In the meantime, he called the newspaper and told them to send him a reporter and camera man. One of the intended victims was Miami Police Sergeant Cecil (Hamp) Knight. 6/26/1938, Officer Charles R. Reynolds has been assigned to the waterfront beat for years and states he NEVER has made an arrest. Wever chased them on his motorcycle, catching up with them in front of the Savoy Hotel on NW 2nd Street. Matt Vollmner, 68, the caretaker at the range was shot in the leg when an unexploded pistol bullet caught in the cutters of the power lawnmower he was operating and exploded. We consider these men Double Heroes. Sophie, without missing a beat, said "Why that's not new! First Desk Sgt- 1915. Peoria Police Department. Next thing I know a bailiff is asking if I am all right. This capture also solved the case of the murder of two Columbian visitors who were gunned down in the rear parking lot of the Trojan Bar, SW 8 St and 8th Ave earlier, by 45 cal. Barker became Chief of Detectives replacing Asst. Jonathon is a native of Arizona and grew up in Litchfield Park where he attended Agua Fria High School. Please click 'OK' to be sent to the new site, or Click 'Cancel' to go back. The Flagstaff Police Department is pleased to inform the public that in the interest of improving information sharing and being transparent with our community we have launched a new website, . After his military service, Coplin joined the MPD and served many years, most of which as a detective in the Burglary Unit. security policies. The other four men were carrying a small safe which had been removed from a larger safe in the store office. Hicks, a MPD officer for eleven years, joining in 1925, and his partner Officer Raleigh Page, were in the process of arresting four suspects and searching their car relating to an earlier auto theft case when Arnold, driving a truck, ran down Hicks, who died shortly after arriving at Jackson Memorial Hospital. These and numerous others attended the FBI Academy, Southern Police Institute, Northwestern Traffic Institute and other leading venues of higher education for police leaders with many attaining degrees from local universities. Many MPD Vets love to tell the story about Sergeant Milt Olgle visiting a 'friend'. McCreary, who had been both Chief and Safety Director. Rookie MPD officer Richard Roy Marler, 34, was shot and killed accidentally by a Dade County deputy sheriff on November 28, 1921, during a manhunt for an armed robber and suspected killer who was 'running amuck' with a shotgun. In early December that year, a contract was awarded to D. Merritt to build a city jail at the cost of $771. WASHINGTON SHOT ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, (Story about the author shooting a crook (minor wound) named George Washington on Christmas morning. Marshall Gray took prisoner Duckett to the county jail in Juno to await Grand Jury action.(Metropolis-10/14/1896). document.getElementById('cloakf8c7179f01f0232d36019b24ca80cace').innerHTML = ''; (Miami Metropolis- 5/14/1897). Exciting day. Department of Children and Families Squad: Conducts criminal investigations, including sexual battery and lewd and lascivious reports, in which both the victim and the subject are 13 years of age or younger. The policemen just drove their charge to the front door and helped them up the stairs - no extra frills, like circumventing irate wives or delivering the automobile too. He was stationed on the USS Arizona in Hawaiis Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941, during Japans strike against America. Main figure arrested was Raymond Healy, 26, termed by police a self-styled Hitler who came here recently from New York. The remainder of the investigate units were placed into one of four geographical divisions, headed up by a Detective Captain. Zangara had previously lived at 138 Jersey Street in Patterson, and in Hackensack, New Jersey until he moved to Miami months ago. Det Thomas Elder won the dubious prize while Det A.B. It was a one-act play, showed on a screen only a few inches square, featuring only head shots of the two actors. He had been sailing on the yacht Vincent Astor for eleven days and now was to return by train back to Washington, DC to prepare for the upcoming inauguration. There were no seat belts installed in the police units at that time. August 24th -New uniforms were issued to all uniformed MPD officers. The 230 plus short stories, all true, supplemented by numerous news paper blogs, follows Miami Police guys and gals through the decades to provide the reader with a condensed history. The council voted 4-3 to remove him but a unanimous vote was required, so he remained on the job. The president of the PBA then was Lt. Edwin L. Barrick. Well, several hours passed and the two detectives showed up at the Chief's office with a pickpocket they had arrested and beat up. directing traffic downtown was struck and killed at Flagler Street and Bayshore Drive on February 