List  5/25/06
Robert Springer, Sr.  01/09/06
Thomas Dunn, Ii  2006
Vernon Gray  06/21/06
Vernon Green  05/30/06
Wilbert Sisco, Sr.  05/23/06
William Hilseberg  03/15/06
William M. Mccallister  04/12/06
William Sekinger, Jr.  07/31/06

2005
Bruce W. Bull  05/16/05
Charles M. Markiewicz  04/14/05
Derek Snyder   03/12/05
Donald E. Morgan  01/11/05
Everett Voelker  12/11/05
Frank Grunder  06/04/05
Gary L. Lippy  10/06/05
Glen E. Meadows 12/02/05
James A. Kelly  01/08/05
James A. Mccloskey 10/11/05
James L. Bowling  01/03/05
James Stevens  02/06/05
John Plantholt 11/17/05
Johnw. Laufert  02/28/05
Joseph H. Longo  07/19/05
Larry Triplett  12/02/05
Naomi Reichelt  09/24/05
Richard Thayer  01/28/05
Robert E. Nagle, Sr.  08/11/05
Rodney George  08/10/05
Ronald C. Griffith  11/08/05
Russell France  12/10/05
Thomas Deangelis  08/26/05
William Clayton, Jr.  12/11/05
William Spradbrow  03/21/05
William T. Clark  08/15/05
Malcolm Davis - 2005

2004
Albert Smith, Jr.  04/18/04
Alexander J. Pelsinsky, Jr.  12/30/04
Bernard J. Newberger  02/07/04
David A. Lehman  05/01/04
David Popilok  01/29/04
Donald Chase  09/23/04
Donald Reedy  01/11/04
Edmond Helm  02/03/04
Edward G. Johnson  04/30/04
Edward Rock  04/25/04
James Whipp 4/29/15
Elizabeth Cooke 06/12/04
James Watkins  12/04
Jesse H. Benson, Jr.  01/20/04
John D. Evans  01/09/04
John J. Bryl  12/29/04
John R. Mitcheltree  08/09/04
John Swann   03/05/04
Lawrence J. Machovec  08/03/04
Lee Beauchamp 03/20/04
Richard Martin 12/2004
Martin Whitehill  12/26/04
Peggy A Lewis 06/03/04
Richard T. Palmer  01/09/04
Robert M. Leftwich  09/04/04
Ronald J. La Martina  10/24/04
Stanley Zawadzki   06/23/04
Thomas Garner  03/11/04
Waldemar S. Bradshaw  01/01/04
Wilbur T. Langville  11/18/04
William Cooper, Sr. 11/16/04
William Surratt  05/19/04
William Treherne  11/18/04

2003
Adam Danielak 02/28/03
Carl Flemke  05/26/03
Charles A. Parscal  11/14/03
Charles C. Owens, Jr.  02/11/03
Chester Evans  12/21/03
Elmer Weidenhoft  08/11/03
Francis Schmitz   09/23/03
Frank Wolchik  02/07/03
George J. Leichling   03/15/03
George Tiburzi   10/29/03
Gerard C. Brandner  09/07/03
James C. Osborne   07/13/03
James E. Billing  02/22/03
John M. Nagel   01/02/03
John Wagner  11/22/03
Julian Robinson  05/20/03
Justus L. Long  12/22/03
Kenneth White   04/30/03
Lawrence Grabowski  09/29/03
Lawrence Tawney 06/20/03
Leon Tomlin   01/15/03
Leonard Broseker  01/31/03
Lester W. Boring  02/05/03
Marshall Davis   08/28/03
Maurice Epple  01/09/03
Michael E. Lee 03/5/03
Norbert Fialkowski  02/11/03
Richard B. Newnam   07/23/03
Richard Wojtek  04/18/03
Robert E. Mccauley  05/14/03
Russel E. Mills  04/24/03
Sophia Dziuba  08/20/03
Theodore Staab 12/14/03
Thomas H. Black, Jr.  07/08/03
Thomas Rose  12/27/03
William B. Bolesta  02/18/03

2002
Allen Rogers   08/29/02
Anthony J. Monczewski   11/02/02
Charles Haughey  03/29/02
Donald Dyson, Sr.   01/03/02
Donald Stevens  05/03/02
Eugene C. Brukiewa    01/23/02
Floyd R. Lilly, Sr.   08/15/02
Francis Cordwell  10/21/02
Francis Ernst  06/03/02
Francis M. Lingner   11/10/02
Frank A. Stallings  11/11/02
Frank Dressel  12/01/02
Frederick W. Neubauer, Sr.  04/03/02
Furrie Cousins  09/14/02
George Deares  03/25/02
Harry J. Kaplan   02/17/02
James Rollins   02/24/02
James Willis   09/09/02
John W. Brawner,  Jr.  05/09/02
Joseph Dalton   10/15/02
Joseph S. Grossman   02/17/02
Lawrence Weichert   06/18/02
Louis Distefano  03/18/02
Luther Robinson   10/14/02
Mary Stout   10/28/02
Mcneal Brockington, Jr.  03/29/02
Michael Crutchfield  04/28/02
Norman Pomrenke  08/11/02
Robert Armentrout  04/12/02
Robert P. Day  03/27/02
Roy Spruill   08/23/02
Wayne M. Mullaney  07/19/02
William Law, Jr.  05/25/02

2001
Alva H. Boley  09/17/01
Anthony Williams, Sr.  04/17/01
Bernard Sanzone  01/29/01
Bingham Hunt  02/22/01
Bruce H. Patten  04/11/01
Charles Beam   11/11/01
Charles Reuling  11/18/01
Clarence Fetrow  02/18/01
Collis M. Blow  02/19/01
Dale White  08/25/01
Donald Posey  04/09/01
Ethyle Diven  08/19/01
Flan Couch, Jr.  01/16/01
George Wockenfuss  03/16/01
Griffin Dobyns  04/16/01
Harry Harper  07/06/01
Henry Roth  05/28/01
Herman Heidel  12/16/01
Joan Barnard  08/07/01
John D. Perdue   07/16/01
John E. Bunker  03/29/01
John Elton  03/30/01
John P. Boyter, Sr.  07/15/01
John Scales   03/27/01
John W. Morseberger  12/10/01
Paul Wieber  11/22/01
Robert Weimer, Sr.  11/23/01
Ronald Hyde  03/18/01
Ronald Readmond  05/05/01
Thomas Gummer  07/17/01
Walter Gryctz  05/28/01
William Gerbes  05/17/01
William I. Kearney  02/09/01
William J. Pennington  01/04/01
William J.Ennd  10/05/01
William W. Mcmeins, Sr.  06/12/01

2000
Albert Sharpe   02/14/00
Darrell Duggins   05/10/00
Earl Carter  12/21/00
Edwin Emich   03/13/00
Ernest A. Buck  05/16/00
Erwin Berger  11/09/00
Eugene Crane  10/04/00
Francis Donohue  07/16/00
Frank J. Lanahan  06/30/00
Frank Seglinski   01/08/00
Frank Trapasso  11/03/00
Gardner Stanke  10/29/00
George M. Montgomery  05/17/00
Harmar Hiltz  01/30/00
Harold Dent  07/28/00
Henry Herold    04/17/00
James Babka, Jr.  10/29/00
James Cvach   03/25/00
James Smith   02/22/00
John E. Mitchell  3/16/00
John P. Clark  12/05/00
Joseph F. Leyh  09/20/00
Leonard Santivasci  02/22/00
Louis Baronella  12/08/00
Lynn Ayers  02/14/00
Melvin Freeman  10/06/00
Patricia A. Mullen  09/08/00
Patrick Hagerty  02/19/00
Richard Heidecker  12/24/00
Robert Hardesty, Sr.  06/12/00
Robert M. Birney  01/16/00
Thomas Hennessey  04/18/00
Valentine W. Markowski  06/19/00
William T. Kelly   01/19/00

1999
Anthony J. Blaszak  03/28/99
August B. Loetz   04/09/99
Carroll E. Lloyd, Sr.  08/22/99
Carter Spencer  12/07/99
Charles E. Kearney   01/31/99
Charles Podzimek, Jr.   01/27/99
Charles Wenzel  01/18/99
Donald S. Mckay  09/29/99
Edward S. Kalmbacher  08/26/99
Frank Wrzosek  08/27/99
George Eble   02/04/99
George Hasson   03/23/99
James P. Minderlein  02/04/99
James Schultz   12/30/99
Jerome A. Koch  12/29/99
John Canning   04/28/99
John E. Mckinley, Jr.  12/25/99
John J. Mcnally, Jr.  10/01/99
John Wheltle  12/21/99
Joseph Thomas  05/17/99
Michael Venglarik   01/18/99
Phillip Karcesky, Jr.   04/08/99
Phillip Smith   03/08/99
Robert E. Clarke  03/19/99
Robert J, Buettner, Jr.  10/22/99
Robert Zeinog  02/28/99
Thomas Whalen  11/11/99
William F. Smith  10/27/99
William H. Ault  06/14/99

1998
Arthur Dewitt   05/31/98
Carroll Degenhard   01/19/98
Daniel A. Boniarski, Jr.   03/25/98
Daniel Baginski   04/21/98
Donald Higgins   03/07/98
Edward J. Mezewski   02/05/98
Edward Weichert   01/16/98
Edwin L. Lawrence  12/3/98
Francis Earhardt   09/11/98
Frank J. Kunkoski   7/24/98
Frank W. Machovec  09/16/98
George Cook   07/26/98
Henry A. Kachnowich   09/29/98
Howard Schisler  07/30/98
James L. Nugent    05/07/98
James Santmyer    05/20/98
James W. Kline   06/26/98
James Wells   12/23/98
John Carberry   06/13/98
John H. Buenger  12/4/98
John Haag    05/29/98
John Heddinger   07/01/98
John L. Palmere    04/11/98
John M. Murphy   07/04/98
John Simms  07/26/98
John Stocker    04/25/98
John Whitehill   05/13/98
John Younger, Jr.   11/07/98
Joseph Folio, Sr.   05/03/98
Joseph Garrity   12/30/98
Joseph Kaczmarek, Jr.   07/08/98
Kenneth L. Burke   04/12/98
Leroy Dedmon   06/09/98
Maurice Dungan   01/11/98
Michael Rogich   07/14/98
Milton Ballantine  10/26/98
Murrill J. Murray  09/20/98
Oliver Thomas Murdock   11/27/98
Owen Smallwood  09/05/98
Ralph Hudson  11/30/98
Robert C. Ashmun  12/9/98
Scottie D. Mcdonald   09/06/98
Stanley Heddings    03/19/98
Starkie M. Lewis   06/01/98
Thomas Sullivan   12/17/98
Victor Gerczak  12/24/98
Wilbur C. Miller   02/14/98
William Armstrong   08/28/98
William Curry    07/05/98
William Honeycutt   06/98
William Pinkerton, Iii   07/23/98
William Scott  08/09/1998

1997
Arthur L. Butler   10/07/97
Charles Wancowicz   01/22/97
Cleo Hord   01/09/97
Edmund Welsh   07/31/97
Edward Dunn, Sr.  05/02/97
Francis Elder   05/31/97
Francis Ruppert   04/25/97
Herman Earle   02/03/97
Ivory C. Byrd, Sr.  05/19/97
James Grace   09/12/97
James T. Starr   02/08/97
James W. Nelson, Jr.   01/11/97
John E. Brewster   04/17/97
John Scales  08/05/97
Joseph B. Cole  07/20/97
Joseph S. Kimmel   01/24/97
Kenneth Hornberger   04/18/97
Leo Surdyka   03/03/97
Lewis J. O'neal   06/26/97
Marion J. Buchacz  08/04/97
Ned Schleig  05/20/97
Raymond Brill   02/10/97
Raymond Wratchford   10/27/97
Richard Catania  12/09/97
Robert Hall, Sr.   07/03/97
Theodore H. Johnson, Jr.   12/03/97
Thomas A. Haber  06/15/97
Thomas A. Mason  09/19/97
Thomas C. Green  11/19/97
Thomas Shillenn   01/24/97
William Ghant  03/19/97

1996
Arden G. Livingston  04/18/96
Bernard Hartlove  04/25/96
Carlton Frazier, Sr.  12/31/96
Frank Trcka   02/17/96
George Gilbert   02/28/96
Gus A. Drakos   10/21/96
Henry Eckstorm   07/12/96
Henry Zukowski   09/12/96
Howard Stansbury  12/31/96
James B. Mills   02/14/96
James G. Joyce  12/01/96
James Harris   02/13/96
James L. Mcmasters  04/03/96
John Sewell   08/15/1996
Joseph B. Bisson 06/14/96
Joseph J. Jones   01/14/96
Kenneth Price Johnson  10/12/96
Leroy Dillow  12/13/96
Matthew Rudolph  09/21/96
Nelson F. Mckenna   09/06/96
Philip Buratt 06/27/96
Philip Farace   02/29/96
Robert Ritter, Jr.   01/01/96
Stephen Ches, Jr.   03/07/96
Walter D. Stahl 04/30/96
William Craig   09/28/96

1995
Adolph A. Bucci   02/10/95
Albert Rozanski   12/22/95
Bernard Digelman   08/06/95
Carl Reichelt   06/01/95
Douglas Fulton  07/23/95
Earl Potter   04/22/95
Edmund J. Panowicz  02/11/95
Gordon Derrenberger  06/25/95
James Finn   02/25/95
John Grams    08/19/95
John J. Lorme   10/16/95
John P. Donohue  06/24/95
Joseph Engle    10/30/95
Joseph Porter   07/24/95
Joseph Reynolds   03/14/95
Leroy Hayden   08/20/95
Michael Batson 11/01/95
Nicholas Latanishen   04/20/95
Oliver L. Beck   10/24/95
Paul High   01/27/95
Paul Serio, Sr.   05/02/1995
Robert Anderson   11/05/95
Robert B. Leutbecher   12/13/95
Roberta Dehuff   11/29/95
Ronald M. Berends  01/8/95
Stanley L. Kusak  09/30/95
Terry Tiell   07/14/95
Thomas Cassidy  07/05/95
Thomas Sears   03/08/1995
Timothy Patterson   12/02/95
William Derrenberger  07/01/95

1994
Allen Griffin, Jr.  06/27/94
Charles Simonsen  06/08/1994
Connie Opolko, Jr,  11/06/94
Cortez Pickering   09/27/94
Daniel Siegert, Sr.  06/29/94
Earl C. Mathias, Jr.   01/31/94
Edward F. Mccarron   08/04/94
Francis Coll   08/13/94
Francis N. May  12/08/94
Frederick J. Oster   10/14/94
George Schwallenberg  02/07/94
Henry T. Beaudet  05/21/94
James Aquilla  07/11/94
James Uhlik   12/03/94
John B. Smith, Sr.   08/25/94
John Decker  03/24/94
John Downey   11/22/94
John Preis   02/04/94
Joseph Flynn  08/01/94
Joseph Heming   02/03/94
Joseph Jennings   10/10/94
Leon Gray  05/28/94
Leon Paone  05/25/94
Mary Dawson   01/18/94
Michael J. Beere  9/20/94
Nathan R. Lamoreaux   11/29/94
Norbert Wiegard  12/24/94
Norman Weber  06/05/94
Olwine Craig   05/17/94
Paul S. Mcmeekin  12/03/94
Robert L. Leeman   02/01/94
Stanley A. Kalwa  12/19/94
Theodore A. Miller, Sr.   10/07/94
Theodore J, Brown, Jr.   09/26/94
Vincent Kozieracki   08/05/94
Walter R. Mina, Jr.  08/11/94
Wilbur Baldwin   09/06/94
William M. Thieman   04/04/94
William Raivel   11/07/94
William T. Mccarthy  06/12/94

1993
Albert Pessagno   06/09/93
Anthony A. Imbrogulio  12/30/93
Charles Gallagher   11/30/93
Edward F. Blaney   09/22/93
Edward L. Bond, Jr.    02/93
Edward Ruby   12/06/93
Edward Schmaus   04/07/93
Frederick A. Nitch    02/01/93
Gregory A. Panowicz, Sr.   12/30/93
Jacob E. Meyers   04/11/93
James Custis    07/12/1993
James Hallameyer   10/05/93
James Saunders   11/13/93
John Hill   04/14/93
John T. Johnson    03/20/93
Joseph A. Mcmann   04/17/93
Joseph Campanaro   05/28/93
Joseph G. Michael  09/27/93
Joseph S. Knauer  12/23/93
Joseph Tomshack   06/16/93
Leonard Houck    01/93
Lola Pauline Newberger   06/27/93
Marion W. Bennett   01/93
Michael Heaps   08/14/93
Ronald Clark   06/15/93
William L. Burch    01/18/93

