USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 25
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THE DEPARTMENT IN THE LATE '70s
Some interesting side-lights on the Oakland Police Department as it was in the late '70s can be gathered from the message of Mayor Andrus to the City Council dated February 3, 1879. Concerning the department, he makes the following remarks:
"W. F. Fletcher, captain of police, has prepared a very complete report of the workings of his department during the year. The stand- ing of the department has been improved, its discipline is better, and there seems to be no reasonable cause for complaint as to its efficiency. The statistics have already been submitted to your honorable body. The
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reputation of a Police Department has great effect upon the order and quietness of any city. It is cheaper and easier to prevent crime than to detect it. The knowledge that policemen are vigilant and intelligent, and are present in the places where required, exerts a powerful influence in preventing the commission of crime. Temperate habits, cool and delib- erate judgment, tact and shrewdness, combined with firmness and de- cision of character, are among the requirements of a police officer. Gentlemanly deportment, coupled with ability to cope with unruly char- acters, are required. The number of arrests is not a test of efficiency, for that must, to a great extent, depend upon the respectability of the neighborhood in which an officer is stationed for duty. They should be chosen solely with reference to their fitness for the position. Ap- pointments should not be a reward for political service, nor should they be conferred upon persons through considerations of family connection, or sympathy for those who may have failed in other pursuits. There should be a standard of health, age, and stature, to be applied to all new appointees. If unworthy men have been placed in positions, if there has been dishonesty, those who are guilty should be promptly removed; but their misdeeds should not be the occasion for the condemnation of men who are above such unworthy practices.
"There have been rumors that some of the laws governing the department have not been strictly enforced, but no definite charges have been brought to my attention. Thorough discipline is essential to efficiency, and the power of my office will be exerted to enforce it.
"Captain Fletcher recommends that the number of officers be in- creased from twenty-two to forty. I think that there should be, on an average, one policeman for each fifteen hundred of population, which would give us thirty men. This seems to be the ratio most commonly found in other cities. Every policeman should be, also, a detective. He should be charged with the investigation of crime occurring in his beat, which would increase his vigilance and be a stimulus to his ambition. It would develop the faculties of the men, and indicate those who, at the proper time, should be promoted to the highest department of police service.
"Tenure of office should be secure. Officers who have long been in service, and who have made honorable records, should not be harassed by the fear that they may at any time be displaced by men who have not shown any merits superior to their own."
From the mayor's message one also infers that citizens had al-
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ready established a privately paid special police system. Apparently there had been some complaints to the city authorities on this score, but the mayor was in favor of the continuance of the system. In his opinion, "It would be unwise to entirely abolish the system, but there must be care and discrimination in regulating it, on account of the lia- bility to abuse." "I have no doubt," he added, "that there are times when the influence of the special police counteracts the efforts of our regular officers in ferreting out crime, but such cases are the exceptions, not the rule."
The city prison at this time had become overcrowded, and the cap- tain of police had called attention to the necessity for building larger accommodations. The mayor recommended that the basement of the City Hall be filled with cells, built of brick and iron, instead of only two iron ones, as had been suggested. The estimated cost would be about three thousand dollars. "Prisoners could be kept separate," the mayor pointed out, "boys and petty offenders would not be brought into con- tact with hardened criminals, an evil which is of enormous proportions in most cities." Such an enlargement would suffice for a number of years, the mayor believed, but the time would come when a separate building would become necessary.
THE DEPARTMENT IN 1880
The federal census of 1880, which gave Oakland a population of 35,500 and an increase of about 250 per cent over 1870, did not record a corresponding growth in the Police Department. City officials of that year who came in contact with the department more than others included Mayor James E. Blethen, Police Judge John Yule, City At- torney J. M. Poston and Councilmen G. W. Babcock, J. C. Mullan, L. G. Cole, Jesse S. Wall, David Hewes, James Gill and J. B. White. D. E. Bortree was the clerk of the Police Court. W. F. Fletcher was head of the department, with the title of captain. There was one first sergeant and one second sergeant, A. Wilson and E. J. Chase, respec- tively. A. Shorey and F. O. Fuller constituted the detective force. J. A. Kenner was the day prison keeper and clerk for the department. S. H. Mitchell was assistant day prison keeper and bailiff of the court. The night jailer was William Aldrich. The patrolmen were J. M. Manley, B. Mclaughlin, J. M. Wallace, John Golden, A. J. Ross, John Barnett, J. B. Fields, John Ranlett, H. T. Smith, C. E. Lufkin, H. Nedderman,
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H. M. Wilson, R. D. Hunter, O. D. Brown, W. H. Summers, M. D. Hewett, P. E. Hynes, and W. D. Thomas. Special officers were S. H. Gowen, H. E. Church, J. Kessler, John McWilliams, E. Hodgkins, P. Filley, James Kennedy, John Coughlan, Dennis Holland, H. B. Rand, William Howlett, P. H. Dowdican, D. Wright, H. Theobald and L. R. Hughes.
