The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-29
PolicePers0nals
A Short Account of the
Rock Island Force.
Its Organization and the Pres
- ent Roster.


existence which falls to the lot OF human
ity. and the experience of tths members OF
the Rock Island force In in keeping with
this well established truth. Their duties
ever arduous and dangerous are rendered
still more disagresable by the often un
kind and unjust criticism OF citizens who
net only expect limited number Of men
to be literally ubiquitous 10 patrolling .
large size territory. but also deem it the
bonden duty of the miuions OF the law to
arrest a criminal the moment crime Is
commit ed.
These structures are often SO ungeDerous
that in case policeman or detective
effects the arrest of noted criminal im>
| mediately after the commission ct crime,
he, instead of being praised for his eficien-
cy is charged with standing 10" with
the offender. 1t will be thus be seen that
no matter what course the police officer
pursues be is the subject of criticism from
all grades of society aud from all classes
of citizens.
THE ROCK ISLAND FORCE
from it's FIRST organization az part Of the
municipal government down to the pre-
sent time has always been noted for ito
efficiency. and the different members of
tina. city body guard can point to the record
with just pride and coneeit. The purpose
of the police is not only to avert crime 10
all its varied phases but also to secure the
arrest of those who infringe upon the
criminal code. and bring them before the
courts where the criminals are prosecuted
bat rot prosecuted. The city force has
been remarkably fortunate in preventing
the commission of criminal offsnses from
their organisation, will be easily proved
by the comparatively few cases that have
occurred in Rock tIsland. While their
record in bringing the criminals to justice
way be triefly summed up in the state
ment that not q single murderer 10 at
large whose crime was perpetrated
within the limits of Rock Island
THE EARLY HISTORY
of crime in this vicinity commences with
the murder of Col. George Davenport
which occurred On the 4th day of July
lS45. His murder or murderers were never
brorght to trial. Following that tragic
event, the serenity of life was not disturb
e6 by another murder for nun Der of
years. Honesty was characteristic of all
the early settlers, and rs result. few il
any of the houses. contained bolts or locks
10 the doors. The only exception to the
general rule was found In men who took
fancy to someoiher mans horse, and
would borrow tie animal during the
owners absence. and even without that
owners permission. In these cases sum-
mary justice was melted out. If it was
found impossible to procure the attend
ance of the State Judiciary, judge Lynch
was always on hand ready to sacrifice
personal interest for public policy.
THE FIRST MARSHALL.
This pastoral peace and tranquility vas
motamorphased into riot and disturbance
when the first railroad was completed
frem Chicago. A horde Of rufians. scala
wags aud cx-convicts followed the
road 10 its completion to the vest and
made things decidedly lively for the goodly
residents of this city and vicinity. To the
xstanishmeut of the ''oid timers" the
modern vaDdals opened up gambling
houses. INDUCED in fights and otherwise
demoralizsd the peace of the then young
city.
Previous to this time copstabies were
found sufficiently yigiIant to cope with the
the road with its revolutionixing influence,
il was found necessary to organize city
police force, This was perfected in 1854,
q short ume subsequent to the railroad
J Johnston. who served with credit to him
self aud to the satisfaction of the law
abiding citizens. He was followed By
several other well known citizens. especial
ly justice Chopper apd David HAYES. In |
all. eleven different persons have occupied
the position from its FIRST creation TO the |
present time,
HEROIC ACTIONS.
The annals of the police history of this
city affords strikiHa example Of heroic
bravery in the discharge of duty 10
the person of the late Joseph Francis
Rosenield who was murdered while pa
trolling bis beat on the 18th of March 1879. |
The killing of this eficer is too fresh in
the minds of the public to require more
than this brief notice. The nurderers of |
this officer were promptly arrested and
were as speedily sentenced to the peni-
Tertiary by the circuit court.
THE ROSTER.
The present force is under the super.
vision of Marshall Phillip Miller. who,
previous to occupying bis present position.
served as deputy marshall aud elsewhere
on the force. The present deputy marshall
Is George L. German. whose experience
and courage emineuty fit him for the
second place on the city constabulary.
The patrollmen are headed by the
veteran John Brennan. who has been on