16, 1926 by an auto driver by J.L. The Case was the cause of later riots in Miami), (Personal friend of author dies in the McDuffee riot. R.N.Harwood and A.V. Just after being cleared, Mr. Cox was himself shot outside the courtroom by a Mrs. Howell who stated Cox was threatening her for testifying against him. Mathis, sleeping and drunk on his beat, with a pint bottle in his pocket. I had the pleasure of working for this quiet-spoken leader on special projects in the 60's and 70's and had a great admiration for his integrity and dedication. Also, in August of 1952, Detective Lt C. O .Huttoe was given a five demerit reprimand by Chief Headley by participating in a gambling raid conducted by Dade County detectives. Gore. Walter Headley is named as Chief of Police of Miami. Zangara was immediately pounced on by citizens in the crowd in addition to Miami police officers Arthur Clark, Ray Jackson, Red Crews and Fitzhugh Lee, all on duty in the park under the command of Captain Nelson. At 5AM, four burglars arrived with three entering the building via the open window. Brigman had joined the MPD in August of 1941, later taking military leave from 1942 to 1946 to serve in the U.S. Navy. The case was hampered by the change in State Attorney's. (US Census, City of Miami Publications, Miami Metropolis--8/25/1905). While, at the MPD practice range in Opa Locka, things got exciting. Virgil Mathis, Capt. Detective Captain J.O. Whitlock and W.M. In front of Saunders store, Driggers could see four men armed with rifles and shotguns and they had him covered when one of them issued the command for him to retreat. The U.S. issues a 653 page report on corruption and brutality in the department. Sgt. In 1992, MPD Detective Confessor Gonzalez re-interviewed an earlier suspect in LaFleur's murder, who had unexplained gunshot wounds. I am sure that not many officers can say they shot George Washington on Christmas morning, especially one with no beard and not wearing a red suit. McCarthy set up a citizen Secret Observers program for traffic infraction reporting. Phillips, Finch Cochran, Alex Gingras, D.A. July 19th -The new 79th Street Causeway opened for traffic. (Miami PD records, Miami News-9/11/1941). Carberry heard a pick-up call for a green Pontiac believed used in the Grand Union robbery and spotted the car at SW 3rd Street and 12th Ave. Guy Bradford and Off. His reply was a classic (and true); (A funny story that is told in this chapter.). An informant advised John Heywood, a MPD detective, that a 19 year old street tough from Coconut Grove tried selling him the gun. Officer Dallas L. Carroll, Patrol Section officer, was transferred from his patrol car duty to that of walking the Coconut Grove beat on midnight shift after raiding a Tamiami Trail bookie joint. Please be You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Plainclothes officers D.F. However, this is a excellent example as to why. (338 words), (The saga of the Chief of Police (Quigg) being arrested for complicity in murder is described in this chapter. Quigg passed the order to Huttoe. Midnight shift guys had two hours to kill before City Court opened. No days off. Motor Officer L.P. Brantley attempted to pull over a speedster he was chasing. Therefore, Steve asked the young C.I. A Robert Franklin Jones was arrested in 1962 but later released. All personnel were on a seven day week, with two weeks vacation in summer. One day I received a telephone call from a citizen. Governor Broward signed the death warrant for Edward (Cady) Brown to be hung on June 5th for the December 1905, murder of Mrs. Dora Suggs. Zangara further advised his questioners, When I read in the Miami newspapers that the President-elect was coming to Miami by boat, I determined to kill him. All officers are to undergo range training in the next three months. The same evening, MPD Officer William S. Scott was killed by Officer M.C. (Police were not equipped with radios at that time). A pile of rap sheets was prepared and packaged up with a copy of the original complaint and 'someone' shoved the entire wad under the boss's door at 3AM. The account, although lurid, describes the state of the art of the process of major crimes investigations during that period. An organization was formed in January 2000 and it is running strong with over 800 members twelve years later. During the same period, the ordinary Patrol officer was released from official and unofficial restraints and began to stick their nose into areas of concern previously the sole responsibility of the detective districts. Note: No reason was stated in the news reports on why McCarthy stepped down. (334 words). The current standard of hiring only men of ages 21 to 28 for police duty was relaxed and men of ages 40 to 55, (beyond draft age) would be hired on a case by case basis. There are thousands of unsolved cases at the Miami-Dade Police Department. A fact published in the Miami Metropolis newspaper on February 