THE PERSONNEL IN 1886
Oakland's population was estimated at about forty-five thousand five hundred in 1886. The city was growing steadily, but under city laws the council was required to meet but twice each month in regular session-on the first and third Monday evenings. Perhaps there are those who can recall the days when two nights a month were deemed sufficient for the transaction of the city's business. The mayors were still elected annually, and E. W. Playter was chosen for the honor in April, 1886. J. A. Johnson was city attorney, and the police judge was Fred W. Henshaw. The councilmen representing the seven old wards were: Henry Hays, J. T. Carothers, James H. Smith, T. L. Barker, T. G. Harrison, John Hackett, and James McGivney. The council then made all appointments affecting the police department. D. E. Bortree was still serving as clerk of the police court, and Samuel H. Mitchell as bailiff. W. R. Thomas was captain of police, having been appointed as such on October 19, 1885. His clerk was R. A. Hughes. W. F. Fletcher was ranked as first sergeant, and A. Wilson as second sergeant. The two detectives were D. Holland and A. Shorey. The day and night prison keepers, as they were termed in early days, were Hall B. Rand and J. S. Mackey. The patrolmen on regular duty were T. A. Downey, John Barnett, John Ranlett, C. H. Cole, J. B. Fields, B. R. Phillips, O. D. Brown, John M. Ingram, H. Nedderman, J. A. Kennedy, R. D. Hun- ter, F. Greenwald, Henry McCloy, P. H. Felley, D. W. Swain, E. J. Chase, W. A. Dannaker, and James Hill, who was guard of the chain gang. The special patrolmen were D. F. Batchelder, M. D. Hewett, G. V. Gass, W. H. Summers, F. R. Weider, H. Howlett, W. F. Good- win, St. Clair Hodgkins, D. Wright, Daniel Morrison, Thomas Gil- more, J. H. Baker, J. F. Morrison, C. A. Scoville, E. S. Ainsworth, Alonzo T. Ayers, Cornelius Wells, J. W. Collins, H. M. Carr, and William G. Cashin. George H. Carleton was superintendent of the police telegraph boxes, of which there were thirty-nine.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
NEW CHARTER OF 1889
Oakland adopted a new city charter on November 6, 1888; the charter was approved by the State Legislature on February 2, 1889. Under this charter the police and fire departments were placed under direction of a board of three commissioners. The members of the Board of Public Works were made ex-officio the Board of Commis- sioners of the Police and Fire Departments. The board was required to hold a regular meeting each week, open to the public. It was given power to prescribe the qualifications, duties, design of badge and uniform of the departments; to prescribe rules of discipline; to hear all complaints of misconduct and inefficiency; and to make such other rules and regulations as should be necessary for the operation of the departments.
THE POLICE FORCE IN 1890
The Oakland police force of 1890 consisted of a chief, two captains, two detectives, one day jailer, one night jailer, twenty-three regular patrolmen, eleven special officers, and four assigned to the patrol wagons. J. W. Tompkins was chief. The captains were A. Wilson and W. F. Fletcher. D. Holland and Albert Shorey were the detectives. The day jailer was George Quackenbush ; the night jailer, David Swain. The patrolmen were H. B. Rand, C. H. Cole, H. Aldrich, Sam Mitchell, J. S. Mackey, Henry McCloy, F. W. Crafts, E. J. Chase, Charles O'Hare, O. D. Brown, John Barnett, J. F. Sill, M. P. Powers, R. D. Hunter, J. Henry Nedderman, T. A. Downey, Edgar Turney, Wil- liam McCloud, Frank Greenwald, P. H. Felley, Nicholas Williams, J. P. Scanlon and John Royce. The special officers were D. F. Batchelder. C. Wells, John London, J. H. Nolter, W. B. Goodwin, Ryland Poulsen, A. J. Ross, J. H. Baker, A. T. Ayers, L. D. Babb, and W. G. Cashin. W. A. Moore was clerk to the chief, and Sam Mitchell was police court bailiff.