1992
Edward Sprucebank   04/10/92
Henry F. Long    11/08/92
Herbert E. Airey   12/04/92
Howard T. Bright   04/02/92
James E. Smith    08/16/92
James Hill  01/92
James Stromberg   03/19/92
John A. Betz, Sr.    04/07/92
John C. Nagle    10/20/92
Joseph B. Mullin   02/25/92
Julius Richburg   01/09/92
Martin Ries, Sr.    01/26/92
Milton Freund, Sr.   07/03/92
Nathaniel Ponder   01/92
Paul Reinsfelder  01/07/92
Richard Arnold   11/03/92
Robert Ross    06/06/92
William Dickerson   10/11/92

1991
Albert Doda  10/25/91
Anthony M. Jarowski   11/04/91
Casmir J. Kielek   11/30/91
Edward Yanchoris  02/03/91
Frank H. Mills, Jr.  05/11/91
Frank Reitterer  01/02/91
George F. Hoyt   11/18/91
George Schnabel  03/18/91
George W. Bowen   11/13/91
Herbert Armstrong 04/09/91
Howard A. Mueller  11/08/91
Hugh Bannon  01/12/91
James D. Buckmaster, Jr.  07/07/91
James W. Lister  07/15/91
Milton N. Bruchey  06/10/91
Raymond Ratcliffe  04/16/91
Richard Ayers  03/11/91
William Hughes  03/18/91
William R. Kackritz  12/14/91

1990
Albert T. Lobos  3/28/90
Carmelo Rizzo  08/09/90
Cecil Patterson  01/20/90
Clarence Roy  07/90
Edmund A. Lesniewski  7/20/90
Edward Tilghman  06/01/90
Elmer Moore, Sr.  08/24/90
Francis R. Kavanaugh  06/10/90
Frederick H. Krueger  11/26/90
George M. Paulus  06/7/90
Gerald Gebhart  07/28/90
John Lingner  06/19/90
John Robertson 12/90
John Schwartz  11/25/90
Leroy D. Kidwell  05/16/90
Melvin Gallion, Sr.  01/17/90
Patrick Fitzpatrick  05/09/90
Paul Dever  06/29/90
Raymond Snyder  07/29/90
Thomas Baranski  05/30/90
William Fogarty  09/22/90
William T. Bell   2/21/90 
William F Kincaid 11/12/90
Edward William Domzalski 1990

1989
Albert Greaver  03/19/89
Albert Wilkens 11/21/89
Calvin K. Mccleese  03/05/89
Charles E. Newberry  03/13/89
Dominic J. Matteo  01/22/89
Donald Hranicka   03/29/89
Edward S. Mccarthy  09/15/89
Frederick Moog  12/20/89
Joseph Wondolowski   10/17/89
Julius Lewandowski  03/15/89
Lamar Schleig  12/17/89
Norman B. Mike   09/08/89
Norman Taylor  05/07/89
Randall D. Mallon  07/27/89
Raymond L. Klein  05/15/89
Waring “Tex” Henderson  06/15/89

1988
Ernest Anacker  04/22/88
John C. Mcmanus   12/10/88
Joseph C. Brown  11/14/88
Salvatore Tiburzi   03/07/88
William C. Mack  05/12/88
Harry Spahn, Sr. 1988

1987
Benedict A. Maciejlzyk  08/17/87
Charles P. Mckenzie  08/01/87
Charles Von Nordeck   06/87
George J. Brutsche, Jr.  03/16/87
John A. Brazil   12/05/87
Leroy Moody  11/23/87
Nicholas Woren   05/87
Paul Zechman   08/87
William W. Mullineaux  03/10/87

1986
Bobby Jones  12/86
Samuel Venturella 5/86
Carl D. Mckinney  12/86
Charles L. Orth  12/03/86
Donald H. Miller  12/86

1985
Robert H. Brown  11/13/85

1984
George J. Markelonis   12/1980
Paul C. Kriewald  05/84

Unknown Date Of Death   
Alan Cross
Alex Banyas
Arthur Harris
Barry Lee
Charles Cookus
Charles Harold
David T. Cookus
Donald Hughes
Edward Eunick
Frank Cicero
Frederick A. Kestler, Jr.
Frederick P. Buckmaster
George W. Miller
Gilbert Schoff
Harry Gross
Henry Edwards
Henry Schmidt
Hugh Danner
James Granger
John R. Jones
Lawrence Hughes
Leroy Williams
Paul Coster
Gilbert Schoff
Reginald Gooden
Richard B. Martin
Robert H. Jenkins
Robert Wirth
Stanley Dziewulski
Vernon Crispens
Vincent Downey
Walter Cody

~1979~ 

Officer Elton Dougherty

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: January 1979 

Officer Harry Horz

Formerly Assigned: Casual Section

Date of death: January 12, 1979 

Lineman Gordon Glatzel

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division

Date of death: January 19, 1979 

Officer William E. Milholland

Formerly Assigned: Southern District

Date of death: February 18, 1979 

Officer John H. Spencer

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District

Date of death: March 2, 1979 

Sergeant Joseph G. Coram

Formerly Assigned: N/A

Date of death: March 3, 1979 

Officer Joseph K. Carey

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District

Date of death: March 1979 

Officer John Cossentino

Formerly Assigned: Traffic/Mounted Unit

Date of death: April 8, 1979 

Sergeant Wilbert Sudmeier

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: April 16, 1979 

Officer Edwin C. Carter

Formerly Assigned: Applicant Investigation

Date of death: May 25, 1979 

Officer Pearce Canby

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: June 2, 1979 

Officer Otto Greul

Formerly Assigned Traffic Division:

Date of death: June 19, 1979 

Officer Emory B. Warfield

Formerly Assigned: Southern District

Date of death: June 25, 1979 

Sergeant Luther K. Hartman

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: June 25, 1979 

Officer John P. Dougherty

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: June 27, 1979 

Officer Walter N. Faulkner, Sr.

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District

Date of death: July 10, 1979 

Officer John Mox

Formerly Assigned: Southern District

Date of death: July 26, 1979 

Officer Eugene Johnson

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District

Date of death: August 1, 1979 

Officer Daniel Carroll

Community Services Division

Date of death: August 13, 1979 

Officer Leo Raymond Kowalewski

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: August 15, 1979 

Officer William D. Albers

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District

Line of Duty Death: August 19, 1979 

Officer William J. Biglen

Formerly Assigned: Chief of Patrol’s Office

Date of death: September 1, 1979 

Officer Stephen Czapski

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District

Date of death: September 6, 1979 

Officer Harry Magaha

Formerly Assigned: Printing Unit

Date of death: September 13, 1979 

Sergeant Anthony Wayekunas

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District

Date of death: September 14, 1979 

Lieutenant Carlton H. Manuel

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D.

Date of death: August 28,1979 

Officer Herman Talbot

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District

Date of death: September 19, 1979 

Officer Franklin J. (Barney) Weaver

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: September 27, 1979 

Officer John P. Scott

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: September 27, 1979 

Officer Charles L. Gatch

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division

Date of death: October 8, 1979 

Officer Phillip L. Gowl

Formerly Assigned: Tactical Section

Date of death: October 23, 1979 

Officer Charles F. Rout, Sr.

Formerly Assigned: western District

Date of death: October 31, 1979 

~1978~ 

Head Clerk Agatha Wilburn

Formerly Assigned: Central Records Division

Date of death: January 14, 1978 

Captain Joseph A. Baroch

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: January 17, 1978 

Officer Milton Arczynski

Formerly Assigned: Chief of Patrol’s Office

Date of death: January 22, 1978 

Officer John T. Childs

Formerly Assigned: Youth Division

Date of death: February 7, 1978 

Chauffeur John M. Sibol

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: February 15, 1978 

Officer Edgar J. Rumpf

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Line of Duty Death: February 16, 1978 

Officer Howard W. Silk

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: February 17, 1978 

Officer Clarence Stewart

Formerly Assigned: Southern District

Date of death: February 21, 1978 

Detective Charles H. Scroggs

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./Auto Theft

Date of death: February 23, 1978 

Lieutenant Clarence Wehage

Formerly Assigned: Old Northeast District

Date of death: February 23, 1978 

Officer Joseph J. Palmere, Sr.

Formerly Assigned: Traffic/Mounted Unit

Date of death: March 3, 1978 

Officer James C. Shipley

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: April 1978 

Officer Frederick H. Beafeld

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: April 4, 1978 

Officer Joseph A. Herget

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: April 7, 1978 

Sergeant Robert J. Barlow

Formerly Assigned: Tactical Section

Date of death: April 23, 1978 

Officer Harry E. Bichy

Formerly Assigned: Southern District/Communications Division

Date of death: May 9, 1978 

Crossing Guard Thelma Willey

Formerly Assigned: Western District

Date of death: May 31, 1978 

Officer Donald Jarrett

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: June 7, 1978 

Officer Joseph A. Meehan

Formerly Assigned: Foot Traffic

Date of death: June 10, 1978 

Officer Bernard A. Zilinski

Formerly Assigned: E & T

Date of death: June 10, 1978 

Sergeant Stanley Nicodem

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: June 19, 1978 

Officer Frederick Fitzberger

Formerly Assigned: Old Northwest District

Date of death: July 6, 1978 

Computer Operator Ernestine Williams

Formerly Assigned: Central Records Division

Date of death: July 6, 1978 

Lieutenant Nickolas Cortezl

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: July 9, 1978 

Sergeant Albert Fortenbaugh

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: August 2, 1978 

Officer Richard Jones

Formerly Assigned: Western District

Date of death: August 5, 1978 

Sergeant Robert Weaver

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./Homicide

Date of death: August 7, 1978 

Sergeant Earl Staples

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: August 9, 1978 

Officer William E. Harrison

Formerly Assigned: Traffic/Mounted Unit

Date of death: August 10, 1978 

Officer Charles M. Smith

Formerly Assigned: Purchasing Supply Room

Date of death: September 2, 1978 

Officer Henry F. Wenger

Formerly Assigned: HQ.

Date of death: September 16, 1978 

Lieutenant Stephen Plowman

Formerly Assigned: Western District

Date of death: September 21, 1978 

Lieutenant Andrew A. Aldon

Formerly Assigned: Tactical Section

Date of death: September 26, 1978 

Officer William Ashford

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: October 3, 1978 

Officer Charles Rada

Formerly Assigned: Western District

Date of death: October 4, 1978 

Sergeant John W. McKenna

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District

Date of death: October 16, 1978 

Officer Dennis Elkins

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District

Date of death: October 24, 1978 

Officer Nelson F. Bell

Formerly Assigned: Tactical Section

Line of Duty Death: October 27, 1978 

Officer Frank J. Zaruba

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District

Date of death: November 1, 1978 

Clerk Joseph W. Welzant

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District

Date of death: November 6, 1978 

Sergeant Daniel A. Boniarski

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: November 6, 1978 

Sergeant William G. Windham

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: November 16, 1978 

Officer William F. Weiss

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: November 18, 1978 

Officer Walter Kraska

Formerly Assigned: E.C.U.

Date of death: November 21, 1978 

Officer John Golebieski

Formerly Assigned: Tactical/Building Security

Date of death: November 22, 1978 

Officer Henry V. Mitchem

Formerly Assigned: Tactical Section

Date of death: November 22, 1978 

~1977~ 

Officer Gerald Junk

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: January 9, 1977 

Inspector Julian I. Forrest

Formerly Assigned: HQ.

Date of death: January 26, 1977 

Officer William Fisher

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: February 2, 1977 

Sergeant Melvin Montgomery

Formerly Assigned: Northern District

Date of death: February 5, 1977 

Officer Charles Jones

Formerly Assigned: Tactical Section

Date of death: February 6, 1977 

Officer Benjamin Stickell

Formerly Assigned: Northeast Annex

Date of death: February 6, 1977 

Sergeant Herman Zaras

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District

Date of death: February 12, 1977 

Officer Dennis Sweren

Formerly Assigned: Traffic February 12, 1977

Date of death: February 12, 1977 

Officer Henry J. Yockel

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: February 17, 1977 

Sergeant Joseph H. Mcanally

Formerly Assigned: Pine Street

Date of death: February 19, 1977 

Officer Harry J. Silk

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: February 19, 1977 

Sergeant James W. DeVoe

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: February 24, 1977 

Officer John J. Zeiler

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: February 25, 1977 

Sergeant Maurice Clifton

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: March 28, 1977 

Officer John J. Lemmon

Formerly Assigned: Communication Division

Date of death: April 4, 1977 

Officer Edward Luers

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: April 7, 1977 

Sergeant Louis Tirabassi

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District

Date of death: April 16, 1977 

Sergeant Harry L. Powers

Formerly Assigned: Southern District

Date of death: April 21, 1977 

Lieutenant Francis M. Gutierrez

Formerly Assigned: Property Division

Date of death: April 26, 1977 

Charwoman Henrietta McNeir

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: May 11, 1977 

Officer Robert E. Crispens

Formerly Assigned: Central Records Division

Date of death: May 11, 1977 

Matron Marion Jenkins

Formerly Assigned: Pine Street

Date of death: May 12, 1977 

Officer Thomas Garvey

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: May 13, 1977 

Lieutenant George Courtney

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District

Date of death: May 16, 1977 

Chauffeur Edward G. Hubbard

Formerly Assigned: Property Division

Date of death: May 22, 1977 

Lieutenant Leo F. Duffy

Formerly Assigned: B of I

Date of death: May 26, 1977 

Emergency Call Clerk Gussie Woodard

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division

Date of death: June 27, 1977 

Officer John Vernon Alford

Formerly Assigned: Evidence Control Unit

Date of death: July 25, 1977 

Officer Thomas M. Reese

Formerly Assigned: Northwest Annex

Date of death: July 25, 1977 

Detective Lester N. Messner

Formerly Assigned: B of I

Date of death: August 5, 1977 

Officer William B. Huster

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: August 14, 1977 

Officer John J. Young

Formerly Assigned: Southern District

Date of death: August 24, 1977 

Sergeant Kasper L. Utz

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District

Date of death: September 9, 1977 

Officer Edo Liberatore

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District

Date of death: September 24, 1977 

Officer George W. Walper

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District

Date of death: October 5, 1977 

Officer Richard Ellwood, Sr.