19, 1915, concerns the process of appointing the Chief of Police and stating the number of members of the force at that time. In his pocket was a small drill punch and an automatic pistol. McCarthy became a Captain of the Traffic Division in 1932. Cecil Knight, Woods partner in the chase, was Captain Cecil (Hamp) Knight, who was one of the most famous Auto Theft detectives in the nation for many, many years. Branch was arrested and sentenced to prison. Owsley, Lt. Ken Parker and Lt. (later Chief) Garland Watkins were super. Valiton later admitted shooting Sgt Wever five times with a revolver. June 1st -Guy Reeve was promoted to Chief from Detective Chief. Now Hiring! (This chapter provides the details on the shootout that killed Officer Morris.). A news story reported that the team was practicing for an upcoming match against other departments and Army groups. Three big time safe crackers (they called them Yeggs back then) were arrested yesterday by Chief Quigg, Detective Rose, Sgt Keys and Officer Roscoe Dunn. Embarrassing story (but funny) 391 words). EMERGENCIES - DIAL 911. A proposal by Chief Quigg to raise the salaries of MPD officers $5 a month on July 1st was forwarded to the city commission. It's about 0300 and I start making a cursory look as one of my units arrive. This had the affect of breaking up this group of fiefdoms. As the speech concluded, a short, stocky man climbed atop a cheap metal seat several rows from the front of open band shell, pulled out a 32 caliber pistol, and fired five rounds from 25 feet away in the direction of President-elect Roosevelt. (387 words). Officer Patrick Howell Baldwin was killed in an auto accident yesterday. (Pic shows about 30 MPD guys in a classroom. Harry is past 90 yrs now and still acts like the Energizer bunny. Headley charged Huttoe for interfering in a case outside his own detective district. Hardy Bryan, Capt. I've got mine on and its very uncomfortable. Any net proceeds from this book (The Miami Police Worksheet) will be donated to the M.P.V.A. Officer Steve Collins had developed a real good C.I. 32 were riding the wagon. At present, the force includes a captain, two sergeants and fourteen policemen, two of whom are plain clothes men." A special civil service ruling was passed to protect the pension and seniority rights of retiring Chief McCarthy when he reverts back to his civil service rank of Captain. Detectives C.W. To avoid public controversy, training sessions were held for black recruits in secret at the Liberty Square Housing project. Roberts to Motor Sergeant. Lane ran back through the hotel in an attempt to intercept him. Officer Carberry recovered and continued on his career, finishing it as a commanding officer in the detective bureau. Officer Harris was warned by a room clerk that Garrett was also waiting to ambush him, helping the second officer to escape death. Nelson had changed his name from Epps shortly after 1910 when he entered into an acting career. Story, (Clarence Dickson made history once again when he was appointed the first Black chief of police in 1988. MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - The Miami-Dade Schools Police Department is searching for a missing 15-year-old girl. Gingras, 17 and Charles Shepard, 12, the later two being current police officers with MPD. The only problem is that I was riding solo on that night and Officer Catell was several zones away and out of my sight for the entire night. Fortunately for all, the other guards gun was not loaded. ), (This chapter tells of a shootout at the Burger King where one officer and one offender was wounded and the search for the 2nd bad guy.) Col. Pomerleau cleaned house at MPD, reorganizing the detective division into Burglary, Robbery, Fraud, etc units. Godman, J.D. Miami detectives had received a tip earlier in the week that safecrackers might soon target the credit union in this building. Carroll, Albert, Appointed Dec 1905 as unpaid special. Our faces come together at the exact same time separated only by the window pane.' In the weeks after the opening of the recruiting office, practically each Cuban stopped and questioned by the author and other officers for any reason, would hear the halting English reply that "I am working with the CIA, so don't bother me.". Delrish Moss is a national news figure. So did a local neighbor, MPD Officer E.B. I will insist that the department be run with the sole aim of protection of life and property". He was survived by his mother, Mrs. R.L. Huttoe was physically beaten by Detective Chief J.O. He was a pilot, a magician, paid circus clown and a story-teller extraordinary. (The interesting story of the 1952 Dora Pinder case is contained in this chapter.) Elaido Del Valle, a person of interest in the assassination of President Kennedy, was murdered in Miami in February of 1967. Assembling the group was facilitated by a simple website prepared by the spouse of one of the members, Lynn Appleget.