Chelmsford Police Department through the years
Our History
Special thank you to Eleanor Parkhurst & Fred Merriam for their book “History of Chelmsford 1910-
1970.” This book can be purchased here.
At a meeting at William Fletcher’s home off Crosby Lane, he and six others were chosen “to officiate in Ordering the Public Affairs of the Place by the Consent of the Major part of the Town of this year ensuing…1655”. This is what was known as a constable back in those days. During colonial times, public officials controlled many aspects of living, such as wages, punishing lying and idleness, regulating food and drink, and making a requirement for children to be educated.
In the 1880’s through 1890’s the number of Constables increased significantly from 5 to 8 just in the decade and steadily increased after due to population increase. As the 20th century progressed, several constables were hired, including George M. Wright, E. Hamlin Russell, James S. Wotton, William J. Quigly, Warren Berry, Michael Norton, and Franklin Guyotte. The salaries ranged from $9.08 – $122 yearly depending on time worked and rank. In 1898 a request for better police protection was made by E.H. Chamberlin and 24 other townspeople. They requested that one or more-night policemen work in
several of the villages for “better protection of property”.
Due to thefts of farm produce, several people were made into special police officers. In 1911 there were 24 special police officers and that then increased to 29 in 1912.
A vote was taken by the Selectman to reduce the number of Constables from seven down to one but keeping the special police officers. This formation began to resemble the current-day structure of the police department. During the annual town meeting on March 25, 1912, Hubert H. Richardson was voted as Constable under the new structure.
The Selectman’s report first referred to the town safety as the “Police Department” and listed the members of the force and their salaries.
Two classes of Special Police were set up under the Constable. 14 were “Not Subject to Call,” and 8 were “Subject to Call.” Also, in 1920, the 18th Amendment, known as Prohibition, became effective. In the 1920’s there were various liquor raids, arrests, and seizures of alcohol.
The town asked the Select Board to appoint two regular police officers for patrol duty 24 hours a day during the year. The two officers chosen as regular officers were Donald F. Adams and Charles F. Shugrue. Adams was previously a special police officer and the town hall janitor and was also elected as Constable in 1925. The annual police report was signed by Adams, Shugru, three Special Police Officers, and Special Police Woman Mabelle Whitlock. In 1925 there were 104 arrests, including 18 for drunkenness and 14 for driving without a license. There were 1,135 complaints and calls answered, 5 fires discovered at nighttime, and 7 search warrants issued for liquor raids.
Officer Donald F. Adams was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 19th. The defendant traveled to A.G. Pollards’ home on Bartlett Street and demanded $25,000. Pollard was the owner of Lowell Dry Goods and had received several letters in the weeks leading up to the attempted extortion threatening him. The defendant did not obtain any money from Pollard at the residence and took off on foot on Boston Rd. Police were notified and Officer Adams arrived on scene on scene on his police motorcycle. It was found that the defendant had gotten on a streetcar and was headed for Lowell. Adams followed the streetcar and knew it would stop at a railroad crossing on Chelmsford Street. Once the streetcar stopped, Adams asked the defendant to exit the streetcar so he could speak with him. The defendant refused, so Adams boarded the streetcar to speak with him. The defendant shot Adams as he walked down the aisle of the streetcar. He was brought to a Lowell hospital, where he died shortly after. The defendant was sent to sentenced to Bridgewater State Hospital for the Insane for a life sentence. After Donald Adams was killed, John E. Johnson was appointed to Constable to fill Adams’s spot.
During the annual Town Meeting it voted in favor of Section 97 Chapter 41 of Massachusetts General Law which established a modern-day police force. The law states, “In towns which accept this section or have accepted corresponding provisions of earlier laws, there shall be a police department
established under the direction of the selectmen, who shall appoint a choice of police and such other police officers as they deem necessary and fix their compensation in an amount not in the aggregate exceeding the annual appropriation. After this law was enacted, Fred I. Vinal, a former constable and a special police officer, was appointed as the first Chief of Police from February 15 until May 15, 1928. John E. Johnson was made police chief. Also, in 1928, the first police call boxes were placed in the center village and in the north village.
Mae S. Lewis RN was the first local woman to be named on the police department roster. She also served as a school nurse and an agent for the Board of Health. Her first policewoman’s report was written in 1933.
Regular officers included Winslow P. George, Ralph J. Hulslander, Alan Adams, William Reid, and Leo Boucher. The first police car was also purchased for a cost of $412. Previously, officers used motorcycles, walked their route, used horses, or rode on the trolley.
More funds were acquired from Town Meetings to secure additional equipment, such as motorcycles, a radio for the police cruiser, and a two-way radio for further communications.