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: October 5, 1977 

Officer Albert Ehmling

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District

Date of death: October 15, 1977 

Officer James A. Myers

Formerly Assigned: Central District

Date of death: October 18, 1977 

Captain J. Gould Rollins

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division

Date of death: November 4, 1977 

Major Norman Schleigh

Formerly Assigned: E & T

Date of death: November 5, 1977 

Crossing Guard Lana Lee Milland

Formerly Assigned: N/A

Date of death: November 7, 1977 

Captain Frederick Dunn

Formerly Assigned: Youth Division

Date of death: November 20, 1977 

Senior Clerk Typist Robert E. Tevis

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District

Date of death: November 16, 1977 

Officer Louis Danna

Formerly Assigned: Western District

Date of death: December 11, 1977 

Officer Robert J. Schwinn

Formerly Assigned: Southern District

Date of death: December 27, 1977 

~1976~ 

Officer Raymond A. Sylvester 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: January 17, 1976 

Officer Harold R. Weitzman 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: January 20, 1976 

Officer Paul Centuelli 

Formerly Assigned: Property Division 

Date of death: February 3, 1976 

Officer Norman Kelly 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: February 15, 1976 

Officer Joseph Pocta 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: February 15, 1976 

Officer Elwood Bozman 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: February 26, 1976 

Officer Harold Keil 

Formerly Assigned: Old Police Services Desk 

Date of death: February 26, 1976 

Officer William M. Daily 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: March 7, 1976 

Officer William H. Shook 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: March 12, 1976 

Officer Leonard Blum 

Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: March 13, 1976 

Officer William A. Pich 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: April 6, 1976 

Officer Sterling G. Chance 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: April 14, 1976 

Officer Jimmy D. Halcomb 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Line of Duty Death: April 16, 1976 

Lieutenant Frank Schmidt 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: April 17, 1976 

Lieutenant Paul Aires 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: April 28, 1976 

Sergeant Maurice F. Gorman 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: April 28, 1976 

Lieutenant James E. Mason 

Formerly Assigned: Pine Street 

Date of death: May 10, 1976 

Crossing Guard Margaret Scheidt 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: May 24, 1976 

Officer Charles W. Carter 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: June 4, 1976 

Sergeant Howard E. Collins 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: June 4, 1976 

Officer Marion Melvin Morawski 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: June 16, 1976 

Officer Harry R. Randle 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: June 20, 1976 

Officer William Edward Williams 

Formerly Assigned: Applicant Investigation Unit 

Date of death: June 25, 1976 

Sergeant Joseph Litz 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: July 20, 1976 

Officer Walter Stachowski 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: July 25, 1976 

Officer Francis M. Quinn, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: July 26, 1976 

Officer Sherman Lee Pruit 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division/Mounted 

Date of death: August 1, 1976 

Sergeant Frank Siemanski 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: August 1, 1976 

Officer Elmer Hefner 

Formerly Assigned: Property/Traffic Division 

Date of death: August 9, 1976 

Clerk Rosalie Beal 

Formerly Assigned Central Records Division: 

Date of death: August 15, 1976 

Officer Charles Block 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: August 19, 1976 

Press Operator Thomas T. Bragg 

Formerly Assigned: Central Records Division 

Date of death: August 27, 1976 

Sergeant William B. Clayton 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: September 8, 1976 

Officer Frederick C. Wilson, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: I.S.D/Traffic 

Date of death: October 8, 1976 

Officer C.J. Friers 

Formerly Assigned: Old Northwest District 

Date of death: October 9, 1976 

Officer Henry J. Hagey, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: Community Services 

Date of death: October 18, 1976 

Officer William J. Carr 

Formerly Assigned: Identification Section 

Date of death: October 21, 1976 

Captain Vincent Giardina 

Formerly Assigned: Central Records Division 

Date of death: October 30, 1976 

Lieutenant Dorsey Baldwin 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District/Tactical 

Date of death: November 12, 1976 

Officer George Goetzke 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: September 25, 1976 

Officer Walter F. Welsh 

Formerly Assigned: Pine Street 

Date of death: November 23, 1976 

Officer George J. Sykes 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: December 10, 1976 

Sergeant Frank Bianca 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: December 21, 1976 

~1975~ 

Officer Alfred Gardner 

Formerly Assigned: Pine Street/Youth Division 

Date of death: January 8, 1975 

Officer Vincent L. Simmons, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: Assistant to Commissioner Hepburn 

Date of death: January 18, 1975 

Sergeant William L. Wortman 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: February 20, 1975 

Emergency Call Clerk Frances Sheets 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: February 21, 1975 

Sergeant Earl Cosden 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: February 22, 1975 

Sergeant Robert E. Johnson 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: February 23, 1975 

Officer Harry Schofield 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division/Mounted 

Date of death: February 23, 1975 

Officer Herbert C. Glover 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: February 28, 1975 

Officer Anselm A. Konitzer 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: March 6, 1975 

Sergeant Charles T. Ploch 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. 

Date of death: March 10, 1975 

Officer John E. Sinnott 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: March 15, 1975 

Laborer Saverio Baglinoni 

Formerly Assigned: Property/Motor Section 

Date of death: April 3, 1975 

Officer Thomas F. Schamburg 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: April 7, 1975 

Officer Albert W. Buddenbohn 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: April 11, 1975 

Sergeant Murrel Starkey 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: April 24, 1975 

Detective Charles Fischbach 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./Homicide 

Date of death: May 6, 1975 

Officer Tracey Bedsworth 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic/Mounted Division 

Date of death: May 11, 1975 

Captain Leroy J. Kues 

Formerly Assigned: Services Division 

Date of death: May 14, 1975 

Officer Frank Wolski 

Assigned: Central District  

Date of death: May 29, 1975 

Crossing Guard Imma E. Lechliter (Scott) 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: June 1, 1975 

Officer Burnhardt Dungan 

Formerly Assigned: Tactical/K9 

Date of death: June 2, 1975 

Officer Jerome E. Kline 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: June 6, 1975 

Officer Edward Stower 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./Rackets Division 

Date of death: June 8, 1975 

Officer Howard Mulligan 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: June 19, 1975 

Administrative Assistant Alice G. Donegan 

Formerly Assigned: Police Commissioner’s Office 

Date of death: July 5, 1975 

Officer William Hawkins 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: July 12, 1975 

Paul A. Karaskavicz (Civilian) 

Assigned: Property Division 

Date of death: July 15, 1975 

Officer Andrew H. Fischer 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: July 15, 1975 

Captain Gordon G. Gaeng 

Formerly Assigned: Office of Chief Of Patrol 

Date of death: July 24, 1975 

Lieutenant William J. Flynn 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./B of I 

Date of death: August 4, 1975 

Sergeant William G. Adams 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: August 15, 1975 

Officer James J. Hagen, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: Foot Traffic 

Date of death: August 23, 1975 

Officer John B. Murphy 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: August 23, 1975 

Officer Charles Neill 

Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: August 25, 1975 

Emergency Call Clerk John E. Holthaus 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: August 26, 1975 

Sergeant Joseph M. Fisher 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: August 27, 1975 

Officer Claude F. Waddill 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: September 2, 1975 

Dr. Louis J. Kolodner 

Assigned: Medical Section 

Date of death: September 9, 1975 

Sergeant Edward J. Cook 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: September 11, 1975 

Sergeant John P. Butner 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: September 12, 1975 

Officer Edward S. Sherman 

Assigned: Southwest District 

Line of Duty Death: September 13, 1975 

Officer Alex J. McDonald 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: September 15, 1975 

Clerk Jeanette Fox 

Formerly Assigned: Motor Pool 

Date of death: September 21, 1975 

Supervisor William J. Harvey 

Formerly Assigned: Fiscal Affairs 

Date of death: October 1, 1975 

Officer Joseph W. Brooks, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: Crime Lab 

Date of death: October 8, 1975 

Sergeant Henry O. Grimm  

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: October 12, 1975 

Sergeant August F. Buettner 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: October 14, 1975 

Lieutenant John R. Padgett 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: October 18, 1975 

Officer John Gray 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: October 23, 1975 

Sergeant Lester E. Stein 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: November 6, 1975 

Sergeant John M. Dippel 

Formerly Assigned: Old Police Services Desk 

Date of death: December 8, 1975 

Officer Oliver Lowman 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: December 19, 1975 

~1974~ 

Officer Walter H. Heiderman 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: January 1, 1974 

Officer Henry Mautner 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: January 8, 1974 

Officer John F. Kapraun 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: March 21, 1974 

Sergeant Henry P Pleiss 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic 

Date of death: April 2, 1974 

Lieutenant Robert Cohen 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: March 11, 1974 

Officer Frank W. Whitby 

Assigned: Eastern District 

Line of Duty Death May 5, 1974 

Sergeant William W. Rhodes 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: May 9, 1974 

Officer John Scheurman 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: May 15, 1974 

Officer John A. Minar 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: May 18, 1974 

Officer Martin Wunder 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: May 31, 1974 

Lieutenant Edward A. Shanahan 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: June 3, 1974 

Officer John F. Hesson 

Formerly Assigned: Foot Traffic 

Date of death: June 10, 1974 

Officer John Thierauf 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: June 28, 1974 

Detective James Batterden 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: July 10, 1974 

Officer Hiram J. Carson 

Formerly Assigned: July 20, 1974 

Date of death: July 20, 1974 

Sergeant Frank J. Witt 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: July 23, 1974 

Sergeant Kenneth V. O’Connor 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: July 29, 1974 

Lieutenant Otis Bradley 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: July 30, 1974 

Detective Sergeant Frank W. Grunder 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./ Escape & Apprehension 

Line of Duty Death: August 1, 1974 

Officer Milton Spell 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Line of Duty Death: August 15, 1974 

Civilian Employee William Bandell 

Formerly Assigned: Property/Old Frederick St. Repair 

Date of death: August 17, 1974 

Captain Lawrence Kerr 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: August 18, 1974 

Officer John C. Mohr 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: August 26, 1974 

Crossing Guard Gloria B. Amy 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: August 27, 1974 

Sergeant Carroll R. Lowman 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: August 28, 1974 

Lieutenant William L. Link 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: August 30, 1974 

Officer Peter T. Garvin 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: August 31, 1974 

Lieutenant George A. Hayward 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: September 6, 1974 

Captain Aloysius Winters 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: September 24, 1974 

Officer Augustus A. Sader 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: October 23, 1974 

Sergeant Francis Jasinski 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: October 25, 1974 

Detective Sam Smith 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./Fugitive 

Date of death: October 25, 1974 

Officer William L. Ray 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: November 14, 1974 

Sergeant James Burlage 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: November 24, 1974 

Sergeant James Verderamo 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: November 24, 1974 

Officer George W. Gardner 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: December 10, 1974 

Officer Martin J. Greiner 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Line of Duty Death: December 10, 1974 

Officer John H. Campbell 

Formerly Assigned: Tactical Section 

Date of death: December 15, 1974 

Officer Bernard J. Jenkins 

Formerly Assigned: Youth Division 

Date of death: December 16, 1974 

Lieutenant Rudolph C.R. Wilkins 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: December 16, 1974 

Officer Charles B. Walas 

Formerly Assigned: Tactical/Marine Unit 

Date of death: December 19, 1974 

Officer McKinnley J. Johnson 

Formerly Assigned: Property/Auto Service Attendant 

Date of death: December 25, 1974 

Officer George Rembold  

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: December 27, 1974 

~ 1973~ 

Officer George D. Blaney 

Formerly Assigned: Maintenance Department 

Date of death: January 1, 1973 

Officer Francis R. Murphy 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: January 19, 1973 

Officer Richard J. Kaniecki 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: January 30, 1973 

Officer Edwin Yukas 

Formerly Assigned: Auto-Garage Repair 

Date of death: February 16, 1973 

Officer Edward J. Wolker 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: March 3, 1973 

Officer Robert Maynard Hurley 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: March 28, 1973 

Sergeant Joseph C. Hajek 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: March 31, 1973 

Officer William A. Conner 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: April 2, 1973 

Officer Norman Frederick Buchman 

Assigned: Northwest District 

Line of Duty Death: April 6, 1973 

Meter Maid Augusta M. Myers 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: April 9, 1973 

Officer Vernon D. Nicklas 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: April 13, 1973 

Officer Robert W. Gain 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: May 23, 1973 

Officer Paul Vernon Garrett 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: May 23, 1973 

Officer Raymond C. Hoffman 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: May 29, 1973 

Officer William J. Ellinghaus 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: May 30, 1973 

Detective Raymond J. Novak 

Formerly Assigned: Central District/Pawn Shop Unit 

Date of death: May 31, 1973 

Detective Donald Raley 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./Homicide Unit 

Date of death: June 2, 1973 

Officer Harry J Bayne 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: June 16, 1973 

Officer James M. Rawlings 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: June 18, 1973 

Officer William H. Johnson 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: June 30, 1973 

Sergeant Elmer T. Collins 

Formerly Assigned: Police Commissioner’s Office 

Date of death: July 8, 1973 

Officer William N Karn 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: July 14, 1973 

Sergeant Raymond A. Holden 

Formerly Assigned: Casual Section 

Date of death: July 19, 1973 

Officer Edwin Savage 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: July 19, 1973 

Officer John McCormick 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: July 29, 1973 

Officer George A. Harvey 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: July 31, 1973 

Officer John E. Robertson 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: August 4, 1973 

Crossing Guard Norma V. Capers 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: August 11, 1973 

Officer George T. Smith 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: August 18, 1973 

Officer Charles Adams 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: August 31, 1973 

Sergeant Daniel H. Crowley 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest Annex 

Date of death: September 3, 1973 

Officer George P. Phebus 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: September 9, 1973 

Officer John N. Ruth 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: September 10, 1973 

Officer John McDonald 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Maintenance Division 

Date of death: September 20, 1973 

Officer William D. Sparrow 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: September 26, 1973 

Sergeant Henry W. Cochran 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: September 27, 1973 

Sergeant George Schlipper 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: October 14, 1973 

Sergeant Charles Alexander 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: October 25, 1973 

Sergeant Charles Gerhold 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic/Mounted Unit 

Date of death: October 31, 1973 

Officer Paul R. Oronson, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: Casual Section 

Date of death: November 16, 1973 

Administrative Assistant Charles Rill 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District  

Date of death: November 18, 1973 

Officer John Lynch 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District  

Date of death: November 18, 1973 

Sergeant Thomas H.E. Riley 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: November 24, 1973 

Clerk Frederick Collins 

Formerly Assigned: Fiscal Affairs 

Date of death: November 24, 1973 

Chief Clerk William Swinson 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: November 26, 1973 

Detective Wiley M. Owens, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: I.S.D. 

Date of death: December 1, 1973 

Officer Joseph Wisbeck 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: December 15, 1973 

Officer Luther E. Jones 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: December 19, 1973 

Officer Virgil H. Williams 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: December 19, 1973 

Officer Leroy Crosland 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: December 23, 1973 

Sergeant William J. Logue 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: December 26, 1973 

~1972~ 

Officer Edward P. Kirby 

Formerly Assigned: Old Northwest District 

Date of death: January 12, 1972 

Emergency Call Clerk Norman F. Stever 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: January 15, 1972 

Lieutenant Henry J. Knecht 

Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: February 5, 1972 

Chauffeur Frank H. Warns 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: February 6, 1972 

Officer Wilbur T. Holt 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: February 15, 1972 

Officer Howard B. Young 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: January 21, 1972 

Officer Joseph C. O’Melia 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: February 23, 1972 

Sergeant Howard J. Murphy 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: February 29, 1972 

Officer John Uhler 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: March 1, 1972 

Sergeant Daniel Will 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: March 6, 1972 

Crossing Guard Emmyl L. Wasserman 

Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: March 7, 1972 

Officer Bernard J. Brooks 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: March 24, 1972 

Lieutenant Edward J. Zeck 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: April 2, 1972 

Sergeant Milton A. Kniese 

Formerly Assigned:  

Date of death: April 3, 1972 

Lieutenant Otto A. Urban 

Formerly Assigned: Education & Training Division 

Date of death: May 12, 1972 

Officer Joseph Thompson 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: May 21, 1972 

Officer Frank V. Janos 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: May 22, 1972 

Officer Andrew W. Adamski 

Formerly Assigned: Property Division 

Date of death: May 23, 1972 

Officer William Z. Gray 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: May 23, 1972 

Officer Frank Novotny 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: June 2, 1972 

Officer Jesssie Hood 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: June 15, 1972 

Officer Bernard Murphy 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: August 3, 1972 

Emergency Call Clerk William Urban 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: August 6, 1972 

Chief Inspector Oscar L. Lusby 

Formerly Assigned: HQ. 

Date of death: August 10, 1972 

Officer John J. Wiley 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: August 11, 1972 

Officer Frederick Krueger 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: August 26, 1972 

Lieutenant William J. Klump 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: September 28, 1972 

Officer Ellwood L. Brown 

Formerly Assigned: Applicant Investigation Division 

Date of death: September 29, 1972 

Officer Christian Brix 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: October 8, 1972 

Crossing Guard Dolly Andrews 

Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: October 17, 1972 

Supervisor Of Purchases Joseph Piller 

Formerly Assigned: Fiscal Affairs Division 

Date of death: November 11, 1972 

Sergeant Louis J. Mitchell 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: November 17, 1972 

Officer John H. Schmitt 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: December 1, 1972 

Officer Edward J. Budacz 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: December 6, 1972 

Sergeant Philip Jachelski 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Enforcement 

Date of death: December 9, 1972 

Officer William D. Kelly 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: December 18, 1972 

Officer Harry W. Hinkle 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: December 21, 1972 

Officer Andrew Valenza 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: December 28, 1972 

~1971~ 

Sergeant Charles Trainor 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Investigation 

Date of death: January 18, 1971 

Officer George W. Flynn 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: February 5, 1971 

Officer William O. Shaffrey 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: February 21, 1971 

Sergeant Edward Langletti 

Formerly Assigned: Central Records Division 

Date of death: February 22, 1971 

Officer Charles Faulkner 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: March 3, 1971 

Detective Joseph J. Mantegna 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. 