It was not long after the adoption of the city charter limiting the police to forty that the city outgrew its police force, and the city council was called upon to make an increase. On December 7, 1892, ordinance No. 1,477 was passed, providing for the appointment of six new mem- bers. This was followed two weeks later by another ordinance adding two detectives to the force, at a salary of $125 per month. In 1893 it
19V1
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
again became necessary to enlarge the force, and another ordinance was passed, providing for four additional policemen.
"POLITICS" AND THE FORCE
The records of early Oakland police organization and activities are unfortunately meagre; many records have been lost, and there was an apparent lack of interest in keeping an accurate account of the do- ings of the department and its personnel. It is known, however, that as in other cities of the United States, police administration was closely identified with politics until the adoption of civil service regulations con- cerning appointments. For example, during the political excitement of the summer of 1877, already referred to in this chapter, Adelbert Wilson, later Chief of Police of Oakland, and eighteen fellow officers were discharged and reinstated many times according to the rise and fall of political leaders. Wilson had received his appointment to the regular police force on October 5, 1874, and was detailed as sergeant on October 15, 1877. After being removed several times on account of "politics" he was reappointed on January 17, 1881, only to be removed on June 6th. He was not reappointed until August 20, 1883, but from that time on his connection with the department was permanent and his advancement steady. On May 7, 1889, he was promoted to Captain and served in that capacity for sixteen years, and finally as a reward for his long service and excellent record was appointed Chief of Police on January 2, 1906. From that date he kept his office until October 1, 1912, despite changes of administration. The career of this one officer indicates the change in policy of the Oakland police department and the substitution of considerations of merit and efficiency for the old- time political influence. This change has been due among other things to the adoption of civil service regulations under the new city charter of 1911.
Until the appointment of J. W. Tompkins as Chief on April 9, 1899, the head of the Oakland police department was designated as "Captain"; but in that year the title of "Chief" was adopted. Begin- ning with the appointment of F. B. Tarbett as Captain on October 11, 1869, the names of department heads are known. The roster of cap- tains or chiefs, with the date of their appointment and the period of their service follows:
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Captains Service
F. B. Tarbett October 11, 1869.
4 years, 11 months
D. H. Rand
September 21, 1874. 3 years, 21 days
W. W. Gray.
October 12, 1887 5 years
?
W. F. Fletcher March 25, 1878.
3 years, 2 months
J. Whipple June 27, 1881 .
2 months
P. Pumyea. August 27, 1881
1 year, 2 months
E. J. Chase
April 2, 1883.
4 years, 19 days
P. Pumyea.
August 21, 1883. 2 years
W. R. Thomas
October 19, 1885.
2 years, 5 months
P. Pumyea April 5, 1888. 1 year
Chiefs
J. W. Tompkins. April 9, 1889. 3 years, 6 months
L. Schaffer. . October 18, 1892.
2 years, 9 months
C. E. Lloyd.
August 1, 1895 2 years, 8 months
W. F. Fletcher
April 1, 1898. 1 year, 3 months
S. C. Hodgkins
July 1, 1899.
6 years, 6 months
Adelbert Wilson
. January 2, 1906.
6 years, 9 months
W. J. Petersen.
October 1, 1912
2 years, 9 months
William F. Woods
July 1, 1915.
10 months
W. J. Petersen
May 15, 1916.
1 year, 3 months
John Henry Nedderman. August 24, 1917
1 year, 8 months
J. F. Lynch.
May 16, 1919.
1 year, 8 months
Fenton G. Thompson.
January 24, 1921
5 months
James T. Drew
July 1, 1921
6 years
Donald L. Marshall. July 11, 1927
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM 1905 TO 1915
The decade following the inauguration of the administration of Frank K. Mott as mayor was one of steady growth for the police de- partment. In 1905 the police organization was composed of only sixty- five men, including the chief and a few subordinate officers for super- vision of patrol service. A few detectives made up the "plain clothes" division. Equipment was scanty and rapidly becoming obsolete. One or two ancient horse-drawn patrol wagons without ambulance service were in use, while a number of scattered ill-kept and unsanitary lock- ups served as branch detaining-jails. The main police headquarters
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
were little better. The housing conditions at the City prison were not much better than in the late 70's, when Mayor Andrus had called atten- tion to the need for better accommodations. Thirty-five years had passed and the new building, the need for which had been predicted by the Mayor in 1879, had not yet been erected. The city prison was in a wretchedly gloomy underground basement of the old City Hall.
