The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-03
LONG SERVICE.
Thirty Years on the Wor-
cester Police Force.

Deputy Chief Amos Atkinson and Of
ficer Charles A. Garland of the Wor-
cester police force, passed the 90th an
niversary of their appointment to the
force, yesterday. Both We're appointed
Jan. 2, 1868, but during the intervening
years each has been out of the service
one year.
phese men are the oldest from point
of continuous service in the depart
ment. There is but a months difference
in their ages, each being 2S years old
when appointed. Their appointment
was under the administration of Mayor
James B. Blake, and by a peculiar CO.
Incidence they served at that time I'M
der the present chief, James M. Dren-
nan.
There was considerable difference in
the police force of Worcester thirty
years ago and at the present time. The
police station was located in the base
, ment of the old city hall building, and
the force was only from 23 to rs men, in
| Guiding city marshal, truant officer and
court officials.
There was no patrol wagon then,
and If a man was arrested in a dis
tant part of the city, at an hour when
it4WaS unhandy to secure a conveyance,
the officers were obliged to get him to
the lookup as best they could.
The hours of duty We're different;
men who travelled nights went on duty
at O'Clock in the evening, and came
/ off at 4S0 o'clock the next morning
They were allowed an hour for lunch
at midnight The uniform was different
in those days, one feature being a bell
crowned cap that weighed In the neigh
borhood of six pounds with set Of ear
laps that could be pulled down in cold
weather. Instead of overcoats, in the
winter time the men wore army blank
cts in the form of a shawl and Deputy
Chief Atkinson INDUCES in a hearty
laugh whenever he speaks of the grey
backs" as he designates them. Such
spectacle would certainly present a
curious appearance at the present time
Deputy Chief Atkinson was first de-
tailed in the Meadows" and at that
time this section of East Worcester
was in its prime. He was afterward
transferred to Front street, and after
serving as patrolman five years was
appointed night captain in 1873. He
served in this capacity nine years, and
was then appointed assistant marshal,
filing the Office for one year, until his
appointment as city marshal under
Mayor Charles G. Reed Mr.. Atkinson
served as head of the police depart
ment during 1884 and 1885, and since
that time has held the office of deputy
chief. his present position.
1t has been said that some men are
born to fill certain positions in life and
this statement may be truthfully APP
piled to Deputy Chief Atkinson, for il
ever a man was designed for police
business he is the nan. In addition to
long years of experience, he is pos
sessed of the instincts that figure to a
successful extent in this branch Of mu-
nicipal life.
He does not jump at conclusions,
neither is he slow to comprehend the
necessity of prompt and efficient ac-
ton. He is a strict disciplinarian, and
possessed of considerable brusqueness,
but this fact does not 'letract from his
being one Of the most popular officials
the Worcester police department has
known.
In spite of the fact that nearly three
score years have passed over his head,
Mr., Atkinson is well preserved and says
he considers himself the equal Of many
younger men on the force, to which
statement, made in spirit of jest, few
men in the department care to take ex-
ception.
officer Garland, VINO was appointed
on the same date as his superior Of
ficer, served through the civil war, and
the effects of duty done in the service
of his country have been cropping out
during the past few months He has
been able to travel DIS usual, however,
until about a month ago, when he was
taken i'll and has been off duty since
that time, until yesterday, when he
reported at police headquarters and
was assigned to house duty.
officer Garland first Travelled what
is known as the island" bear, which
extended from the city hal, down Green
street, taking in what is now known
as the island, and the whole of South
Worcester 1t was a standing joke in
days gone by that Officer Garland had
only to step outside the old guard room
in city hall, to find himself on his
post.
These men are now entitled to six
service stripes, and while there was no
formal demonstration on the part of
their associates, al wish them many
years more of health ard ability to do
service in the department they have
served so long and faithfully.