Date of death: March 13, 1971 

Sergeant Arthur J. Nelson 

Formerly Assigned: Youth Division 

Date of death: March 14, 1971 

Officer Wilbert O. Rotten 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division  

Date of death: March 2, 1971 

Officer William F. Schneeman 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: March 18, 1971 

Sergeant Frank J. Machovec 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: April 26, 1971 

Sergeant Joseph M. Carney 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: May 1, 1971 

Officer William F. Monaghan 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic 

Date of death: May 2, 1971 

Officer Samuel Williams 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District  

Date of death: May 6, 1971 

Dr. Edward A Flanigan 

Formerly Assigned: Medical Section District 1 

Date of death: May 11, 1971 

Officer William R. Hightower 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: May 13, 1971 

Sergeant Anthony Kircher 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: May 17, 1971 

Detective Charles W. Mulligan 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D./Fugitive 

Date of death: May 23, 1971 

Officer William J. Gill 

Formerly Assigned: Property Division 

Date of death: May 25, 1971 

Chauffeur Raymond A. Slonaker 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: May 26, 1971 

K-9 Dog "Shane" 

Assigned: K9 Unit/Handler Off. David Stuller 

Line of Duty Death: June 1971 

Lieutenant Elvin H. Smedberg 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. 

Date of death: June 1, 1971 

Officer Carl Perteson 

Assigned: Central District  

Line of Duty Death June 1, 1971 

Officer Robert Moscirella 

Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: June 9, 1971 

Officer George E. Brooks 

Formerly Assigned: Central district 

Date of death: June 17, 1971 

Officer Henry Plunkett 

Formerly Assigned: Youth Division 

Date of death: June 19, 1971 

Officer Joseph M. Bruchey 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: July 6, 1971 

Officer Eric Rodgers 

Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: July 6, 1971 

Officer Walter W. Witkowski 

Formerly Assigned: Old Pine Street 

Date of death: July 8, 1971 

Officer John J. Blume 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: July 11, 1971 

Officer Edwin J. Humphreys 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: July 15, 1971 

Dr. E. Irvin Neserke (Veterinarian) 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic/Mounted 

Date of death: July 15, 1971 

Officer Emil Elderskirch 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: July 17, 1971 

Officer Henry G. Scales 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: July 24, 1971 

Officer Leo J. Hess 

Formerly Assigned: Central District  

Date of death: July 28, 1971 

Lieutenant Martin Webb 

Assigned: Southern District 

Line of Duty Death August 3, 1971 

Officer Ferdinard Struckrath 

Formerly Assigned: Casual Section 

Date of death: August 8, 1971 

Sergeant George Joseph Louis, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic 

Date of death: August 9, 1971 

Officer Thomas E. Collins 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: August 10, 1971 

Sergeant Joseph G. Schrami 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: August 16, 1971 

Lieutenant Joseph J. Byrne 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. 

Date of death: August 19, 1971  

Sergeant John McGinnis 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: September 2, 1971 

Officer Leo Adam Fischer 

Formerly Assigned: Communications Division 

Date of death: September 4,1971 

Detective Edgar Sullers, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. 

Date of death: September 1971 

Officer Andrew Moynihan 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: September 22, 1971 

Officer Thomas F. Steinaker 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: September 23, 1971 

Sergeant Thomas F. Ford 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: October 4, 1971 

Officer Charles A. Heim 

Formerly Assigned: Old Northwest District 

Date of death: October 5, 1971 

Officer Christian C. Schneblen 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: October 9, 1971 

Detective Sergeant James A. Downs 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. 

Date of death: October 10, 1971 

Officer Charles Schlotthober 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: October 12, 1971 

Officer Thomas Irvin, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: October 12, 1971 

Officer John E. Herold 

Formerly Assigned: Foot Traffic 

Date of death: October 12, 1971 

Sergeant Stanton J. Grace 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: October 26, 1971 

Officer Bryan J. Warner 

Assigned: Tactical Section  

Date of death: November 11, 1971 

Officer Otto Boise 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: November 11, 1971 

Officer Ernest Langner 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: December 17, 1971 

Officer Louis Martindale 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: December 31, 1971 

~1970~ 

Sergeant John P. Stricker 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: January 1, 1970 

Officer Peter Saweck 

Formerly Assigned: Old Eastern District 

Date of death: January 8, 1970 

Officer George Goyert 

Formerly Assigned: Foot Traffic 

Date of death: January 12, 1970 

Officer Raymond Y. Mitchell 

Formerly Assigned: Old Eastern District 

Date of death: January 15, 1970 

Lieutenant Stanley Oster 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: January 17, 1970 

Officer Louis Hranicka 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: January 18, 1970 

Officer George Frederick Heim 

Assigned: Southeast District 

Line of Duty Death: January 16, 1970 

Officer Michael J. Hoban 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: January 22, 1970 

Officer Chester W. Burris 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: January 22, 1970 

Detective Frank J. Vitak 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. 

Date of death: January 25, 1970 

Officer Joseph M. Huber 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: February 5, 1970 

Officer Thomas L. Roche 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: February 12, 1970 

Officer Patrick M. Donohoe 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: March 1, 1970 

Officer Henry G. Spruill 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: March 8, 1970 

Charwoman Jennie Rada 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: March 6, 1970 

Officer Martin J. Hanna, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: March 14, 1970 

Officer Henry Mickey 

Assigned: Central District 

Line of Duty Death: March 24, 1970 

Officer William Middleton 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: April 4, 1970 

Lieutenant Thomas L. Barranger 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death April 4, 1970 

Officer William Klosinski 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: April 7, 1970 

Officer August Nellies 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death April 10, 1970 

Captain George F. Klemmick 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. Homicide 

Date of death: April 17, 1970 

Officer John A. Hoh 

Formerly Assigned: Southeast District 

Date of death: April 16, 1970 

Officer Donald Sager 

Assigned: Central District 

Line of Duty Death: April 24, 1970 

Officer Carl H. Knepper 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: May 12, 1970 

Officer Thomas Cremin 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: May 12, 1970 

Sergeant John L. Kellermann, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: Central Records Division 

Date of death: May 30, 1970 

Officer Benjamin Williams 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: June 1, 1970 

Officer Edward J. Chapness 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: June 1, 1970 

Officer Marcus J. Corcoran 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: June 1, 1970 

Officer Joseph Nawrozki, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: June 3, 1970 

Officer Charles F. Bardroff 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: June 10, 1970 

Officer George H. Schnitzlein 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: June 17, 1970 

Sergeant Robert M. MacReynolds 

Formerly Assigned: Northern District 

Date of death: June 21, 1970 

Lieutenant George G. Bryan 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. Homicide Unit 

Date of death: July 1, 1970 

Officer Edward O. Racey 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: July 5, 1970 

Sergeant Anthony J. Lewandowski 

Formerly Assigned: Youth Division 

Date of death: July 14, 1970 

School Crossing Guard Theresa Marsh Burn 

Assigned: Central District 

Date Of death: July 17, 1970 

Officer Frank J. Kunkel 

Formerly Assigned: Northeast District 

Date of death: July 23, 1970 

Officer Robert G. Correa 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: August 11, 1970 

Sergeant William L. Stone, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. 

Date of death: August 28, 1970 

School Crossing Guard Audrey L. R. Weaver 

Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: September 2, 1970 

Officer John L. Clarke 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: September 16, 1970 

Sergeant William J. Keogh, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: N/A 

Date of death: September 21, 1970 

Sergeant Frank J. Wesolowski 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Date of death: September 24, 1970 

Officer Elmer Schmidt 

Formerly Assigned: A.I.D. & Communications Division 

Date of death: September 26, 1970 

Officer Charles H. Lambdin 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: September 26, 1970 

Officer Mardell E. Struss 

Formerly Assigned: Pine Street Station 

Date of death: September 28, 1970 

Sergeant John C. White 

Formerly Assigned:  

Date of death: October 5, 1970 

Officer James Reese 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: October 5, 1970 

Officer Frank L. Duffy, Sr. 

Formerly Assigned: Pine Street Station 

Date of death: October 21, 1970 

Officer Paul E. Moran, Jr. 

Formerly Assigned: Youth Division 

Date of death: October 25, 1970 

Store Supervisor Edwin Craig Ward 

Formerly Assigned: Property Division 

Date of death: October 25, 1970 

Officer Milton O. Gardner 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: October 31, 1970 

Officer John Kapraun 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: October 31, 1970 

Officer Emory A. Koch 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: November 11, 1970 

Officer Willard Pyle 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: November 11, 1970 

Officer Joseph J. Wise 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: November 28, 1970 

Officer John Joseph Wess 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: December 5, 1970 

Lieutenant Bernard J. Deinlein 

Formerly Assigned: Central District 

Date of death: December 19, 1970 

Detective Sergeant Amos J. Issac 

Formerly Assigned: C.I.D. Property 

Date of death: December 19, 1970 

Sergeant Edward R. Leland 

Formerly Assigned: Education & Training Division 

Date of death: December 23, 1970 

Officer Ernest R. Harris 

Formerly Assigned: Western District 

Date of death: December 24, 1970 

Officer George William Rupprecht 

Formerly Assigned: Engineering & Traffic Division 

Date of death: December 26, 1970 

Sergeant Albert V. Kendrick 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death: December 26, 1970 

~1969~ 

Officer Claude M. Stafford 

Formerly Assigned: Southern District 

Date of death: December 25, 1969 

~1968~ 

Detective Julius Merkousko 

Formerly Assigned: CID 

Date of death: October 6, 1968 

Sergeant Robert E. Brathuhn 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: October 10, 1968 

~1963~ 

Officer Elmer W. Weber 

Formerly Assigned: Traffic Division 

Date of death: September 10, 1963 

"Medal of Honor Recipient" 

~1959~ 

Officer Elvy Jett Ruby 

Appointed: March 28, 1919 

Formerly Assigned: Northwest District 

Retired: Nov 26, 1953 

Date of death: Jan 22, 1959 

~1956~ 

Officer Edward Poist 

Formerly Assigned: 

Date of death: September 16, 1956 

~1955~ 

Clarence Thomas Lilly - 12 October 1955

~1939~ 

Lieutenant John R. Stein 

Formerly Assigned: N/A 

Date of death: August 11, 1939 

~1932~ 

Officer Frank J. Vavra 

Formerly Assigned: Eastern District 

Date of death: February 17, 1932 

~ 1922 ~ 

Officer Michael S. Brooks 

Formerly Assigned: Southwest District 

Date of death October 20, 1922 

Back to Page 1

 

Copies of: Your Baltimore Police Department Class Photo, Pictures of our Officers, Vehicles, Equipment, Newspaper Articles relating to our department and or officers, Old Departmental Newsletters, Lookouts, Wanted Posters, and or Brochures. Information on Deceased Officers and anything that may help Preserve the History and Proud Traditions of this agency. Please contact Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll.

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Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll 

Our brothers and sisters, "active" and "retired," who have passed away will be remembered on this page. Our Final Roll Call is a historical record of individuals who were sworn members of the Baltimore Police Department and have passed away. Inclusion here makes no statement regarding their career, conduct, or level of service—it simply notes that they once wore the uniform and are no longer with us. 

If you know of someone who has passed and they are not on this page, please send their information and any links to obituaries you may know of to our email link by clicking This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Medal of Honor is awarded by the Police Commissioner to members who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and courage at the risk of their own lives, above and beyond the call of duty, in an extraordinary act of heroism and bravery without endangering or jeopardizing the lives of others and without detriment in any way to their sworn oath. 

Baltimore's Police Lost Control in 90 Minutes

BY SAM FRIZELL

APRIL 28, 2015 11:52 PM EDT

On school days in western Baltimore, local kids gather at a drab shopping center called Mondawmin Mall where bus routes begin and end. On Monday, the hangout became the scene of a riot.

Policing experts who reconstructed the events of the day said that Baltimore police did not send enough officers to the situation at the start, FAILED TO QUICKLY MAKE ARRESTS ONCE TROUBLE BEGAN and did not deploy additional officers quickly enough. Key decisions led the situation to spiral out of control in a short 90 minutes, a lesson other police departments should heed.

Baltimore’s police force was prepared for more unrest related to the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who suffered a spinal injury while in police custody. Messages on social media seemed to be goading students to violence, so police went to the mall in riot gear by around 3 p.m. Still, they went prepared for typical high school rebellion, NOT A FULL-BLOWN RIOT.

“When we deployed our officers yesterday, we were deploying for a high school event,” Baltimore Capt. J. Kowalczyk told reporters.

Baltimore cops are trained to handle violent crowds, former police officials told TIME. Officers are drilled in maneuvers — how to form defensive lines, what formations to stand in, how to divide and conquer a crowd. But while police can practice arrests, subduing suspects and even home assaults, there is no real preparation for an angry mob like facing an actual angry mob. In the 90 minutes that Mondawmin Mall transformed from transit hub to a riot scene, Baltimore police were outnumbered and TOO PASSIVE in pursuing arrests, experts said.

The timeline of Monday’s unrest goes something like this. By 3:30 p.m., the students were throwing bottles and bricks at police officers. They were ordered to disperse, but the violence escalated as officers were injured. By 4:30 rioters were setting fires and making their way downtown. The police were unable to stop them. “I was there. I saw our reaction. I gave directions to advance,” Baltimore’s Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said. “They outnumbered us and outflanked us.”

The officers at Mondawmin Mall were too small a group to properly handle the crowd of that size, experts said. There were enough officers at the mall to hold a line and some property, but NOT enough to penetrate the crowd and make arrests, says Neill Franklin, who oversaw Baltimore police training from 2000 to 2004. “You’ve got to have enough boots on the ground,” said Franklin. “Without that, there’s nothing you can do. You’ll be overwhelmed very quickly.” Also important for policing is a deep familiarity with surrounding streets and alleys. In order to secure an area, Franklin said, “police should know all the access and exit points, where protestors can maneuver themselves to and from.”

Before backup arrived, the police officers stationed on the streets around Mondawmin Mall were unable to arrest stone-throwers quickly enough to snuff out the violence.

For a crucial hour and a half on Monday afternoon, they were pelted with rocks as high school and middle-school students ran through the streets. Outnumbered, the officers were forced to retreat and hold their lines, and the crowd quickly got out of control. “The moment the first bottle or the first rock is thrown first, or the first officer is assaulted, action has to be taken,” said Jon Shane, associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “And it has to be swift, and it has to be firm.” Much of the crowd had already moved downtown by the time enough police had arrived to make arrests.

Overall, the problem seems to be that police were too passive, an ironic situation given that the protests were related to overly aggressive police tactics.

The Baltimore Police Department has in recent years sought to tone down aggression. A comprehensive retraining in the late 2000s connected Baltimore cops with young people in the city, while the top brass has warned officers repeatedly in recent months not to overstep behavioral bounds. “In past years, had there been riots like this there isn’t any question there would have been many hundreds of arrests,” said Adam Walinsky, a onetime advisor to former Attorney General Robert Kennedy who led Baltimore’s program to retrain its city police from 2007 to 2012. But with tight police oversight, Walinsky added, “what are they supposed to do?”

It didn’t help that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake gave mixed signals in the days before the riots. The police were instructed “to do everything they could to make sure the protestors were able to exercise their right to free speech. It’s a very delicate balancing act,” Rawlings-Blake said, adding, “we also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well.” She later walked back her comments, and expressed outrage that property was being looted. But much of officers’ restraint can be attributed to the appearance of hesitancy at higher levels, critics say.

Still, the police department’s tepid response to the first hour and a half of violence may have actually saved lives. Years of close training meant that despite all the police injuries, no police fired on the crowd, and no protestors were killed. “What I was impressed with is when they had bricks thrown at them, the police officers held their fire,” said Ret. General Russel L. Honoré, who led operations and brought calm to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. “The police showed extraordinary restraint.”

Compared with the Los Angeles riots of 1992, when 53 people were killed, or the Baltimore riots of 1968 when more than 600 were injured, the unrest has so far been relatively tame. “Police have been really great example of being reserved of not doing some of the things we’ve seen in other cities,” said Franklin. “They are really doing their best not to make things worse by being overly aggressive.”

After the showdown at Mondawmin Mall, the west Baltimore kids were joined by adults who burned buildings and looted on their way downtown. By Tuesday morning, 19 police officers had been injured, 15 buildings and 144 cars were set on fire, and more than 200 people had been arrested. For millions at home watching these scenes of looting and night fires on television, the violence looked similar to the riots that unfolded in Ferguson aa year earlier. Unlike Ferguson, though, there were no rubber bullets, assault rifles, or fleets of heavily armored vehicles. In the first hour and a half of the riots, there was just a hapless group of Baltimore police officers, struggling to contain a crowd that was too big, and too unpredictable.