By 1915 the situation had been greatly improved and a high stand- ard attained. In 1905 the old Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, in existence since 1889, laid plans for improving the police department. From year to year these plans were realized, as the city's income war- ranted. In consequence, in 1915 the force numbered 208 men with a perfect military organization that covered every phase of its activities. A chief, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and corporals, comprised the directing body of an organization which rapidly achieved a high de- gree of efficiency. The chiefs who were particularly instrumental in bringing about the reforms instituted by the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners were S. C. Hodgkins, Adelbert Wilson, and W. J. Petersen.
Modern police stations were equipped with every facility for service in the several districts. Several bureaus were established within the department to give the Oakland police organization aids to efficient handling of crime comparable to those which had been developed in the great cities of the east. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation, com- posed of a staff of sixteen inspectors of police, and the Bureau of Crim- inal Identification, might be mentioned. In the latter bureau were in- stalled the famous Bertillon and finger print system of identification which are indispensable to any modern police record system. In this bureau in 1915 were 120,000 photographs and records of criminals at all times available for quick use. Within five years the number of street miles patrolled by the department increased from 300 to 530. In the same period, the population increased from 78,000 to 200,000. The area of the city had nearly quadrupled, entailing correspondingly greater demands on the department. The police department took over the inspection of all mercantile licenses. With the increase of motor traffic, special squads were formed to operate in congested areas. A mounted detail was placed on duty in the outskirts of the metropolitan area. To keep pace with the times, a motor-driven ambulance and patrol system was adopted; and in addition to the combined ambulance-patrol automobiles used in general police work, high power machines were in-
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
stalled for emergency calls, while a detachment of patrol cars was or- ganized for outside duty in residence districts.
Nothing could better exemplify the great progress made during this period than the remarkable advance in facilities for housing pris- oners. In contrast with the deplorable conditions which obtained at the opening of the century, in 1915 the Oakland police department had one of the most modern city prisons in the country. An up-to-date and thoroughly modern police headquarters and city prison were im- portant features of the new Oakland city hall. The cells were moved from the dark basement of the old building to the top floor of the new "skyscraper" which had been built to house the municipal offices of the fast growing East Bay metropolis. There it was possible to have ample light, fresh air and perfect sanitation. The women's quarters were well arranged and furnished with a view toward the maintenance of the health of the prisoners. A modern Receiving Hospital was also provided. The most modern accomodations obtainable were furnished not only for the violators of the law, but for the guardians of it. At the Central Police Headquarters in the same building were installed not only the necessary departmental offices, but assembly rooms, a gymnasium, shower baths, and a shooting range for the officers and patrolmen.
The department took great forward strides not only in purely mechanical equipment, but in the morale of its personnel. Under the new city charter, effective in 1911, the long-hoped-for civil service reg- ulations were adopted by the city for the governance of its police depart- ment. This resulted in greater efficiency, for it provided an incentive for good work. Each officer and patrolman realized that he stood on an equal footing with every other member of the same rank and that his advancement depended upon the demonstration of his worthiness for promotion. An examination system was introduced and careful records were kept of the work of each man. In spirit and in letter the depart- ment adhered to the civil service standard. The records of the depart- ment during this period, as in earlier years, show a high standard of bravery. The department rolls carried a list of heroes in blue who gave their lives in courageous battles to protect the safety of the citi- zens. Its standard of personal honor was also maintained on a par with its standard of efficient service.
The first great test of the capacity of the department to cope with an emergency on a large scale came under the administration of Chief Adelbert Wilson at the time of the San Francisco fire of 1906. The
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
magnitude of the task which fell upon the shoulders of Chief Wilson and his assistants can be appreciated when it is known that more than 200,000 persons arrived in Oakland from the stricken sister city dur- ing the three days of conflagration. By prompt action in formulating strict rules and disciplinary measures, Chief Wilson, with a regular force of only seventy-one men, handled the situation in a manner which reflected the highest credit upon him and his department. The streets were closed after 6 o'clock at night, and no person was allowed to pass through the lines without a permit from the Chief himself. There was no disorder and no untoward occurrence. The policing of the city was perfect.
A few years later, during the celebration of the entrance of the Western Pacific Railroad into Oakland, which also occurred during the administration of Chief Wilson, the department once more demon- strated its capacity to handle a crowd of more than 100,000 visitors. Through Chief Wilson's precautionary measures in advance of the occasion, the excellent work of the men under him, and his personal diligence and inspection, the affair passed off without a hitch and not a single accident was reported.
