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"The
Old Building"
In
1934, the department got a new
station. The department moved
into a new City Hall building,
constructed on the south side of SE
Broadway Street, midway between
Osceola and Watula Avenues.
The old building actually consisted
of three rooms; the Chiefs Office,
Records room, and a combination
locker, briefing, and courtroom.
The detectives and squad room were
located to the rear in what
previously had been a church.
Jail cells were located in the alley
between the station and the old
church.
During the summer of 1934, the
Mayor nominated H.A. Fausett, Jr for
re-appointment as Chief of Police.
The Council postponed voting on
Fausetts nomination. On July
3, the Mayor was absent from the
Council meeting. The president
of the Council, serving as the
Acting Mayor, nominated John Spencer
for Chief of Police. Mr
Fausetts attorney protested, but
after the city attorney reassured
the Council their actions were
legal, they voted John Spencer the
new Chief of Police.
In February of 1935, the City
Council approved the purchase of two
automatic shotguns and bullet proof
windshield for the v-8 Ford and the
following year the department
purchased its first police patrol
wagon. In April of the same
year, the Council allowed boy scouts
to work as junior police on
Saturdays for two weeks to educate
pedestrians about safely crossing
streets. The scouts were paid
$1.00 per day.
On May 4, 1937, the first siren for
a police vehicle was purchased.
October of the same year saw all
slot machines outlawed by ordinance.
Council also ordered that signs be
placed under each traffic light
stating, "move on Green Only."
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