In a larger sense, the decisions made by the Mayor, and city council, the police commissioner and other police leaders, for the streets in Baltimore on that day in 2015 don’t much matter. It’s the long game of improving police community relations that counts. Many have urged the Justice Department to provide more funding for police training and special programs. “This problem didn’t start last night or last week or when Freddie Gray got died,” said Walinsky, the Baltimore police reformer. “Once a riot starts, it’s a little late.”

Jesse James

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Jesse James Once Lived in Baltimore

25 Aug 1929

He stayed here more than once as did other well-known western characters from American history. Doc Holiday for one was trained as a dentist here in Baltimore at the University of Maryland Dental School. Getting back to the James Boys, it seemed when things got hot, they found their way to Baltimore where Jesse stayed under his alias Thomas Howard. Neighbors said he was a calm easy-going man. Approx. 1879 at the end of what was known as the “Serious Seventies” Baltimore was a quiet town. It had cobble stone streets for which barouches and other such vehicles of the time bumped and clattered their way over. The population at the time was only made up of 330.000 and city government only collected about $4 million a year in taxes. The mayor at the time was Ferdinand Latrobe who began his career as mayor and continued the position for seven terms. The Northern boundary of the city was North Ave. and its intersection with Madison Ave.

Jesse James’ Family Headquarters

Of all the parts of Baltimore’s history, Jesse and Frank James staying along with their families was not known until the 1920’s. It turns out that the bandit, his wife, kids, and his brother Frank James sometimes made Baltimore their headquarters and this took place during the serious and picturesque seventies. There was a story of a close call of what would have been a shootout between Frank James and our Baltimore City Policemen of the time.  Frank James lucked out, also prevented the thrill of anyone knowing the James boys were harbored by this city. It wasn’t often that Jesse James would leave a clue of his true identity when he galloped away from a crime back to where he once came, said, Robertus Love, a former newspaper writer, who knew Jesse personally and for a short time road with the James Boys in order to pen Jessie’s biography, “The Rise and fall of Jesse James,” Love liked Jesse very much.  Mr. Love wrote, “Mr. James stated that the family had lived at Nashville, and elsewhere in Tennessee in recent years, and for a time in Baltimore Md., and for some months in Kansas City just removing to St. Joseph.

Where did they live? The records are unclear, and the reason is unclear, he obviously didn’t give the name Jesse and Frank James, Thomas Howard wouldn’t have been as well know back then as it became after his having been killed. When Mrs. James spoke, she said, “We came here to live as other people do. They tell some hard things about my husband, but a better man never lived. He never drank, smoked, or chewed. He never liked whisky. He never swore in my presence and wouldn’t allow others to do so,” Jesse was evidently a good husband and father. A good family man.

A Good Neighbor

“Tom Howard” was the name taken by the man who was much “wanted by the police” in those days, and in all probability he was so successful in his attempt to “live as other people live” that his presence among them created no suggestion of a ripple in the quiet lives of his various neighborhoods. At the time of his death several people who had known him in various cities gave testimony that Tom Howard was “a good neighbor.” There were many who believed Jesse James was not an outlaw and bandit by choice, but that after the civil war he became involved in the guerrilla warfare which continued for some time between the border states, and through these conflicts becoming attached to an outlaw band, he found it impossible to break away. He had a ton of friends among law-abiding groups making it easy to slip in and out of towns where he did not commit crime and blend right in. There were many neighbors that said he attended church and sang all the hymnals, though they say he was obviously a better bank robber than he was a singer. A Baptist Minister once asked Jesse why he does not stop the things he is doing? Jesse answered, “If you’ll tell me just how I can stop, I’ll be glad enough to stop; but I don’t intend to stop directly under a rope!” His brother frank found a way to stop, he made his way into see a governor in the state of Missouri and turned himself in. He was tried for one crime in a plea deal, served his term, came out of prison, and lived to be a respectable member of society. It was at this period in his life that he told a story of his experience in Baltimore City. At the time of the telling he was employed as doorkeeper at a prominent theater, and the tale was related to a man who was then a young detective.  The story was told in Mr. Love’s book was based on Frank James’ theory that “the officer always gets it when he least expects it” “He the illustrated his point by relating his Baltimore experience, as he put it, “They thought they wanted me.” He said he was stopping in Baltimore; he had a room in a house built of solid block of dwellings with no space between them. One night he wanted something to eat, so he took a walk to a nearby market that was open. On the way back to his room with a basket of food on his left arm, his coat collar turned up and his hat brim turned down, he noticed a number of policemen walking up and down in front of his house and they were waiting for him to return. He said, “I was too close to turn back without drawing their suspicion. Directly across the street from the policemen I noticed a white horse hitched to a buggy; the street was well lit from gas lamps and the horse showed up quite well in the mellow gleam.

“I decided quickly upon my plan of action. Probably the officers, I thought, had the block surrounded. My plan was to walk straight on past them if they didn’t interfere with me; I would not go into my room at all. If they attempted to capture me, I would try to reach the horse and buggy by “shooting it out” with the officers. And then drive away as fast as that horse would have taken me.”  - “James said he walked along with his six shooter, which he had harnessed under his left arm. His right hand thus was concealed under his coat and under the arm in which the basket hung. Approaching the bunch of officers, he edged out toward the curbing, intending to walk around them as though he had not noticed them especially. When he was opposite the officers, one of them reached out a hand to stop him. James sprang backward into the street, off the sidewalk, toward the horse and buggy, pulling his pistol from its place, but not quite getting it out – not so that it was visible to the policemen.  “Well, sir, what is it? What is it?” James asked the officers who had tried to stop him. “Don’t be scared, “ said one of the officers, with an oath; we’re not going to hurt you,” James again said, “What is it?” expecting every second to find it necessary to open fire and “get” as many of them as he could, when another officer in a rather gentle tone said, “Say, don’t be afraid of us; we’re not going to harm you, man; we simply want to get men enough to serve as a jury in a coroner’s case where a man in the house next door to my house had died without medical attention, by natural cause or otherwise.” “James then saw, he stated, that the policemen were in front of the house adjoining the one where he was roomed…... he “simply told them he was not a citizen of Maryland but lived in Washington.”  But those Baltimore Policemen never knew how close they came to shooting it out with Frank James, and or how far from James his outlaw brother Jesse might have been.

Baltimore Police Newsletters

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Baltimore Police Newsletters

 

1964 Newsletter Assist an Officer

1965 Newsletter Assist an Officer

1966 Newsletter Assist an Officer

1966 Newsletter Night Patrol

1967 Newsletter Vol 1 1 to 22 March 2 1967 to December 20 1967

1968 Newsletter Vol 2 1 to 25 January 3 1968 to December 18 1968

1969 Newsletter Vol 3 1 to 20 January 1 1969 to December 31 1969

1970 Newsletter Vol 4 1 to 26 January 14 1970 to December 30 1970

1971 Newsletter Vol 5 1 to 26 January 13 1971 to December 29 1971

1972 Newsletter Vol 6 Issue 1 to 26 January 12 1972 to December 27 1972

1973 Newsletter Vol 7 Issue 1 to 26 January 10 1973 to December 26 1973

1974 Newsletter Vol 8 Issue 1 to 26 January 9 1974 to December 24 1974

1975 Newsletter Vol 9 Issue 1 to 26 January 8 1975 to December 24 1975

1976 Newsletter Vol 10 Issue 1 to 26 January 7 1976 to December 22 1976

1977 Newsletter Vol 11 Issue 1 to 26 January 5 1977 to December 21 1977

1978 Newsletter Vol 12 Issue 1 to 26 January 4 1978 to December 20 1978

1979 Newsletter Vol 13 Issue 1 to 26 January 3 1979 to December 19 1979

1980 Newsletter Vol 14 Issue 1 to 27 January 2 1980 to December 31 1980

1981 Newsletter Vol 15 Issue 1 to 26 January 14 1981 to December 30 1981

1982 Newsletter Vol 16 Issue 1 to 26 January 13 1982 to December 29 1982

1983 Newsletter Vol 17 Issue 1 to 26 January 12 1983 to December 28 1983

1984 Newsletter Vol 18 Issue 1 to 26 January 11 1984 to December 24 1984

1985 Newsletter Vol 19 Issue 1 to 26 January 9 1985 to December 24 1985

1986 Newsletter Vol 20 Issue 1 to 26 January 8 1986 to December 24 1986

1987 Newsletter Vol 21 Issue 1 to 26 January 7 1987 to December 23 1987

1988 Newsletter Vol 22 Issue 1 to 26 January 6 1988 to December 21 1988

1989 Newsletter Vol 23 Issue 1 to 26 January 4 1989 to December 19 1989

1990 Newsletter Vol 24 Issue 1 to 26 January 3 1990 to December 18 1990

1991 Newsletter Vol 25 Issue 1 to 26 January 2 1991 to December 16 1991

1992 Newsletter Vol 26 Issue 1 to 20 January 1 1992 to December 16 1992

1993 Newsletter Vol 27 Issue 1 to 7 January 1993 to December 1993

1994 Newsletter Vol 28 Issue 1 to 5 May 1994 to October 1994

1995 Newsletter Vol 29 Issue 1 to 7 January 1995 to November 1995

1996 Newsletter Vol 30 Issue 1 to 5 January 1996 to July August 1996

1997 Newsletter Vol 31 Issue 1 to 6 January 3 May 1997 to December 1997

1998 Newsletter Vol 32 Issue 1 to 6 January 1998 to November 1998

1999 Newsletter Vol 33 Issue 1 to 19 January 1999 to December 22 1999

2000 Newsletter Blue Line News Vol 34 Issue 1 to 11

2001 Newsletter Blue Line News Vol 35 Issue 1 to 7 Special Edition

2002 Newsletter Blue Lines News Vol 35 Issue 10 to 11

2003 Newsletter Blue Line News Vol 36 Issue 1 to 2

2004 Newsletter Blue Line News Vol 26 Issue 3 to 12

2005 Newsletter Blue Line 04 04 05

2005 Newsletter Blue Line 10 08 05

2005 Newsletter Blue Line News Vol 27 Issue 1 to 4

2006 Newsletter Blue Line 06 01 06 Special Edition

2006 Newsletter Blue Line 12 11 2006

2006 Newsletter Blue Line Vol 28 Issue 1 to 3 Special Edition

2007 Newsletter Blue Line Feb 2007 Special Edition

2007 Newsletter Blue Line News Vol 29 issue 1 and Special Edition

2011 Newsletter Blue Line Editions 1 to 3

2015 Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 1 to 4

2015 Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 1

2015 Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 2

2016 Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 1 to 4

 

 

 

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Sleuths Have Masked the System

First Prisoners Subjected to Ordeal Turns Pale

Wednesday, 29 July 1908

The mask system, which enables detectives to examine crooks without being recognized, was inaugurated yesterday (28 July 1908) by the detective department. The masks worn by the detectives were of the ordinary white dominoes, with muslin covering the lower part of the face. They are adjusted by an elastic band, which is slipped over the back of the head. The prisoner put under the eyes of 20 detectives was Hymen Movitz, 18 years old, white male who is charged with being a pickpocket. He was placed on a platform in the assembly room of the courthouse by the Captain of the Detectives Pumphrey, who was not masked, who told the detectives who the man was and what he was arrested for. “I want you men to examine this youth closely,” he said. The 20 detectives scrutinized the youth. The lad grew pale and seized the brass railing under the ordeal. During the examination Col. Sherlock Swann, president of the police board, stood by and took in the proceedings with interest. Col. Swann brought the idea from New York, where he went last spring to familiarize himself with the methods adopted by the police of that city. He was greatly impressed by the scheme, believing it an excellent means of having detectives identify prisoners or suspects without themselves being scrutinized. Movitz, who faced the detectives yesterday, was arrested Monday night by the patrolman Woolford, of the central district, on the charge of picking the pocket of Adolph Ettner, 1500 North Chapel St., and stealing seven dollars. He was committed to court by Justice Grannan, at the central station.

Police Use Spotlight - Pugilistic Aspirant Plants One Subjected to Ordeal

Friday, 31 July 1908

He was a meek-looking little fellow as he was hustled into detective headquarters yesterday morning and he said he was 17; but when he gave his name – Michael Romano, a son of “Sunny IT” – the sleuths stood back for a careful survey. They knew him as a prizefighter – a lesser star in the pugilistic firmament – who once called himself “Jack O’Brien the second. ”Never had they seen the boys flinch in the ring, but when 20 pairs of eyes peeped through 20 white masks and focused on him, Michael, whose true name was Michaelini, grew nervous. And then someone turned on the spotlight and explained to these 20 men behind the masks that he had been arrested on the charge of picking the pocket of Mr. Adolf Ettner, 1500 North Chapel St., on 27 July and stealing seven dollars, and that he stood committed for court. They twisted and turned the boy about from one position to another so that the masked onlookers might see him in every possible position, and the lad quivered at the strange sight. He did not know there were two eyes centered upon him that had seen him from the time he was a “we” bit of a baby. But there were and they belong to Detective Peter Bradley. The sleuth knew the prisoners' whole history. But from now on every man in the detective department – some of whom Michael does not know and had no chance, to see – will know him by the site. The lad was arrested by the police of the central district. A few days ago Hymen Movitz, another pugilistic aspirant, was arrested on the same charge. It is said the two boys and a companion were together when Mr. Ettner lost his pocket-book. Movitz was the first person to be put under the spotlight and shown to the masked detectives. He, too, was committed for court.

Police “Mugg” the Governor - Stitch Executive Inspects the Department and is Enthusiastic

Sunday, 6 December 1908

According to Col. Sherlock Swann and Mr. John B. A. Weddle, of the police board, Governor Crothers yesterday inspected the police department. The governor was accompanied by his secretary. Mr. Emerson R. Crothers, and upon his return enthusiastically expressed himself and approval of what he has seen. “The system,” he said, “is splendid. I liked the thoroughness with which every detail is provided for and the whole business impressed me with its efficiency. The police department is modern and up-to-date. ”The governor was first taken to the detective department, and there witnessed the interesting incident of the bringing in of several prisoners who were confronted by the detectives wearing their white masks. Lieut. Casey “mugged” the governor, taking pictures of his profile and full face, but promised not to place the photographs in the rogue’s gallery. The governor also submitted to having been measured, according to the Bertillon System, and spent nearly an hour in going over the records of the department.

Col. Swann Declines - Refuses Reappointment as President of Police Board - May Have Mayoralty in Mind

21 April 1910

“That Bridge Can Be Crossed When We Come to It,” He Says in Reply To Question. Col. Charlotte Swann, president of the Police Board, wrote to Gov. Crothers yesterday that he would be unable to accept reappointment to that office, which had been offered him by the governor. Col. Swann’s action was a surprise in political circles and many persons were inclined to think he meant that the Col. was preparing to become a more male real candidate. Asked his reason for declining reappointment, Col. Swann said: a “my letter to the governor answers that question. I will say, however,” he added, “that I try to practice what I preach. Baltimore hopes to become a manufacturing city. I think that it is its destiny. I have gone into the manufacturing business, and hope that I can assist in some small way in reaching that desired goal. ”Does your retirement from the police department mean that you will be a candidate for the Mayor? ”I have no other thought at the present time than the success of the business in which I am engaged. The Mayor bridge can be crossed when we come to it, but that is too far off for consideration just now. ”Col. Swann’s letter follows: “to his Excellency, Austin L. Crothers, governor of Maryland: “Dear Sir – one of the officers of the Druid Oak Belting Company, Inc., – of which company I am president – who has in the past relieved may of the branch of the work I should have performed for it, will leave very soon for an extended stay abroad, which will make it impossible for me to devote the necessary amount of time to properly administer the office of Police Commissioner. I have always made it a rule to faithfully try to perform to the best of my ability the duties of any public office as I may assume. The one I now occupy requires of the incumbent his undivided time if the best results are to be obtained. “It is, therefore, with the utmost reluctance and sincere regret that I must decline the reappointment to the office of Police Commissioner for the Baltimore city police, with which you have honored me, and I most respectfully notify you accordingly. “This severe and is of my official connection with your administration, with my colleagues and the members of the department, is one of the heartiest acts I’ve ever been called upon to perform. “Assuring you of my deep gratitude for the confidence you have proposed in May and trusting that I have in the past two years, in some small way, contributed to the welfare of the people of this city, I am, “very truly yours, “Sherlock Swann.”

