The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-16
BY THE OUT EASTER

We and all of Out East, for that matter, knew Billy Keegan, the COD, who was buried from his home last Monday morning. Why shouldn't we remember him? Wasn't he among the blue coats of old who used to give us "the shack" from our daily meeting place in and around the corner of Rutledge street, on the warm nights of many years ago?
 There were not mai.y places to go in those days or nights, except to attend show in the old Jacques theater, or take in a polo game at the Auditorium. That's why we used to gather now and then at the corner in question. Johnny Whalen's grocery was nearby, and the Maher choice dry goods store stood right before us. Automobiles were not dreamed of, and the movies, oh, they were not then even in the, thought of man. The wonder to most of us now, is how we escaped jail; neither church nor state. we repeat, ever gave us a helping hand, in guid- ance or education; practically all of us were driven into the factory, and there you'll find us still. bend ing and pushing against the old buff wheel, so that our thin little shoulders of a good form of yes terday now resemble what we used to describe as the back of hack" We have gotten nowhere, and will die just like so many others. as we were born, lacking education and refinement, and confining our acquaintanceship to the very ones who were with us almost from childhood. We see it every day; we cannot deny it: we know nothing, and never will knew more than we do just at this particular mo- ment.
 Billy Keegan was a young old time cop. That is he joined the force in January II, 1898, at time when the former cavalryman of Civil war days, the late George M. Egan, commanded the depart ment, with the handsome Major Charles R. Bannon as the next officer in line, followed by the goateed and police appearing Tom Dodds, as the lieutenant of the outfit. The only ones in the department from Out East were Jack Pagan and Jack ByrneS. "Shiner" Stevens, the present chief inspector was only one of our own outfit. Like the rest of us, he had to run upon numerous occasions, because in the days we speak of, every copper was fast on his feet. And no one was fast CT on the run than Billy Keegan. He caught us upon many occa- sions, but our only offense was hanging at the street corner" Kind hearted, and knowing life as he did, Billy just gave us a little good advice, and sent us on our way. He was forever doing it. He just couldn't bring him. self to the act of carting us off to police headquarters, and giving us a police record; we could never forget him for that, and why then, during all of these years, shouldn't we have admired and glorified in his achievements.
 Inspector Keegan was Water bury born; he knew the city prob ably better than any other police man. For various years, before his entrance into the police depart ment, he was volunteer fireman, attached to old Phoenix Engine company, No. l, on Phoenix ave- nue, wearing badge No 58. Just before he left the company he was it's assistant foreman, 8 high honor to the volunteer of olden days.
 Remember the old central plant of the American District Tele- graph Company on East Main St. between Kelley's bakery and Dex- ter's drug store, in the heart of the city? We'll, that's the place where Billy Keegan WIS employed. His boss was the late w A. Sawyer, a kind and conSiderate man, who not only ran this company, but also the Western Union local branch. Billy Keegan was part lineman, a part telegrapher, and a general, all around handy man." The messenger boys he often sent around to the various manuIactur- ings plants to see why the watch man hadn't sent in his call an hour or so before. This kind of service was new then, but it eventually worked into the big system now in vogue not only ill Waterbury, but throughout the country.
 Billy Keegan always wanted to be copper. It was his ambition from boyhood. It was also the ambition of others. but one had to have the support of an indivi- dual admirer to get on the force in those days. Billy had one in the person of the much admired George A. Driggs, a prominent manufacturer. George was the leading Republican member of the Board of Public Safety. Tom Reid, the cop, with the sandy side surns" had resigned. and so Geroge picked Billy as his successor. That was how he got on the depart ment, and it was George, too, who II. L