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Home > Departments > Police Department > History
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1874Chief W. N. Chamberlain and three officers
1876 All Constables, no chief
1890 Chief George L. Minor, John S. Been, Morris W. Searle, Charles
H Watson, T.N. Cooley, George Simpson, Charles Barnes, A.C. Hayes, I.D.
Knox. In 1890 John Breen was appointed Lock-up Keeper. He acted as Lock-up
Keeper until 1900 and lived with his family in the basement of the Town
Hall. Vagrants and tramps picked up were held overnight and released in
the morning, but had to saw wood for one hour. Men in the Department wore
helmets, carried clubs or black jacks and carried own guns.
1891 Police Chief George L. Minor, Constables George Minor, John
Breen, Morris Searle, Michael Sullivan, Benjamin Chadwick.
1894 Chief Henry Mullen with four officers
1900 Chief Oren G. Cash with six officers.
1905 William F. Flouton appointed Chief and served until 1921.
1917 Archie Williams and William Rehor were appointed bringing the
Department to a total of 16 Officers.
1919 The first motor vehicle was purchased for the Department. It
was a REO Truck and it was operated until 1926. Prior to this time when
a prisoner was brought in, The Officer hailed a ride in a car, trolley,
or a business wagon. The Department consisted of all foot patrolmen. They
worked 9 hours a day and had one day off in two weeks. There were two trains
per day, an Eastbound at 10:10 PM and a Westbound at 2:50 AM. Trolleys were
the only means of public transportation, with the last one at 11:35 PM
1921 Westfield became a city and the First Police Commission were
appointed, with George Searle, Chairman Ex-officio with Richard P. McCarthy
and James H. Clark the other two members. On August 11, Capt Michael F.
Sullivan was appointed Acting Chief of Police. On October 15 Thomas F. Daly
was appointed Chief, at a salary of $2400.00. The patrolmen received $4.50
per day. The Police Department budget for the year was $35,327.50. July
29 a motorcycle was assigned to the Department.
1934 March 3, 1934 a Motor Division established with four officers.
1936 Capt Allen H. Smith appointed Acting Chief of Police
1938 New Office space was constructed in the basement of City Hall
for Chief's Office.
1939 Allen H. Smith appointed Chief of Police. Rita A. Levere appointed
first Clerk Stenographer and Special Policewoman.
1940 First two way radio were purchased and installed in Headquarters
and the cruisers.
1950 Chief Smith died in Office, Capt George Hickson appointed Acting
Police Chief and Sgt. Malcolm Donald appointed Acting Captain.
1951 Malcolm Donald appointed Chief of Police
1953 Six School Traffic Supervisors were added to protect school
children at various school crossings.
1956 Chief of Police's Office was temporarily moved from basement
of City Hall because of the 1955 flood, to the Goldstein Building, on Church
Street.
1958 The Police Department was transferred to Basement of Old Normal
School 59 Court Street which also included City Hall.
1972 Sgt. Gerald O'Connor appointed Chief of Police. First Police
Headquarters Building opens in October at 15 Washington Street. Has in-door
firing range in basement.
1974 5 Lieutenants were added to Chain of Command. Sgts James Moran.
James Cavanaugh, Joseph Bonkowski, Benedict Coach, Benjamin Surprise.
1975 Introduction of the "4 and 2" work schedule. Officers
work four straight days with 2 days off.
1980 Linda Hammond became the first female full time police officer.
1985 Lieut. George Varelas took leave of absence after being elected
Mayor of the City of Westfield.
1988 Capt Benjamin F. Surprise appointed Acting Chief of Police
1989 Police Department adopts the D.A.R.E. program, placing 1 Officer
into the Elementary Schools teaching Drug Abuse Resistance Education.
1990 Acting Chief Benjamin F. Surprise appointed Chief of Police.
1993 Full time Traffic Bureau created. 1 Sergeant and 2 Patrolman
assigned.
1994 The Department began the concept of Community Policing, with
1 Patrolman assigned into the Orange Street area. The program expanded to
Union Street with 1 Patrolman assigned to apartment complexes.
1995 Explorer
(Boy Scouts of America) direction of CPA Ray Manos (establishment of)
1996 The Department adds two new programs. A bicycle patrol in downtown
area and a School Resource Officer at Westfield High School. Every police
officer issued a sixteen channel portable radio.
1997 Westfield Police Department now consists of a Chief, 1 Captain,
4 Lieutenants, 9 Sergeants and 59 Patrol Officers. 1 Lieut., 1 Sgt. and
10 Patrol Officers assigned to Detective Bureau with 1 assigned to Regional
Narcotic Task Force and 1 assigned a Court Officer at Westfield District
Court. 1 Sgt. and 8 Patrol Officers to Community Police . 1 Sgt. and 2 Patrol
Officers to the Traffic Bureau . 3 Patrol Officer assigned to Bicycle Patrol.
1997 Civilian
Domestic Violence Coordinator added to department.
1997 Civilian
Emergency Telecommunications Dispatchers added to the 4-12 shift.
1998 October - John A. Camerota Chief of Police
1999 First Citizens Police Academy.
1999 First High School mentor program.
1999 Establishment of citizen greeter in the Police Station lobby.
2000 Establishment of first department K-9 unit. Officer Kerry Paton and Canine DUKE.
2000 After a 50 year hiatus a motorcycle unit is establsihed with the help of Senator Michael Knapik and State Representative Cele Hahn.
2003 Establihment of department ATV unit for off road enforcement.
2003 Officer Tracey Ploof assigned as a School Resource Officer at Westfield Vocational Technical High
School.
2003 Officer Paul Pellan assigned as a School Resource Officer responsible for North and South Middle Schools.
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