His Record on Police Board - Col. Swann Has Done Much to Improve the Force

21 April 1910

As President of the Police Board (Board of Commissioners)  Colonel Sherlock Swann took the initiative and many reforms that resulted in a benefit to the people and efficiency in the department which in no small measure was revolutionized under his administration. At the time Baltimore was considered to be one of this country's finest police departments, a title with which came respect, and envy of many other big-city police departments. This honor also instilled pride in its men and women that would last into the millennial. Some would argue we no longer hold the titles or envy once given to us by other agencies, but from a viewpoint of your average street officer, and from talking to those working the streets. Today's police don't have what we had just 15 years ago. Today police don't have support from the top; this was something that started at the top and even less from city hall and the media. For the most part, our police are all joining for the same the reasons they want to help those in need of our help. The public knows they need them, but the politicians, media and to some extent their departmental leaders are opening their hands.  We used to have what was called Good faith, and as long as you were acting in good faith, you would be OK. But nowadays, they have no support, even with a video showing a suspect resisting, the public is siding with the criminal. When police don't get support, they stop risking their jobs and give the public what they ask for. From that come higher crimes. If we want to reduce crime, we need to enforce laws, all laws, that means anything short of compliance during an arrest is resistance. Col. Swann was said to have been the first president of the Board of Commissioners (BOC) who has ever given his entire attention to the office. He has taken the deepest personal interest in his duties and devoted not only all of the business day of each week to them, but was often “on guard” Sundays, holidays and at night. Every vote taken by the board has been a unanimous one, and the commissioners worked in perfect harmony. This is possibly the greatest cause of the success of the board and checking crime and in helping to place Baltimore in the first rank of well-governed cities from the standpoint of police protection. And speaking of is two years experience as head of the BOC, Col. Swann said: “Before taking hold of the police department, I went to New York and studied the situation there, so when I took office, I did not do so as an absolute greenhorn. Also before going in the one thing that struck me, although a novice, that was most remarkable was the fact that the Detective department was a separate and distinct body of men from the regular police. I got a law through the legislation of 1908 making Detective part of the Police Department whereby men could be transferred into the Detective Department and out again at the will of the commissioners, and also that no man could become a member of the Detective Department unless he was first a member of the Police Department. Doing away entirely with the old system of taking men up off the street, usually for political reasons, and making detectives out of them. “One of the greatest improvements made here was the passage by City Council of the Swann Traffic Ordinance to regulate the traffic on the streets of the city. As soon as this was passed, I opened a school at headquarters, and with the aid of little toy cars, to teach each of our traffic men their duties. At first, it was rather laughed at, but at present, I think of all of the merchants of the city, and the people involved appreciate the safety and acceleration that have taken place in handling the traffic. “Before we came into office the commerce in cocaine had reached alarming proportions, and it was through the prompt action of the board and the passage of the Swann Cocaine Law that it has been entirely wiped out of the city. An attempt was made to extend this law through the action of the last legislator to the entire state but was met with defeat. It is only a question of time before it will be taking up and passed, for it is a subject that is disturbing even the national government. “We got an act recently passed enabling a million-dollar loan so that many of the police stations can be rebuilt, and others added, and the eventual construction of a new Police Headquarters and Central District House combined. A place where the entire police department's business can be segregated and carried on. A place where a courthouse will have the accommodations are what they should be. As it was then, the court's business was getting so busy that all the space in the courthouse was required. “We also had passed a bill limiting to one year all eligible lists, either, "appointment on the force" or, "promotion in the force." Under the old system, men would take an examination test and that list would remain in effect until the men were either appointed or rejected, which in some cases could last as many as three to four years. Now every man will get a chance every year to reach the top of any eligibility list. “Another law we had passed was a very drastic one against the carrying of concealed weapons. This will bring quite a little income into the department, for a certain charge will be made for all persons whose duties require the carrying of weapons, and the board has power under this law to permit them to do so. We also had passed a law whereby all private detectives must be licensed by our police board. Which will do away with blackmailing and graft? This too will bring a recurring income to the department, as there is an annual charge for such a privilege. “We had passed a law giving the BOC the right to regulate the charges of taxicabs and giving the owners of those companies an equal standing with the passengers to enforce collection of charges. “It has been the idea of the present BOC that all grades of the department should be within themselves graded; in other words, a man should always have something he can look forward too. The law recently introduced in the legislature to carry this out and at the same time to give an additional number of men, who are sorely required, was defeated. This bill established three grades of Patrolman, and it was the idea to eventually have two grades of Sergeants two grades of Detectives, a Round Sergeant and two grades of Lieutenants, with the single grade of Captain. Col. Swann said, "A man always has to have something to work for and another step to climb in the latter of promotion. "Another law that was defeated was that giving the board power to pay a man a sum of money not exceeding one-year salary who had served less than 16 years who had some incurable malady, and not compel the board to appear heartless by the preferring charges of inefficiency against such a man in order to drop them from the department." "Still another law that was defeated was one requiring all pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers to report daily to the police department all things pledged with them. This law is in effect in almost all the principal cities of the country, and here it would have saved the services of 10 to 12 detectives/officers daily, who could have given their time to other duties. ”Here are some of the things done by the board during the two years Col. Swann has been at the head of it. Merit system followed as far as civil service law permits, and politics kept out of the department. A system of maps instituted for each police district, whereby the use of tacks with different color heads necessary information can be obtained at a glance. A new form of printed “lookout sheet” or special daily information for the men. The issues of a week or two can easily be carried. Substituted for the old typewritten, bulky ones, which were cumbersome to carry and difficult to read. These would be printed on a small sheet small enough to fit in your pocket. [This sounds like he is describing what we used to know as a "Lookout sheet/book"] New Detective headquarters established. New rooms for Bureau of Identification. Partitions, Telephone booths, etc., at Headquarters. Adoption of mask system by detectives, whereby all Detectives can see criminals, yet the criminals cannot see them. Before this was put into practice, only a few Detectives would ever look at the offenders. Proprietors of one-half of the saloons in the city prevailed upon to remove blinds during prohibited hours of selling simply by request. Acknowledged long service of 40 years by a special insignia. Adopted insignia to show details of Traffic, Marine, and water services. Donated Swann Gold Medal for Bravery [not yet won] Protection of men against members of their families running them into debt without their knowledge or consent. Assignment of men near their homes and to congenial duties as far as possible, on the principle that a man always does better under those circumstances. Adoption of a complete check system for all possible payments. Kept records of men, crediting them only with convictions secured and no arrest made. The latter would often lead to unwarranted arrests. Pistol practice is given, resulting in about 80% of the men now being able to shoot with accuracy. Before that many had never fired a shot in their lives. Had arranged for the teaching of each man the A B Cs of “first aid to the injured,” which may at times be the means of saving lives. A relentless war against bookmakers and gamblers. Rigid enforcement of liquor license laws. Establishment of an absolute legal system for the measuring and photographing of criminals, and the humane use of such a right. Insulation of motor patrol wagons, which do twice the mileage and one quarter the time and that one half the expense of horse-drawn wagons. Installation of an automobile for the Marshal and Deputy Marshall. Before this was put in service not more than two or three districts could be inspected in a day. Now all eight are visited daily. Adoption of winter caps instead of helmets, to which can be attached short caps, protecting the men in bitterly cold weather. Adoption of state crest emblem, with men’s number, which any citizen can plainly see. [NOTE; Current hat device]Adoption of quark helmet for summer, which protects the men from heat prostrations. Adoption of belts and dress sticks white stripe down patrolman’s trouser and winged collars. Christmas presents entirely barred out, which saves the men from contributing when they often could not afford it. Almost complete weeding out of drunkards and drunkenness within the department. Instilling in the minds of the men that they should look upon the profession of the policeman as an honorable one. Advocating what is known as "esprit de corps. "Finding the men days of holidays and punishment instead of money, so that they themselves must pay the fine and not their families. [The reason they used to take days instead of money began here]Established Museum of tools used by burglars, etc., so that men can see and know what such things are if they see anyone with them. Establishment of a motorcycle squad, to enforce traffic laws. Publication in the lookout sheet of every man’s name before he is appointed a member of the force, and requiring a complete inquiry into his character, etc., in order to avoid the possibility of men of a bad character getting on. Partially solving the traffic problem on Pratt Street, which the laying of the car tracks on the north side, instead of in the center of the street, made most difficult. Placing of canopies over traffic men at certain street intersections in the summer where they can obtain protection from the sun rays. Construction of sleeping quarters at headquarters for detectives, so they can rest comfortably until needed, and not be compelled to sit up all night and chairs. This has been the means of adding the services of two men previously lost. Handling of traffic problem and protection against the danger of accident on Mount Vernon and Washington places. Adoption of a system of telephoning to and keeping on record at headquarters happenings in each district. Placing of thermometers and sell rooms at each station house, so that proper temperatures can be maintained in winter. Employment of telephone clerks and station houses. Handling of traffic at theaters. Instituting an order that injuries to men be reported in 24 hours so that record can be made, whether such was received in the line of duty, or of duty in order that if an application is afterward made for retirement with a pension, the records will show whether deserved or not. Conveniences for newspaperman at headquarters.

A Lineup of Crooks Stopped - No More will New York Execrate Ancient Byrnes Institution.

Sunday, 13 Aug 1911

Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun

New York, August 12 – The ancient “Line-Up” of crooks, an institution invented by Inspector Byrnes and regarded with veneration by police headquarters for 25 years, was eliminated today by order of inspector Hughes. No longer will Detectives from Wakefield and Tottenville waste two hours of their working time coming to the headquarters to look at wiretappers and “Moil buzzers.” No longer will 482 men and mask trample on each other’s heels to look over a crowd of supposed criminals, in which not one 10^th of them could have the slightest interest. The old system was devised by inspector Byrnes for a Detective Bureau of 40 men. The Bureau has outgrown it. Hereafter detectives will only be called to headquarters to see prisoners who may be of particular interest to them. The fingerprint and battalion men will attend to general identifications. The system has come to be execrated by all New Yorkers in private life.

Alleged Theft Silent

7 December 1913

William Myers Fearless of Masked Detectives

William Myers, male white 30 years old, alias “Bill” Morris, and known among his pals as “Brigham,” stood under the spotlight in the detective bureau yesterday and defied the detectives when questioned. Myers is accused by detective day and Davis as well is patrolman Don, of the Northwestern district, of robbing the suburban homes of Mr. Henry Berg under an L. G. Peppler on 22 November at the Northwest police station yesterday morning Myers was charged by Capt. Henry with robbing the home of trolls E. Hill Gardner, 3503 Fairview Ave., 122 November

Three men are now held in Philadelphia on the charge of receiving stolen silverware alleged to have been taken to the Quaker city by Myers. Myers was arrested after a battle with Patrolman Don Friday night.

“I will tell you nothing,” Myers snapped at the detectives one subjected to a grilling. “Don’t waste time asking me questions, I don’t tell things to people I don’t know.” The 40 eyes of the detectives peered at Myers from behind their white masks, the experience was not a new one for the prisoner and he nonchalantly gazed about the room while being “sized up.”

He was first photographed and “taped” [measured] for the Rogue’s Gallery six years ago. Myers was delivered to the Baltimore holding cell authorities after his visit to headquarters. 

For More Detectives

24 February 1919

Marshall Carter and Police Board Planning Reorganized Bureau - A Need for Men is Imperative -  City’s Growth Makes The Necessary - Greater Force Of Plainclothes - Men To Handle Increase In Crime

Plans for the reorganization of the detective bureau, which will include an additional 25 men and new quarters, are being worked out by Marshall Carter and members of the police board, and it will be contained in a police bill to be presented to the next legislature. For several years Marshall Carter and the police commissioners have realized the lack of men in the detective branch of the police department, and now that the city is twice its former size, the need of efficient plainclothes men is imperative. No change is anticipated in the general personnel of the Bureau, but Marshall Carter has long since recognized the fact that the department, in general, has been somewhat handicapped because of lack of a sufficient number of detectives to meet the increase in crime – a natural thing with the growth of a metropolis.

Detective Capt. McGovern, who has been executive Ed of the Bureau for 10 years, has seen the work of his branch of the service grow until there are not enough men to handle it properly. Men are frequently switched from one case to another and are not given sufficient time to ferret out one job before another is assigned to them. As a result of this system, the men cannot concentrate as their chiefs would have them. Police Commissioner E. F. Burke and Marshall Carter have agreed that 50 men are a reasonable number for the Bureau. The men must be arranged in couples and the legislature will be asked to create new ranks. It is not the intention of either Marshall Carter or Mr. Burke to have the Bureau cluttered with man ranking as detective Lieut. The Marshal proposes to allow the present members of the Bureau to remain as detective lieutenants. The additional men picked for detective work will go to the Bureau as detective sergeants or as an ordinary plainclothes patrolman.

Would put men on Mattie

Much of the ordinary work now assigned to detective lieutenants could then be given detective sergeants or ordinary detectives. In establishing three grades in the Bureau. Marshall Carter and members of the police board believes that excellent results will follow. There would exist and incentives for the under detective by good work in the apprehension of criminals to rise to the grade of Detective Lieut. Marshall Carter is convinced that the system would result in the best material in the department being given an opportunity to produce results. Any day of the week will find less than a score of detectives on duty in the city allowances must be made for the men off duty. Those sick and those in other cities bring back alleged malefactors. Capt. McGovern is himself frequently obliged to take reports and furnace information which should be done by a subordinate.

Some of the detectives may be opposed to the establishment of the three grades in the Bureau, due to their belief that they may be transferred from the highest grade to the lower grade but it is understood that a provision will be made that any detective rating as detective Lieut. cannot be reduced accepts on charges. This provision clearly protects the men, but it will not apply to detective – sergeants and the plainclothesmen. If men assigned to the Bureau failed to measure up after a reasonable time, they simply will be transferred back to the uniform force and other named to fill their places. Marshall Carter said that there should be not less than five detectives in the motor division, for in the combustibles division, for in the homicide division, for in the bogus check division, six for special I classwork and 25 men for burglaries, petty theft, and general complaints.

Facing the Mask - Looking for Answers

An outstanding webpage was pointed out to us to help find answers to questions about the following photo, we will do our thing which is to conduct an investigation, only now that I am retired we call it research, so we'll research to pick, try to come up with who what when where and why.. typical rules for police work when conducting an investigation, reporters while writing an article, and moms and dads when their kids do something stupid... The difference between police and moms and dads, or the media's "who what when where and why" we would need to be able to go into a courtroom and show how we came up with our conclusion, we need evidence, witnesses have to be sworn in and testify too. Also, we are not allowed to speculate. Thinking back to Dragnet when the detective would say, "Just the facts!" LOL. Anyway, we'll include the photographs and their source. The Source is a Baltimore Police History Book released in 1907 and then again in 1909. The issue was the 1907 version had photographs of working detectives, the 1909 version is the same book, but they included some gold paint over the detective's faces. Two points about this gold paint and the year 1909, first the gold pant is telling, it's a lot like the white masks (called a Domino Mask) but these domino masks had white napkins attached to them, via staples or tape, two napkins the first held in place by the mask, the second taped or happened beneath the mask or possibly it was unfolded to help cover both the sides of the mask around the eyes and under the mask hiding the mouth. Similar to the gold pant in the 1909 book was to hide the identity of our detectives. The next thing we know this occurred prior to 1907 otherwise it wouldn't be in the McCabe Book (somethings are so obvious they almost don't need to be mentioned, but the mentioning of them does help with research/investigation. While researching Marshal Farnan of the Baltimore Police Department we came across a 1907 newspaper article that would indicate Baltimore's Police Department was the first in the United States to use fingerprinting to catalog criminals in our country. The 1907 article went on to report the following; "In line with this tendency in the ancient trade is the fingerprint method of identification, invented by E. R. Henry, of Scotland Yard, London. Shortly after its introduction, it was tried and put to use Baltimore. On 26 November 1904, when Sgt. Casey, chief of the local Bureau of Identification officially printed  John Randles, a suspect being held on a theft charge. Randles had a criminal record and became the first person in the United States that was officially printed under this new system. Before this, they used the Bertillon system. The initial thought was to use both systems side by side, but time, cost and accuracy had us dropping the Bertillon System, which was also cut by other agencies around the country and the world for that matter when before long the only country using both systems was France, Alphonse Bertillon's home country was from. This would have been done in the early 1900s started in New York, we didn't have two-way mirrors until 1903 so we had to have a way of hiding faces while looking at suspects. So every morning detectives would put on these cheap domino masks and use a paper napkin to hide the rest of their faces, while everyone arrested overnight was brought by one by one to let the detectives have a look at them. With this the detectives got a look at their local pick-pockets, car or horse thieves, burglars, etc. and the suspects didn't get to see who would be coming after them. They hoped it would have the criminals think twice before committing a crime In one article they leave the room showing this technique to a reporter, to go over to a Ruge's alley, in the books they see a young lady that looked like a school teacher, turned out she was a horse thief. This practice was stopped because photos were becoming more easily accessible, two-way mirrors were available and marching prisoners by one by one every morning was becoming a waste of a lot of time. A couple of things this had in common with the two-way mirror or physical line up was, the suspect was under brightest lights while the witnesses/detectives were put under a dimly lit part of the room. So this was the predecessor to the physical line up and the two-way mirror. We'll use the same close-ups provided by our reader in their questions to us about these photos

Here we have Detectives with their faces covered using White Napkins and White Domino Masks

Looking more closely a the photo we see the top white napkin is held in place by the white Domino mask, the bottom napkin held on by tape or staples, the idea is just to disguise the detective and hide his identity from the subject in the room. 