During the history of the department, the Oakland police force has had few heads who commanded greater loyalty and respect than Chief Wilson; at the time of his relief from command upon the appoint- ment of Walter Joseph Petersen to head the force on October 1, 1912, he was the "grand old man" of the department. He always suppressed vice and crime with vigor. He was noted for the consistency with which he backed up his men in the discharge of their duty, and his advice and counsel, as well as his keen appreciation of merit where he found it, did much to elevate the morale of the department. On May 30, 1907, Chief Wilson was presented with a handsome gold shield by the members of the Oakland police force as a token of esteem and friendship. At this time Mayor Mott made a graceful presentation speech.
Walter J. Petersen, who held the office of chief for two years and nine months after Wilson, until he was relieved for ten months during the incumbency of Chief William F. Woods, who succeeded Petersen on July 1, 1915, was reappointed head of the department on May 15, 1916. Petersen gained his reputation as Captain of Detectives. He held his office from October 1, 1907, until the date of his appointment as chief. He took hold of the detective bureau with the firm resolution of maintaining a high standard. He was of invaluable service to Chief
ADELBERT WILSON Chief of Police, Oakland, from January 2, 1906, to October 1, 1912
CAPTAIN BODIE WALLMAN Captain of Inspectors, Oakland Police Department
CAPTAIN J. FRANK LYNCH Central Police Division, Oakland
WALTER JOSEPH PETERSEN Chief of Police, Oakland, October 1, 1912, to July 1, 1915, and May 15, 1916, to August 24,
1917
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Wilson in placing this branch of the department upon a thoroughly scientific basis. During his administration he supervised the handling of some of the most intricate criminal cases in the history of the country, and was often called upon to disentangle exceedingly knotty problems.
ROSTER OF THE DEPARTMENT, MAY 1, 1916
The complete roster of the Oakland police department on May 1, 1916, under Chief W. J. Petersen was as follows: L. F. Agnew, acting captain of inspectors. Captains of Police-J. F. Lynch, C. H. Bock and T. Brown. Lieutenants-F. Shroder, B. L. Curtiss and William F. Woods. Inspectors-S. C. Hodgkins, W. B. Quigley, H. E. Green, T. J. Flynn, R. V. McSorley, W. F. Kyle, J. T. Drew, H. H. Cald- well, and C. F. McCarthy. Assistant Inspectors-G. D. Powers, T. Wood, W. J. Emigh, J. H. Robinson, T. F. Gallagher, B. A. Wall- man, and J. S. Dufton. Sergeants-Robert Forgie, W. M. McCloud, R. F. Ahern, J. W. Havens, M. A. Byrne, H. J. Thornbury, C. L. Hemphill, J. H. Nedderman, James Walters and J. J. Sherry. Cor- porals-John Murray, E. J. Conroy, M. P. Riley, E. W. Brock, James Pullman, H. L. Gilbert, A. B. Smith, H. O. Rumetsch, R. O. Bergson, V. L. Coley, P. Van Houtte, T. O'Neill, J. G. Wallman, J. M. Enright, J. T. Fahy, and A. M. Sanderson.
The patrolmen were J. Gardiner, M. P. Powers, T. Merrick, C. F. Jorgensen, J. J. O'Connell, N. Williams, F. Rossick, C. J. Keefe, I. D. Tobin, G. J. Ely, C. F. Nightengale, J. R. Leonhardt, L. P. Neilsen, George Berner, S. Thornally, Leslie Cox, O. L. White, E. M. Crandall, George Erickson, C. D. Deardorff, H. L. Orbell, J. H. Keel, J. F. Noble, W. J. Davis, J. T. Mullem, H. M. Hamlin, R. M. Goodwin, J. J. Fitzgerald, J. H. Sears, F. C. Blewett, M. J. Hayes, E. Frohn, A. Trotter, G. D. Burbank, A. H. Nelson, C. O. Brewick, J. L. Shields, T. C. Johnson, T. J. O'Neill, W. J. Wills, H. O'Hara, R. G. Feeley, Peter J. Connelly, F. A. Schuler, G. W. Pratt, E. J. O'Donnell, Joseph Martin, C. A. Turcotte, C. O. Jackson, Grover Herring, A. H. Libbey, H. H. Joyce, K. D. Caldwell, R. W. Lyons, J. A. Garvin, W. E. Tutt, S. A. Watz, R. H. Scott, C. R. Christopher, D. Fleming, E. G. Switzer, S. B. Montell, C. F. Cary, H. L. Aboucaya, C. O. Hunt, D. E. Gillett, U. K. Petersen, A. W. Childers, Martin J. Bolter, L. A. Manning, R. F. Tracy, G. Steffen, J. L. Sternitzky, E. O. Steinbach, Jack Duke,
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