The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-17
SECRET SERVICE DIVISION
OF THE POLICE. DEPARTMENT..

who detailed Sergeant y. NJ Tomlinson
r~>-| q: Coud District, to take charge
of the work.
- .... -,.--cer John t. Hall, of the First
District, was detailed TO assist Sergeant
Tomlinson. Their headquarters were at
Tenth and Main Streets.
Besides these two detectives, men from
the various districts were from time to
time detailed tor special work. and IN 1898
Acting Sergeant c. A. GIBSON, OF the
Third District, was detailed TO do work
at headquarters.
While these three men were doing work
as detectives. there was no legal organi-
cation, and at any time, any one or all
of them could have been returned to the
stations in the districts from which they
had been detailed, Mr.. Hall to the First.
Sergeant ToInllnson to the Second. and
Mr. Gibson to the Third.
The work of the Detective Department
becoming more important. owing to Ii
growth Of the city and the more system
attic workings of the Police Department,
in 1898 Officer r. j. Wren, who had done
splendid service on special duty, was de-
tailed for work at headquarters, making 4
men in the department. besides Sergeant
J. f. Shinoerger. clerk and secretary to
the chief; and Officer Logan S. Robins,
messenger for headquarters.
ABLE AND SHREWD.
These four men were considered the
most able and competent for the inpoc-
ant work, their experience having placed
hem in position to handle the most deli
ate case in which secrecy was required.
nd this shrewdness making them tit TO
Eork out the intrlcacies of the most puz-
ling case.
Sergeant Toulnson had charge of the
detective force, because Of his greater
experience, and his priority in Office. and
MS acquaintance with the records or
rocks throughout the country and the
Methods practiced by them He has dis
,layed wonderful tact and ability in his
BUSINESS, and his name is known all over
ne land.
The oldest man in point of service on
he police force now in the detective de-
artment is Sergeant John T. Hall He
was appointed on the force by Mayor
oseph Mayo in 1851. and was known as
.ight Waterman. In 1862 he resigned. TO
20 to the front with the r. l.. /. Blues.
Z the Forty-sixth Virginia. He was
lightly wounded at Yorktown and at Pc
crsburg. and was captured at Hatcher's
Run and carried with others to Point
lookout, where he was released on June
/, 1865. On March 5. 1866 he was reap
ointed to the police force by Major j.
II Claiborne On the 18th of June Of
discharged on political grounds. but on
Iarch 18th. 1870. was again reapponted.
+ nd has served ever since.
On August 80 1915. Ir. Tomlinson was
ppointeG as an officer on the force. and
n July l. 1855. he was promoted to the
ergeantry. He had served as acting
ergeant for several years previously.
Mr. Gibson was appointed on the force
n July l, 1881, and served in the Ihro
district where he was acting sergeant
or a number of years IN 1895 he was
etailed for work at headquarters
On December % 1881. Mr.. Wren was ap-
.n.nted to the force, and served in the
;econd District to the time of his so nS
n detail work at headquarters. in 1885,
DEPARTMENT. ORGANIZED.
At the October meeting of the CITY
'ouncil, the detective department was
made a distinct department in itself, an
-dinance making the work OF the Coun-
| Il binding. The department IS known
District No. 4
Sergeant TnmIinson was promoted to
he captaincy of the district-by the Board
( Commissioners al its meeting follow
ng the action OF the Council. and De-
ectives Gibson, Hall and Wren We're Gle
-ated to the rank of sergeant
| The department is now full-aedged, and
is quite likely that, within a short
while. separate rooms IN the CITY Han
will be provided for Captain Tomlinson
Isnd his men. SO that their work may be
Conducted in a. manner becoming the u q
lity of the department.
OF course. this department is under the
SUPERVISION of Major Howard, just as
all the others are.