Here we have the suspect, basically in the old days prior to the early 1990s police stations had courtrooms inside the station. Then until the mid to late 1990's Police Stations in Baltimore had holding cells, so when an officer made an arrest, the subject was held in the station house cell-block until they saw a court commissioner and then they were either released, or sent over to Baltimore City Jail t be held until their court date. In the early 1990's we had East Side courts opened and our station house courtrooms closed up, then in the late 1990s the cell blocks closed up when we opened what was called CBIF (Central Booking Intake Facility) This picture being taken back in the early 1900s prior to 1904 the year the book was first released, we know they were still using police station courtrooms and cell blocks. We have shown this to police friends just to see what they may have heard, or just what they might think is going on. We got a lot of people suggesting it was either prior to the two way mirror, or the two way mirrors would have been too expensive so we covered faces of witnesses and detectives so the suspect couldn't tell who was picking him or her, then one at a time a half dozen or so inmates would be brought through in hopes of one of them being identified by the victim.  Others said they have heard of this and t was a system from back in the early 1900s in which suspects arrested overnight would be brought out one at a time in front of the district's detectives, so the detectives would get to know their pick-pockets, horse or car thieves, robbery suspects, burglary, shoplifters, etc. The idea was the detectives would know who they should be looking for, the suspects would not get to know who their districts detectives were. The men without masks were known detectives, maybe the arresting, or supervisors. So these were the two most common answers. So that is where we needed to start. 

We'll start with the two-way mirror and the history of same - The first two-way mirror called the 'transparent mirror' was invented by Emil Bloch. He was a Russian who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio when he patented his 'transparent mirror' on February 17th, 1903. Emil's design was close to what we call a two-way mirror today. It had a thinner layer of reflective metal on it so that in certain lighting conditions it could act as a window, while in regular lighting conditions, it acted as a regular mirror. So if the two-way mirror was invented in Feb of 1903 and these shots were published in 1907, chances are the Baltimore police department was not using a two-way mirror yet. So this white mask could have been used for both witness identification, and detectives to get to know what suspects might look like. In the last 1800 we started and refined one of the best Battalion systems in the country, Alphonzo Battalion was a French Police officer that developed a system of measuring and photographing prisoners for identification. Of his system, the only thing that is still used today is the Mug shots, front-on, and a profile. Back then they called it being "mugged," for "Rogues' Gallery".  In 1904 Marshal Farnan went to the Chicago Worlds Fair and Chiefs of Police meeting where he sat in on a fingerprint course, developed by English Police Sir Edward   

Our Findings

Here are our finding based on media reports of the times. Their stories tell us where the system came from when we started using the system, and what the system developed into. There was a method of viewing suspects while keeping their identity anonymous. The two-way mirror was invented in 1903/04 and wouldn't make it's way into Baltimore Police buildings for some 90+ year with the addition of the annex building named after Commissioner Bishop L. Robinson. Before this, but after the White Mask System, we had a Black Screen System in which had bright lights over the suspect(s) in a physical line up not only lit the suspect for better identification but made it hard for them to see out into the darkened portion of the viewing area. The White Mask idea that came to us from New York Police would only last a few years before it was dropped here too. The idea brought to us by the President of the Board of Commissioner; Colonel Sherlock Swann. While it was an odd idea for detectives to view suspects, it was a nice idea for victims to see potential suspects and pick them from a line up of as many as six similar-looking suspects without fear of being identified by the suspect. Dropping the masks, relying on lighting and a black cloth screen, the White Mask system developed into a system that would be used into the year 2000/01. Other ideas as you have no doubt already read above that were brought to us by Col. Swann, who by the way was only on the board for two years will have been found above. He brought us, two motorcycles to work from our traffic division in 1908 a full six years before we had our own Motor’s Unit. He produced, “Look Out Books,” merged the Police Department with the Detective Department. He wanted to be able to promote officers to become detectives and put detectives not worthy of the job, in a uniform. He believed in not punishing a family for the shortcomings of the father/husband, and with that felt giving a man an opportunity, to a point where he came up with the idea of taking days over fining officers for violating general orders. He devised a system of using toy cars to help train traffic police. These ideas and others were hopefully already read in the writings above. Col. Swann may have been a little odd, but he brought our department some of the better rules and regulations, as well as equipment. I think the mask idea was strange, but what it developed into was helpful in solving many crimes over the years. Likewise, he admitted at the time his system of using toys cars to train traffic officers was at first, "laughed at," but then found to be extremely helpful, it too has been used for years in training, developing traffic patterns and even courtroom testimony. The above articles should have explained where we gathered much of this information, we hope you have or will read it and enjoy it. Also, stop back from time to time as we plan on adding information as it comes in. 

Note - The first two-way mirror was called the 'Transparent Mirror' it was invented by Emil Bloch. He was a Russian who lived in Cincinnati, Ohio when he patented his 'Transparent mirror' on 17 February 1903 his design was close to what we call a two-way mirror today. It had a thinner layer of reflective metal on it so that in certain lighting conditions it could act as a window, while in regular lighting conditions, it acted as a regular mirror. Since this was invented in 1903, it would have taken a few years, for it to begin use in law enforcement, and in fact maybe into the '70s before it was being seen in police buildings. Before this, they used dark rooms, screens, and lighting to prevent suspects from seeing witnesses, or undercover police well enough to identify or recognize them. Before this, a system developed in the NYPD was used, in which a white lone ranger's looking mask called a "Domino Mask" was used. These only covered around the eyes a little, so the detectives were known to staple paper napkins under the mask to prevent their cheeks, mouths, and any potentially recognizable facial hair from being seen. This was particularly useful for victims and or witnesses that wanted their identities protected while viewing potential suspects of crimes.  

 

Sherlock Holmes Baltimore MP3

One summer evening in 1889, a young medical school graduate named Arthur Conan Doyle arrived by train at London’s Victoria Station and took a hansom cab two and a half miles north to the famed Langham Hotel on Upper Regent Street. Then living in obscurity in the coastal town of Southsea, near Portsmouth, the 30-year-old ophthalmologist was looking to advance his writing career. The magazine Beeton’s Christmas Annual had recently published his novel, A Study in Scarlet, which introduced the private detective Sherlock Holmes. Now Joseph Marshall Stoddart, managing editor of Lippincott’s Monthly, a Philadelphia magazine, was in London to establish a British edition of his publication. At the suggestion of a friend, he had invited Conan Doyle to join him for dinner in the Langham’s opulent dining room.

From This Story

Amid the bustle of waiters, the chink of fine silver and the hum of dozens of conversations, Conan Doyle found Stoddart to be “an excellent fellow,” he would write years later. But he was captivated by one of the other invited guests, an Irish playwright and author named Oscar Wilde. “His conversation left an indelible impression upon my mind,” Conan Doyle remembered. “He had a curious precision of statement, a delicate flavor of humor, and a trick of small gestures to illustrate his meaning.” For both writers, the evening would prove a turning point. Wilde left with a commission to write his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which appeared in Lippincott’s June 1890 issue. And Conan Doyle agreed to produce a second novel starring his ace detective; The Sign of Four would cement his reputation. Indeed, critics have speculated that the encounter with Wilde, an exponent of a literary movement known as the Decadents, led Conan Doyle to deepen and darken Sherlock Holmes’ character: in The Sign of Four’s opening scene, Holmes is revealed to be addicted to a “seven-percent solution” of cocaine.

Today the Langham Hotel sits atop Regent Street like a grand yet faded dowager, conjuring up a mostly vanished Victorian landscape. The interior has been renovated repeatedly over the past century. But the Langham’s exterior—monolithic sandstone facade, with wrought-iron balconies, French windows and a columned portico—has hardly changed since the evening Conan Doyle visited 120 years ago. Roger Johnson, publicity director of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, a 1,000-strong band of Holmes devotees, points to the hotel’s mention in several Holmes tales, including The Sign of Four, and says it’s a kind of shrine for Sherlockians. “It’s one of those places where the worlds of Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes come together,” he adds. Others include the Lyceum Theater, where one of Conan Doyle’s plays was produced (and a location in The Sign of Four), as well as the venerable gentlemen’s clubs along the thoroughfare of the Strand, establishments that Conan Doyle frequented during forays into the city from his estate in Surrey. Conan Doyle also appropriated St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in central London as a setting; it was there that the legendary initial meeting between Holmes and Dr. Watson took place.

Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of Charles Doyle, an alcoholic who would spend much of his later life in a mental institution, and Mary Foley Doyle, the attractive, lively daughter of an Irish doctor and a teacher; she loved literature and, according to biographer Andrew Lycett, beguiled her children with her storytelling. Marking the sesqui­centennial of Conan Doyle’s birth, Edinburgh held a marathon of talks, exhibitions, walking tours, plays, films and public performances. Harvard University sponsored a three-day lecture series examining Holmes’ and Conan Doyle’s legacy. This past spring, novelist Lyndsay Faye published a new thriller, Dust and Shadow, featuring Holmes squaring off against Jack the Ripper. And last month, of course, Holmes took center stage in director Guy Ritchie’s Hollywood movie Sherlock Holmes, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson.

A persuasive case can be made that Holmes exerts just as much hold on the world’s imagination today as he did a century ago. The Holmesian canon—four novels and 56 stories—continues to sell briskly around the world. The coldly calculating genius in the deerstalker cap, wrestling with his inner demons as he solves crimes that befuddle Scotland Yard, stands as one of literature’s most vivid and most alluring creations.

Conan Doyle’s other alluring creation was London. Although the author lived only a few months in the capital before moving to the suburbs, he visited the city frequently throughout his life. Victorian London takes on almost the presence of a character in the novels and stories, as fully realized—in all its fogs, back alleys and shadowy quarters—as Holmes himself. “Holmes could never have lived anywhere else but London,” says Lycett, author of the recent biography The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes: The Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. “London was the hub of the empire. In addition to the Houses of Parliament, it had the sailors’ hostels and the opium dens of the East End, the great railway stations. And it was the center of the literary world.”

Much of that world, of course, has been lost. The British Clean Air Act of 1956 would consign to history the coal-fueled fogs that shrouded many Holmes adventures and imbued them with menace. (“Mud-coloured clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets,” Conan Doyle writes in The Sign of Four. “Down the Strand, the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which threw a feeble circular glimmer upon the slimy pavement.”) The blitz and postwar urban redevelopment swept away much of London’s labyrinthine and crime-ridden East End, where “The Man With the Twisted Lip” and other stories are set. Even so, it is still possible to retrace many of the footsteps that Conan Doyle might have taken in London, to follow him from the muddy banks of the Thames to the Old Bailey and obtain a sense of the Victorian world he transmuted into art.

He first encountered London at the age of 15, while on a three-week vacation from Stonyhurst, the Jesuit boarding school to which his Irish Catholic parents consigned him in northern England. “I believe I am 5 foot 9 high,” the young man told his aunt, so she could spot him at Euston station, “pretty stout, clad in dark garments, and above all, with a flaring red muffler round my neck.” Escorted around the city by his uncles, young Conan Doyle took in the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the Crystal Palace, and viewed a performance of Hamlet, starring Henry Irving, at the Lyceum Theater in the West End. And he went to the Chamber of Horrors at Madame Tussaud’s wax museum, then located in the Baker Street Bazaar (and on Marylebone Road today). Conan Doyle viewed with fascination wax models of those who had died on the guillotine during the French Revolution as well as likenesses of British murderers and other arch-criminals. While there, the young man sketched the death scene of French radical Jean-Paul Marat, stabbed in his bath at the height of the Revolution. After visiting the museum, Conan Doyle wrote in a letter to his mother that he had been irresistibly drawn to “the images of the murderers.”

More than a decade later, having graduated from medical school in Edinburgh and settled in Southsea, the 27-year-old physician chose London for the backdrop of a novel about a “consulting detective” who solves crimes by applying keen observation and logic. Conan Doyle had been heavily influenced by Dr. Joseph Bell, whom he met at the Edinburgh Infirmary and whose diagnostic powers amazed his students and colleagues. Also, Conan Doyle had read the works of Edgar Allan Poe, including the 1841 “Murders in the Rue Morgue,” featuring inspector C. Auguste Dupin. Notes for an early draft of A Study in Scarlet—first called “A Tangled Skein”—describe a “Sherringford Holmes” who keeps a collection of rare violins and has access to a chemical laboratory; Holmes is aided by his friend Ormond Sacker, who has seen military service in Sudan. In the published version of A Study in Scarlet, Sacker becomes Dr. John H. Watson, who was shot in the shoulder by a “Jezail bullet” in Afghanistan and invalided in 1880 to London—“that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained.” As the tale opens, Watson learns from an old friend at the Criterion Bar of “a fellow who is working at the chemical laboratory up at the hospital [St. Bartholomew’s],” who is looking to share lodgings. Watson finds Holmes poised over a test tube in the middle of an “infallible” experiment to detect human blood stains. Holmes makes the now-immortal observation: “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.” (Holmes pieces together a series of clues—Watson’s deep tan; an injury to his left arm; a background in medicine; a haggard face—to deduce that Watson had served as an army doctor there.) The physician, intrigued, moves in with Holmes into the “cheerfully furnished” rooms at 221B Baker Street.

The address is another shrine for the detective’s devotees—although, as any expert will attest, 221 Baker Street existed only in Conan Doyle’s imagination. In the Victorian era, Baker Street went up to only number 85. It then became York Place and eventually Upper Baker Street. (Conan Doyle was hardly a stickler for accuracy in his Holmes stories; he garbled some street names and invented others and put a goose seller in Covent Garden, then a flower and produce market.) But some Sherlockians have made a sport out of searching for the “real” 221B, parsing clues in the texts with the diligence of Holmes himself. “The question is, Did Holmes and Watson live in Upper Baker or in Baker?” says Roger Johnson, who occasionally leads groups of fellow pilgrims on expeditions through the Marylebone neighborhood. “There are arguments in favor of both. There are even arguments in favor of York Place. But the most convincing is that it was the lower section of Baker Street.”

One drizzly afternoon I join Johnson and Ales Kolodrubec, president of the Czech Society of Sherlock Holmes, who is visiting from Prague, on a walk through Marylebone in search of the location Conan Doyle might have had in mind for Holmes’ abode. Armed with an analysis written by Bernard Davies, a Sherlockian who grew up in the area, and a detailed 1894 map of the neighborhood, we thread through cobblestone mews and alleys to a block-long passage, Kendall Place, lined by brick buildings. Once a hodgepodge of stables and servants’ quarters, the street is part of a neighborhood that is now mainly full of businesses. In the climax of the 1903 story “The Empty House,” Holmes and Watson sneak through the back entrance of a deserted dwelling, whose front windows face directly onto 221B Baker Street. The description of the Empty House matches that of the old town house we’re looking at. “The ‘real’ 221B,” Johnson says decisively, “must have stood across the road.” It’s a rather disappointing sight: today the spot is marked by a five-story glass-and-concrete office building with a smoothie-and-sandwich take-away shop on the ground floor.

