Waterbury Police History
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Waterbury Police HIstory Timeline from 1674 to Present Waterbury Police History 1 Settlers from Farmington received permission to start the village of Mattatuck (renamed 1674 Waterbury in 1686). A constable was elected annually to execute all lawful commands or warrants from any magistrate or court; Colonial law required that all white male persons from the age of sixteen to sixty years (with certain occupational exceptions) should serve in the militia, including a town guard service; no less than eight soldiers were to be on duty on the Sabbath and other days of public worship. 1760 Waterbury had three constables elected annually. The Borough of Waterbury was incorporated in May, encompassing the more densely populated 1825 center inside the Town of Waterbury. A Bailiff was elected annually to enforce laws in the Borough, while constables continued to serve the Town of Waterbury. The first Bailiff was Daniel Steele. The City of Waterbury was incorporated in May, replacing the Borough; the new Charter specified 1853 that the Court of Common Council should appoint no more than 25 special constables each year and that they “shall have the same power and authority, within said city, to preserve the peace, arrest and secure offenders, and present for crimes, as constables have in their respective towns.” The first special constables were appointed on July 28, 1853 and an old wood building on Brook Street was rented by the City to use as the city prison. Although there was no formal Chief of Police position, there was an informal “captain of the police,” sometimes referred to as the “foreman of the police.” The first “chief” was Samuel Warren, who was also the jailer. The word police was used informally in reference to the special constables. David Norton was elected as chief of police on July 8; William H. Adams was the jailer. 1854 Waterbury’s special constables were issued an official badge on September 18. 1855 David Norton was appointed as “foreman” of the special constables on June 25. A Code of Rules for the special constables was adopted on January 14. 1856 Charles F. Jones was appointed as foreman on July 7. Eli B. Gibbud was appointed foreman on January 12 following the resignation of Charles F. 1857 Jones. Seventeen men served under him: Richard Welton, Horace B. Peck, Orrin Smith, Alfred Forrest, Nelson Parsons, Frederick A. Warner, Eli B. Gibbud, Levi B. Bolster, Horace Frost, Henry Todd, Dennis Blakeslee, Chauncey W. Judd, Amos H. Hotchkiss, Alonzo M. Robe, Daniel Ladd, George A. Bidwell, and John F. Woodruff. Waterbury Police History 2 A committee was formed on April 18 to find a new location for the jail; a property was purchased 1859 on west side of Phoenix Alley, behind the Methodist Church, for $1100 and a new two-story brick structure was built with jail cells on the first floor and headquarters on the second floor. The first police headquarters, a room rented for the “city watch,” was opened on the second floor 1861 of a building on the corner of Bank and West Main Streets. A revised City Charter established a Police Court overseen by the City Court Judge; the court 1866 had authority over crimes and misdemeanors, punishment not to exceed a fine of $200 and/ or six months imprisonment in a common jail, county or town workhouse. Convictions could be appealed to the New Haven County Superior Court except in cases of drunkenness, profane cursing and swearing, and Sabbath-breaking. Edward Garvey was the first Irish immigrant to join Waterbury’s police force. Scottish immigrant 1867 William Laird joined at the same time. An amendment to the City Charter stated that the Court of Common Council should elect 1868 annually in June a captain of police, no more than four active policemen, and no more than twenty additional policemen. Daniel S. Morris was appointed Captain of Police. William Laird, George Barnes, and Edward 1869 Garvey were appointed as active policemen. There were also twenty supernumerary policemen, five from each ward. A new badge was adopted on September 6. William Laird was appointed Captain of Police on June 20. 