The department consisted of a chief, two patrolmen, eight special police officers, eight special school police, a special election policeman, a policewoman, one special policeman for the highway department (the superintendent), and two special police officers for the North Chelmsford Fire District. There were 74 arrests that year, 3 for crimes against persons, 8 for crimes against property, and 63 crimes against public order.
From 1948 to 1954, two more officers were added to the roster, Basil Larkin and Raymond E. Harmon St. In 1954, Officer Harmon was promoted to the first-ever sergeant position in the Chelmsford Police Department. Chief Hulslander stated in a town meeting, “The need for such a position in the department is great. At present, there is no one in a position of authority to take charge in the absence of the chief because of vacation, illness, or other reasons. With a sergeant in the department, there would be an officer in charge at all times, and this would greatly increase the efficiency of the department.”
Officer Larkin became the department’s second Sergent, and six patrolmen comprised the roster.
On April 20th, a bank robbery was reported. Robert E. Peterson from Saugus entered the Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank in Central Square and passed the teller a note demanding $3,000. The teller gave the money to Peterson but simultaneously pressed the silent alarm button, which rang at the police station. Sgt. Raymond Harmon and Officer Alan Adams arrived on the scene and ordered Peterson out of his vehicle. He was arrested and confessed to Chief Hulslander. The money was recovered.
As the influx of new residents continued, Chief Hulslander noted that “The crime of Breaking and Entering in the Nighttime took a big surge upward this year, and we find that as many juveniles were involved as adults in this serious crime. The crime of malicious damage to property also climbed upward with the emphasis again on juveniles.” As a result of this situation, Sergent Harmon took a 20-week course at the Judge Baker Guidance Clinic in Boston and became the department’s first juvenile officer.
A third sergeant, Richard F. Campell, was added. The department was now composed of 14 patrolmen.
Winslow P. George died in the line of duty on May 25, 1960. Chelmsford News Weekly reported that suffered from a fatal heart attack while in his cruiser on his way to a report of a motor vehicle crash. Officer George was a twenty-nine-year veteran of the department. Leslie H Adams Jr was promoted to the rank of the fourth Sergent on the department.
Eighteen patrolmen were employed by the department.
Discussions began for a new police station. The current one at the town hall was overcrowded, had insufficient garaging, and no cell block area.
During the annual town meeting, the Selectman was authorized to appoint a committee to engage an engineer or architect to make plans for a new police station. $107,500 was allotted for the new station but was found not to be enough, and additional money was voted for and allotted to the budget.
The department continued to grow, with twenty-one patrolmen, and a fifth sergeant position was added. Thomas A. Palmer was promoted. The new police station was opened at 230 North Rd on December 13th.
Richard F. Campbell became the department’s first Captain. William A. McAllister was appointed in his place.
After Chief Hulslander’s death, Captain Campbell became acting chief. The chief had five sergeants and twenty-four patrolmen. Sgt. Harmon retired, and his place was taken by Walter W. Edwards Jr.
Thomas A. Palmer became chief, with Richard Campbell as Captain. The position of Safety Officer was added, and John Bell received the position. The criminal bureau was established and consisted of two part-time and four full-time inspectors. Chief Palmer found it imperative to establish the bureau to prevent crime due to the increased population.
Two more patrolmen were added to the police department. The criminal bureau was established and consisted of two part-time and four full-time inspectors. Chief Palmer began the process by linking the department with the Massachusetts Communication and Information System via computer. “The computer, more than any other single improvement since the two-way radio, will alter the course of police activities as we know them.” This new system was able to provide police dispatch with information on stolen cars, warrants, and other police information.
A sixth sergent, Raymond P. McKeon, was added. Robert E. Germann became chief following Chief Palmer’s death. Sgt. Larkin retired, and Pennryn D. Fitts was promoted. There were 29 patrolmen in the department. The department established a K-9 Unit after a young German Sheppard was donated to the department. Officer Robert Auger became the K-9 handler for the department.
A new addition was made to the station, and the size was doubled. It was expected to last 20 years. By this time, the department had a fleet of 10 vehicles.
James C. Greska became the seventh Sergeant, and 39 patrolmen were employed. There were four police matrons and three school traffic supervisors, all of whom were women. New UHF radios were installed in police cruisers, improving communications between dispatch, cruisers, and other communities. The department reached over 12,000 calls, compared to just under 2,000 in 1955.
Officer John P. Campbell died on duty on February 8th. Officer Campbell experienced a fatal heart attack while on duty following a physical altercation with an alleged drunk driver on Route 3 the previous night, February 7th. Due to the Blizzard of 1978, all officers were assigned 24-hour shifts.
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If you have any questions, comments, or additions, please reach out to Officer Aidan Gillis.