In 1989, Upper Baker and York Place having been merged into Baker Street decades earlier, a London salesman and music promoter, John Aidiniantz, bought a tumbledown Georgian boardinghouse at 239 Baker Street and converted it into the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

A fake London bobby was patrolling in front when I arrived there one weekday afternoon. After paying my £6 entry fee (about $10), I climbed 17 stairs—the exact number mentioned in the Holmes story “A Scandal in Bohemia”—and entered a small, shabby parlor filled with Victorian and Edwardian furniture, along with props that seemed reasonably faithful to the description of the drawing room provided by Watson in “The Empty House”: “The chemical corner and the acid-stained deal-topped table....The diagrams, the violin case, and the pipe rack.” Watson’s stuffy bedroom was one flight up, crammed with medical paraphernalia and case notes; a small exhibition hall, featuring lurid dioramas from the stories and wax figurines of Sherlock Holmes and archenemy Professor Moriarty, filled the third floor. Downstairs in the gift shop, tourists were browsing through shelves of bric-a-brac: puzzles, key rings, busts of Holmes, DVDs, chess sets, deerstalker caps, meerschaum pipes, tobacco tins, porcelain statuettes and salt and pepper shakers. For a weekday afternoon, business seemed brisk.

But it has not been a universal hit. In 1990 and 1994, scholar Jean Upton published articles in the now-defunct magazine Baker Street Miscellanea criticizing “the shoddiness of the displays” at the museum, the rather perfunctory attention to Holmesian detail (no bearskin rug, no cigars in the coal scuttle) and the anachronistic furniture, which she compared to “the dregs of a London flea market.” Upton sniffed that Aidiniantz himself possessed only superficial knowledge of the canon, although, she wrote, he “gives the impression of considering himself the undisputed authority on the subject of Sherlock Holmes and his domicile.”

“I’m happy to call myself a rank amateur,” Aidiniantz replies.

For verisimilitude, most Sherlockians prefer the Sherlock Holmes Pub, on Northumberland Street, just below Trafalgar Square, which is packed with Holmesiana, including a facsimile head of the Hound of the Baskervilles and Watson’s “newly framed portrait of General Gordon,” the British commander killed in 1885 at the siege of Khartoum and mentioned in “The Cardboard Box” and “The Resident Patient.” The collection also includes Holmes’ handcuffs, and posters, photographs and memorabilia from movies and plays recreating the Holmes stories. Upstairs, behind a glass wall, is a far more faithful replica of the 221B sitting room.

In 1891, following the breakout success of The Sign of Four, Conan Doyle moved with his wife, Louise, from Southsea to Montague Place in Bloomsbury, around the corner from the British Museum. He opened an oph­thalmological practice at 2 Upper Wimpole Street in Marylebone, a mile away. (In his memoirs, Conan Doyle mistakenly referred to the address as 2 Devonshire Place. The undistinguished, red-brick town house still stands, marked by a plaque put up by the Westminster City Council and the Arthur Conan Doyle Society.) The young author secured one of London’s best-known literary agents, A.P. Watt, and made a deal with The Strand, a new monthly magazine, to write a series of short stories starring Holmes. Fortunately for his growing fan base, Conan Doyle’s medical practice proved an utter failure, affording him plenty of time to write. “Every morning I walked from the lodgings at Montague Place, reached my consulting-room at ten and sat there until three or four, with never a ring to disturb my serenity,” he would later remember. “Could better conditions for reflection and work be found?”

Between 1891 and 1893, at the height of his creative powers, Conan Doyle produced 24 stories for The Strand, which were later collected under the titles The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. As the stories caught on, The Strand’s readership doubled; on publication day, thousands of fans would form a crush around London bookstalls to snap up the detective’s latest adventure. A few months after arriving in London, the writer moved again, with his wife and his young daughter, Mary, to Tennison Road in the suburb of South Norwood. Several years later, with his fame and fortune growing, he continued his upward migration, this time to a country estate, Undershaw, in Surrey.

But Conan Doyle, a socially and politically active man, was drawn repeatedly back to the bustle and intercourse of London, and many of the characters and places he encountered found their way into the stories. The Langham, the largest and by many accounts best hotel in Victorian London, was one of Conan Doyle’s haunts. Noted for its salubrious location on Upper Regent Street (“much healthier than the peat bogs of Belgravia near the River Thames favored by other hoteliers,” as the Langham advertised when it opened in 1865) and sumptuous interiors, the hotel was a magnet for British and American literati, including the poets Robert Browning and Algernon Swinburne, the writer Mark Twain and the explorer Henry Morton Stanley before he set out to find Dr. Livingstone in Africa. It was at the Langham that Conan Doyle would place a fictional king of Bohemia, the 6-foot-6 Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, as a guest. In “A Scandal in Bohemia,” published in 1891, the rakish, masked Bohemian monarch hires Holmes to recover an embarrassing photograph from a former lover. “You will find me at The Langham, under the name of Count Von Kramm,” the king informs the detective.

Another institution that figured both in Conan Doyle’s real and imagined life was the Lyceum Theatre in the West End, a short walk from Piccadilly Circus. Conan Doyle’s play Waterloo had its London opening there in 1894, starring Henry Irving, the Shakespearian thespian he had admired two decades earlier during his first London trip. In The Sign of Four, Holmes’ client, Mary Morstan, receives a letter directing her to meet a mysterious correspondent at the Lyceum’s “third pillar from the left,” now another destination for Sherlockians. Conan Doyle was an active member of both the Authors’ Club on Dover Street and the Athenaeum Club on Pall Mall, near Buckingham Palace. The latter served as the model for the Diogenes Club, where Watson and Holmes go to meet Holmes’ older brother, Mycroft, in “The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter.”

Although Holmes made his creator wealthy and famous, Conan Doyle quickly wearied of the character. “He really thought that his literary vocation was elsewhere,” says Lycett, the biographer. “He was going to be somebody a bit like Walter Scott, who would write these great historical novels.” According to David Stuart Davies, who has written five Holmes mystery novels and two one-man shows about Holmes, Conan Doyle “wanted to prove that he was more than just a mystery writer, a man who made puzzles for a cardboard character to solve. He was desperate to cut the shackles of Sherlock from him,” so much so that in 1893, Conan Doyle sent Holmes plummeting to his death over the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland along with Professor Moriarty.

But less than a decade later—during which Conan Doyle wrote a series of swashbuckling pirate stories and a novel, among other works, which were received with indif­ference—popular demand, and the promise of generous remuneration, eventually persuaded him to resuscitate the detective, first in the masterful novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, which appeared in 1901, then in a spate of less well-regarded stories that he continued writing until he died of a heart attack in 1930 at age 71. In addition to the Holmes stories, Conan Doyle had written some 60 works of nonfiction and fiction, including plays, poetry and such science-fiction classics as The Lost World, and amassed a fortune of perhaps $9 million in today’s dollars. “Conan Doyle never realized what he’d created in Sherlock Holmes,” says Davies. “What would he say today if he could see what he spawned?”

Late one morning, I head for the neighborhood around St. Paul’s Cathedral and walk along the Thames, passing underneath the Millennium Bridge. In The Sign of Four, Holmes and Watson set off one evening on a “mad, flying manhunt” on the Thames in pursuit of a villain escaping in a launch. “One great yellow lantern in our bows threw a long, flickering funnel of light in front of us,” Conan Doyle wrote. The pursuit ends in “a wild and desolate place, where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marshland, with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation.” Today the muddy riverbank, with rotting wooden pilings protruding from the water, still bears faint echoes of that memorable chase.

I cross St. Paul’s churchyard, wind through alleys and meet Johnson in front of the stately Henry VIII gate at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Founded in 1123 by a courtier of Henry I, Barts is located in Smithfield, a section of the city that once held a medieval execution ground. There, heretics and traitors, including the Scottish patriot William Wallace (portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film Braveheart), were drawn and quartered. The square is surrounded by public houses—one half-timbered structure dates to Elizabethan times—that cater to workers in the Smithfield meat market, a sprawling Victorian edifice with a louvered roof where cattle were driven and slaughtered as late as the 1850s. In the hospital’s small museum, a plaque erected by the Baker Street Irregulars, an American Holmesian group, commemorates the first meeting of Holmes and Watson in the now-defunct chemistry lab.

We end up in Poppins Court, an alley off Fleet Street, which some Holmes followers insist is the Pope’s Court in the story “The Red-Headed League.” In that comic tale, Holmes’ client, the dim-witted pawnbroker Jabez Wilson, answers a newspaper ad offering £4 a week to a man “sound in body and mind” whose only other qualifications are that he must have red hair and be over 21. Wilson applies for the job, along with hundreds of other redheads, in an office building located in an alley off Fleet Street, Pope’s Court. “Fleet Street,” wrote Conan Doyle, “was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope’s Court looked like a coster’s [fruit seller’s] orange barrow.” The job, which requires copying out the Encyclopaedia Britannica for four hours a day, is a ruse to keep Wilson from his pawnshop for eight weeks—while thieves drill into the bank vault next door. Studying a 19th-century map of the district as the lunchtime crowd bustles past us, Johnson has his doubts. “I don’t think Conan Doyle knew about Poppins Court at all, but it’s very convenient,” he says.

Conan Doyle, adds Johnson, “simply invented some places, and what we’re doing is finding real places that could match the invented ones.” Holmes’ creator may have exercised artistic license with London’s streets and markets. But with vivid evocations of the Victorian city—one recalls the fog-shrouded scene Conan Doyle conjures in A Study in Scarlet: “a dun-coloured veil hung over the house tops, looking like the reflections of the mud-coloured streets beneath”—he captured its essence like few other writers before or since.

 

 

The Baltimore Legend Of Sherlock Holmes
William M Dame

30 March 1947

The Baltimore legend of Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes, famous English detective, lived in Baltimore, in Frick’s Folly, Park Avenue and McMackin Street.

This theory – they prefer to call it a deduction – is advanced to buy the Six Napoleons, a group of Baltimoreans who are such ardent admirers of the Baker Street sleuth that they have formed an organization and meet once a month to discuss his adventures. The Six Napoleons explained – or deduced – Holmes’ Baltimore visit from the following facts. Holmes was a chemist and student of anatomy. His books reveal he was a connoisseur of oysters. The group of houses on the west side of Park Avenue, below McMechen Street, are replicas of the houses on Baker St., London. (Note there is a Baker Street within a mile if the Park Avenue, McMechen Street area, that may have drawn Holmes to the area.) Holmes, it was a perfectionist, they say, and where would he have gone, except Baltimore to get the best in medical science and the best in oysters? They clinch the argument with the statement that the city directory for 1876 list a Holmes at the Park Avenue address. Lloyd H. Denton, one of the Napoleons, explains how the Baker Street house happened to be built on Park Avenue: “Charles P. Frick, a merchant, visited his brother in London and was quite taken with the style of the houses on Baker Street. On his return to Baltimore, he built an almost identical row of houses, complete even with the blue fan lights.” James T. Hyslop, British advice of counsel in Baltimore, backed up Mr. Denton story of Frick’s folly, saying, “You have my word on it, those houses are good copies. I had to think twice to realize this is Baltimore, and not London.” Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character, created by Sir Arthur Cannon Doyle. However, the Six Napoleons, and studying Holmes, have associated him with so many varied subjects, that they have grown to know him as a real person. Last August, Alan Robertson organized a Sherlock Holmes society for Sherlock Holmes admirers. They had their first meeting early in September, when plans of an organization were made. Mr. Robertson, a lawyer, was elected Tantalus: Mr. Hyslop, Commissionaire, and Paul S. Clarkson, also a lawyer, was chosen Gasogene. The titles of the officers are taken from different events in the life of Sherlock Holmes. To understand them to require some knowledge of the “sacred writings of Cannon Doyle. The name of the group comes from the book. “The adventures of the six Napoleons.” The six Napoleons is a Psion society of the Baker Street irregulars, the national organization. Founded in 1934 one Christopher Morley and Vincent Starratt met on Holmes’s birthday, January 6, the idea spread and Psion societies, or chapters, or started in 15 cities. Every year, on January 6, members of the many chapters meet in New York for the annual convention. Promptly at 6 PM the delegates rise and drink a toast to “the woman.” Irene Adler, who once got the better of Sherlock Holmes. A subscription to “the Baker St., Journal, and a regular quarterly of Sherlockiana.” Published by the parent group, has been presented to the in knock Pratt library by the six Napoleons. The candidate for membership must be a true “Conanical” to pass the entrance examination “an exam that would make the average college graduate scurry for cover.” “We make the exam tough to discourage travelers,” says Mr. Robertson, “since our organization is composed of serious men pursuing a serious hobby.”

As an example of the questions used in the entrance exam the Tantalus offered the following:

1. What was the nature of the use of the hypodermic syringe mentioned in “the adventure of the missing three-quarter?”
2. What happened to the egg laid by the Christmas goose quote?
3. What was the title of the book in a knock J Trevor’s pocket when he was murdered?
4. What made the sheep lame?
5. What did the dog do in the night time?

The group is not seeking members. However, they will consider the candidacy of anyone who proves his true love for Sherlockiana, and can pass the exam. Explaining the real purpose of the group, “Napoleon” Robertson says, “we are men who find great enjoyment in the works of Sir Arthur Cannon Doyle. Our mutual interest has brought about a genuine feeling of comradeship. “It is significant,” he continues, “that only in a democracy can men gather and discuss the stories. In many countries, the Holmes tales are banned since they don’t conform with the policies of the government. In contrast to this, Sherlock Holmes is required reading for all applicants for membership on the Egyptian police.” The six Napoleons meet irregularly, about once a month. Mr. Robertson, the Tantalus, gives members time to prepare their arguments while he makes plans for any special events. “Then,” said Mr. Denton, “we meet at the call of the Tantalus.” The “bylaws” of the group state that each member pays for his own food and drink. There are no dues. At a typical meeting, the six Napoleons start their discussions at dinner. If one member has discovered something unusual, he presents his theory and tries to prove his point. Otherwise, the members chat back and forth around the table. At the annual dinner in New York, it is customary for members at the head of the table to be challenged from the floor. Any question is permissible if it relates to Sherlockiana. The national “bylaws” state that if the challenge party cannot answer the question, he must buy drinks for the house. The question might be: “what is the address of the redheaded league?” The casual reader could never answer; but the student of the Conanocals would answer, “7 Popes Court, Fleet St., London.” With the six Napoleons, the talk goes from one phase of Sherlockiana to another. No matter how hot the argument, there is an error of friendly seriousness at the meeting. Quite often, the discussion of the “sacred writings” lead to other fields, comparing Holmes is times with the present day. In discussing, “the hound of the Baskerville’s,” an argument started about the effectiveness of bloodhounds, as a result, members have been in correspondence with the FBI and police of Maryland and New York. Capt. Alexander Emerson, of the Baltimore Police Department, attended a recent meeting, and gave a talk on his experience with bloodhounds. He supported the theory that the hounds are effective only up to a certain point… They are not infallible. Then he digressed to talking about his experience with the vice squad. As a part of the January meeting, the members made a pilgrimage to the grave of Edgar Allan Poe, the father of the detective stories. They had to climb a fence to do it, but they gathered about the tomb and bowed their heads. In the future, any candidate must be willing to do the same. When “the red Mill” played at Ford’s theater, Jack waiting and Jack August and, who played Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in the show, or luncheon guests of the Napoleons. Mr. Whiting also dropped in on the January meeting. The members are usually busy with some phase of Sherlockiana. Matt are. Fairlie, CHEMIST from Annapolis, is engaged in research to prove whether or not Holmes chemistry work was accurate. Irvin Paxton has been trying to discover the true identity of the sculptor who made the famous bust of Napoleon. His investigation has taken him deep into history. Paul S Clarkson is making a study of the extent of Holmes is knowledge of Shakespeare; while Joseph F. Purdy has written a paper on “the hound of the Baskerville’s.” Mr. Robertson has prepared two legal briefs on compounding a felony and commuting a felony, based on his research into early endless statutes, and Blackstone’s commentaries, as applied to Sherlock Holmes. Mr. Hyslop, the commissionaire, has special standing in the group. His father was a member of the fifth Northumberland Fusiliers, the outfit to which Dr. John H. Watson was attached as a surgeon. Since the first meeting, the Napoleons have been trying to get a bust of Napoleon; the kind that once were available intense and stores for a dime. Friends of the members are eating in the search. Mr. Robertson is offering “honorary membership to the person who will present us with the bust we seek.” Mr. Denton says, “Holmes is a real character, a real man to all of us. He’s 93 now; we hope he lives to be 193.” According to British postal authorities, more mail is addressed to “Sherlock Holmes, 220 1B Baker St., London.” Than any other individual in the British Isles. Up to now, no mail has been sent to Holmes on Frick’s Folly.

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