Everett Police Department
Massachusetts                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                  

 

 

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EARLY HISTORY

 

MILITIA

 

Prior to the first town meeting of Everett on March 21st, 1870 Everett had no formal police. Protection of the residents was in the hands of the local volunteer militia

CONSTABLES/POLICE

At the first town meeting, it was voted to ballot six constables. The constables who were elected were:

Solomon Shute
Benjamin Corey
E.B. Edmester
Thomas Leavitt
George Sergent
Timothy Murphy

This was the beginning of the Everett Police Department.

On December 29, 1870 the town warrant listed ... "to see what action the town will take in regard to building a lock-up and authorize the Treasurer to borrow money for the same."

On April 2, 1870 A.H. Evans and S.J. Cox were appointed special police without pay.

On April 22, 1870 and expenditure of $19.50 was approved for four police badges for the constables and Joseph E. Nichols was appointed as special policeman without pay

1871 the number of constables was increased to eight with the addition of:

Samuel P. Whitman
S.J. Cox
John Stimpson

(note: George Sergent's name was removed from the roll)

In 1872 a lock-up had been established in the Masonic Building in Everett Square, and a niote in the town record states "lock-up not heated".

In 1873 the lock-up keeper made $25 per year.

In 1875, James E. Manser was appointed a policeman, his hours were from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and his pay was $2 per day.

Before 1880, the police carried no protection but in 1880 police officers Samuel Emerton and T.C. Edmenster were authorized to carry revolvers and billies when on duty.

In 1881, the town by-laws were amended to elect annually 3 or more constables and the Selectmen may appoint 2 or more police officers, the salary to be left to the discretion of the Selectmen.

The following violations were considered punishable and enforced by the police in 1881 Everett:

     * No person would be allowed to pasture any cattle on any street except his own and then only with a keeper

     * No person would be allowed to drive cattle on the sidewalks except in passing through

     * Nothing in the way of rubbish was to be discarded on the streets and sidewalks

     * No person could leave wagons, carts, or other vehicles, or coal or wood on a street or sidewalk overnight without a light

     * No horse or animal could be driven through the streets at more than 7 miles per hour.

     * No one would be allowed to injure any tree, park or plants on the streets of the town or hitch any horse to the boxing thereof.

     * No coasting on the streets or sidewalks was allowed.

     * A $5.00 dollar penalty for hitching on to any hind part of a vehicle or carriage.

     * No person was to throw snowballs or other missiles.

     * No person was to play football or other games on the town streets or sidewalks, or make an alarming noise, or to join an assemblage on the street or sidewalks to the
       annoyance of persons passing - $5.00 for each offense.

     * No bonfires were allowed without written consent

     * No person was to fire any gun, cannon or pistol not relating to military exercise - $5.00 for each offense.

     * No person in the state of nudity was to bathe in the waters of the town in the sight of others.

     * Children between 7 and 15 wandering in public places, not in school and with no occupation, shall be sent to the House of Employment and Reformation at Lowell.

     * Any child staying away from home without permission was a truant. The child was to be reported to parents and if pledge given of conformance, the police may accept
       the same and give the child another chance.

In 1883 were considering the employment of "Mr Samuel Emerton or some other person" as police officers for the protection of property and for the peace of the town
during the hours that the night watch were not on duty.

In 1884 Joseph E. Nichols and Joseph S Parlin were appointed special police without pay.

By 1890 crime has increased. There were the usual truants, but in addition, there were tramps and people coming in from other towns with no means of support. They were housed overnight at the Everett House, which was located at the junction of Broadway and Sweetser Circle, while disposition was made of their offense.

There was a great deal of vandalism in the breaking of windows and stealing of fruit from the many orchards.

There were many stolen and runaway horses and wagons.