The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-27
THE CITY WATCH.
Marshal Trickey's Interesting History OF
the Portland Police.

~OAAc w tNE AhDOlOoGluS 0ASuolJ "a
land police departments. This Valuable
contribution to local history will be IN
corporated in the marshal's report to the
city government. 1t is as follows:
AS the earliest history of the Ponce
Department. of Portland has not, SO Iar
as have been able to ascertain, been
given in any previous report OF the Cl1y
Marshal, before proceeding with the de-
tails of the report for the past year FAKE
the liberty of submitting the following
historical data, taken from the recorus
in the office of the City Clerk. which
may be of interest
The first reference to the police whlch
find in the city records is contained IN
the record of "a legal meeting OF the IN
habitants Of the town of Portland, Coih-
monwealtn Of Massachusetts, held III
Apil, 1897, where it was Voted, 10 have
one Inspector OF Police. william
Symms was chosen Inspector. Inc
amount of his salary is not stated.
In 1898 William Symms was again
chosen, but was Excused, as the record
states, and on December 2, 1898, George
Warren was chosen to fill the position, at
a salary Of 500 per year.
In 1893 Jonathan Dean was chosen In
speGtor of Police, at a salary OF sou
| year.
In the record of a meeting OF the in
habitants of the town of Portland neio
Septsm Der 80, 1899, is the following:
Voted, that it is expsdient TO estaD-
lish Town watch, and Voted, that a
Constable watch be esta blished, ana that
the number of the watch consist CT SIX
On May 10, 1900, Josiah Tucker Was
chosen Inspector of Police, and 1t was
then voted, "ThaG the salary CT the In
speotor of Police be eighty dollars the
current year,
At the adjourned annual town meeting
Oh May IL, 1901, Josiah Tucker was
| again chosen Inspector of Police at a
salary of S1C0.
On'April 9Th, 1902, Jonathan Dean
was chosen Inspector Of Police, at sal
airy of $50 s'for the current year. Mr..
Dean was reelected to that position in
March, 1903, his salary for that year be-
| ing the same.
At the annual town meeting. held
| April 2, 1894 it was "Voted, 70 raise $50
| for the Inspector Of Police salary" but
there is no record of any election of In :
spector.
At the annual town meeting held May
| 6, 1905, it was "Voted Go raise $50 for
Inspector of Police salary"
AT the town meeting Of March 81, 1906,
Jonathan Dean was CHOSEN Inspector OF
Police. He was reelected on March 30tb,
1907.
At the annual meeting in 1908 1T was
lstVoted to raise for salary of Inspector OF
Police ten dollars.
At the meeting of April 8, 1909, it was
voted to raise money for the salary, of the
Inspector Of Police and Clerk Of Market.
At the annual meetings in 1910, 1911
and 1872 respectively, it was voted to
raise $40 for salary of Inspector of Pc.
lice.
At the annual meeting in 1878 william
Polleys was chosen Inspector Of Police,
at salary of $50 per year.
At the annual meeting in 1914 it was
voted to raiss $50 for salary of Inspector
of Police, and William Polleys was
chosen Inspector.
chosen Inspector of Police, at salary
of S75 per year,.
Seth Bird was chosen Inspector of Po-
lice in 1916 and 1917, respectively, at
salary of SIS per year.
Mr.. Bird was reelected in 1918, and his
salary increased to 500 per year.
At meeting held May 90, 1918, the
follow ing Additional Bylaw was
passed:
'sThat it shall be tie duty Of the In
speotor of Police to pass through the
streets, lanes and highways of the town,
to observe all nuisances, distractions on
sidewalks, etc., and prosecute the au-
thors. Also to notice all offences COM
mitted against the Bylaws of the Town,
Keep a record of all fines recovered by
him and shall annually pay over the
mr. n fine saIaotnan for the nga of the
town."
In 1919 William Polleys was chosen In
spector of Police at a salary of 500.
In 1920 Seth Bird was again chosen In
spsctor of Police at salary of 500.
William Polleys served as Inspector of
Police for the years 1921, 1922, 1928, 1924.
| 1926 and 1926 Mt salary of 500 per year
| In 1897 Samuel Haines was chosen In
srecsor of Police at a salary Of $3.50.
In 1928 William Polleys was reelected
Iuspector aud served in 1928 and 1929 at
| salary of 5000 per year.
In 1880 Loring Va-ney was chosen In
spector ut salary of 5000 per year.
In 1881 Daniel Peterson was chosen In
spector at a salary of $500.
Az the Mlrch meeting, 1882, a vote was
| taken on the acceptance of the Act to
incorporate the City of Portland, result
ing as follows:
Whole number of votes, 1876
Necessary for acceptance, 730
In favor, $50
Against, 1856
Andrew l.. Elm erson was elected
Mayor.
For the years 1882 to 1916, inclusive,
the following gentlemen held the office
of City Marshal and health Officer:
Salaries
1882. Levi Sawyer, $3.50
1893, EEoch PEBBLE, 400
/ 1874 EnncIi Prehle 40l