1870 Police headquarters was moved to a room in City Hall. A revised City Charter established a formal Police Department with a Chief of Police and a Board 1871 of Police Commissioners. The charter allowed for as many ordinary policemen as designated by the Common Council, and sixteen supernumerary constables serving under the Board of Police Commissioners. All members of the force served for two-year terms. The new police department, led by Chief William Laird, began operation on January 10. William 1872 J. Darling, Edward Garvey, Patrick H. Keegan, and George W. Root were appointed as patrolmen. Noah B. Tuttle and Owen Thompson were added as patrolmen in May, increasing the regular force, including the chief, to seven men. On August 13, the Board of Police Commissioners recommended building a two-story city prison and police headquarters. On March 18, three beats for patrol duty were laid out, from East Main Street to Cherry Street, 1873 Bank Street to the train depot, and South Main Street to Union Street. Waterbury Police History 3 William C. Bannon was appointed as Chief of Police. New police headquarters on Phoenix Avenue 1874 opened during the summer. A Charter Amendment eliminated the temporary terms of service (requiring a new appointment 1875 every year) and established an unlimited term of service dependent on “good behavior.” Oliver Austin was reappointed as Chief. Edward Garvey, John W. Dayton, George M. Egan, William 1876 Duncan, Charles B. Dean, and George W. Root were appointed as patrolmen. On August 8, Garvey was fired and replaced by William Laird. 1880 William Laird was appointed as Chief of Police on June 9. 1881 Patrols were expanded to include the Brooklyn district from 7 to 11 p.m. every night. Terms of service were limited to two years. The size of the force was increased two twelve 1882 patrolmen. John Byrnes, John Fagan, Thomas Dodds, Maurice Noonan, Stephen F. Kenney, and John Williams were appointed as patrolmen in addition to the six already serving. 1883 Patrolman William Duncan became Waterbury’s first detective on April 3. A system of signal stations communicating with the District Telegraph and messenger office was installed in October with a three-year contract, but was abandoned within a few months when it proved unsatisfactory. George M. Egan was appointed as Chief of Police on February 19. Patrolmen were William 1884 Duncan, George W. Root, Walter C. Williams, John Byrnes, John Fagan, Thomas Dodds, Maurice Noonan, John Williams, Henry Fischer, Miles McNiff, Bernard Cahey, and William Laird. Charles B. Dean joined the force following Williams’ retirement on April 1. Laird was appointed Acting Lieutenant on April 29. Records for the year show 1519 arrests, of which 1478 were found guilty and 141 not guilty. Terms of service were again extended to be unlimited during good behavior; a Charter 1885 Amendment established the positions of Lieutenant and Sergeant The new organizational structure began on October 6, with a Chief, Lieutenant, Sergeant, 1886 patrolmen, and supernumeraries. George M. Egan was appointed as the Chief, George W. Root as the Lieutenant, and Charles R. Bannon as the Sergeant. Patrolmen were Thomas Dodds, John Fagan, William H. Brickel, Miles McNiff, Charles B. Dean, James Healey, Michael McAuliffe, James Douglass, William Tobin, Thomas F. O’Hearn, John Sullivan, and Dennis Carroll. A committee of the Court of Common Council reported that the police station on Phoenix Avenue 1888 was unfit for use, and a committee was then appointed to secure a site for construction of a new building. Renowned Waterbury architect Robert W. Hill was hired to design the new facility. Waterbury Police History 4 1889 A new code of rules and regulations was adopted. Construction of a new police station and prison behind City Hall, on Harrison Avenue, was 1890 completed on February 1. Records for the year show 1383 arrests, of which 1366 were found guilty and 17 not guilty (there were 686 arrests for drunkenness, and 288 arrests for assault and breach of the peace). In February, the Police Commissioners voted that the Chief of Police must dress in full uniform 1891 whenever appearing in public. In March, the department rules were amended to divide the patrolmen into three grades. Lt. George W. Root died on June 30; Sgt. Charles R. Bannon was promoted to the vacancy, and Patrolman Thomas Dodds was promoted to Sergeant. The force was increased to 23 patrolmen. The Mutual Aid Society was established on January 31 for sick and death benefits. Records for 1893 the year show 1619 arrests, of which 1556 were found guilty and 63 not guilty. The Police Department consisted of Chief George M. Egan, Lt. Charles R. Bannon, Sgt. 1894 Thomas Dodds, Det. Charles E. Egan, Doorman John A. Kennaugh, 23 Patrolmen, and 16 Supernumeraries. Police Commissioners were Edward B. Reiley, Augustus I. Goodrich, John J. McDonald, and Frederick E. Cross. Mrs. Mary A. Clark was elected on April 30 as Waterbury’s first Police Matron. The Waterbury 1895 Police Court was abolished and replaced with a new City Court 1896 A Board of Public Safety was established to supervise the Police and Fire Departments. The Police Pension Fund was established by the Board of Public Safety on October 17. The 1899 retirement age for police officers was set at forty years old. 1901 The Gamewell Police Signal System was installed on August 17 with twenty-two boxes. The Detective Bureau was formed on April 22 with Lt. Thomas Dodds in command. The Reserve 1902 Fund of the Police Department was established on August 2, overseen by a Board of Trustees.