History of the Monroe Police Department. April 13, 1941 Motorists who cause small traffic accidents are often the target of verbal attacks from the offended, but Charles Perot got the works Saturday afternoon when he aroused the ire of one patrolman, then bumped the fender of a police captain. The story police told was that Patrolman Bob Dartez was proceeding east on Layton Avenue when Perot drove north across Layton on South Second Street. Patrolman Dartez avoided a crash when he stopped quickly. Perot stopped but immediately started again. He then bumped into the rear fender of Captain J. D. Busbys patrol car and kept going. Patrolman Dartez forced Perot to the curb. Perots car caught fire and Dartez extinguished the blaze with a bucket of water. Perot was booked with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence and hit and run driving. April 14, 1941 Appointment of Garland R. May, 3012 Lee Avenue, to the position of night captain on the Monroe Police Department was announced Monday by Acting Chief B. L. Brantley. Captain May filled the vacancy created when Brantley was promoted to acting chief during the absence of Chief Frank Reitzell, now a captain in the United States Army. M. L, Peters is a new addition to the night patrol, according to Chief Brantley. April 21, 1941 Guy Sievers, 222 Pearly Street, has been added to the Monroe Police Department and assigned to the Traffic Division, Acting Chief B. L. Brantley announced. Sievers is an experienced motorcyclist and will serve with the motorcycle patrol. May 1, 1941 A Monroe motorcycle policeman escaped serious injury in a head-on collision accident here Wednesday, Chief of Police B. L. Brantley reported. Guy A. Sievers, 22 year old police officer, received first aid treatment at the Vaughan-Wright-Bendel Clinic after he made a wide right turn into South Second Street from Stone Avenue and crashed into the automobile operated by Edward Paylor. Before he turned, Sievers was traveling east on Stone Avenue while Paylor drove north on South Second. Damage to the motorcycle was $125.00. July 13, 1941 It was one of lifes big moments for Acting Police Chief B. L. Brantley Wednesday when the officers of his department unexpectedly presented him with a gold Chiefs badge. This was a token of their recognition of his capable leadership and of their respect for him, Brantley, who has been with the Monroe Police Department since 1927, was promoted from night captain to acting chief some three months ago when Chief Frank V. Reitzell was called to active duty as an Army captain. August 17, 1941 The original John Doe was booked at police headquarters with drunkenness and disorderliness after his arrest Saturday afternoon. Desk Sergeant Charles H. Sisson, who booked John Doe, received a call at 4:01 P.M. to send an officer to Thomas Avenue just off Lee Avenue, where a Negro was either dead or drunk in the street. A police radio message was sent to Officers R. J. Goza and Ed Harper. They sped to the scene. At first glance, they saw the body was on the curb and the legs were in the street. A beer bottle was leaning against the supine figure. They pulled to the curb, got out of the car, and looked at the slump form. It was a dummy. It was made of straw. A dirty straw hat sat on the paper head. A dirty white flannel shirt, black leather belt and old khaki pants completed the outfit, except for two leather shoes tied to the pants legs. Realizing the joke, the officers picked up the figure and placed it in the back seat of the patrol car. A woman across street hollered as they were climbing into the automobile, Make the charges as light as possible. Driving up to the front of City Hall, the arresting officers radioed Sergeant Sisson on the second floor to send them a trusty to help carry the figure upstairs. The sergeant sent them Uriah Johnson, Negro trusty, who, when he saw the crumpled figure in the rear seat, was held trembling to the spot before he realized John Doe was only a dummy. When you make a visit to police headquarters and look in the police blotter under August 16, you will see the name of John Doe charged with D & D and arrested by Officers Goza and Harper. August 19, 1941 Monroes first copcycle was initiated into service Tuesday when the Traffic Division of the Monroe Police Department added the new three-wheeled machine to its corp of regular motorcycles. Equipped with radio apparatus, the new machine will be used by the traffic division for relieving traffic congestion, marking cars in regulated parking zones and for regular police duty. The motorcycle has a seating capacity for two officers, acting Chief B. L. Brantley said. August 24, 1941 Officer F. K. Ham, 60, was in Vaughan-Wright-Bendel Clinic last night with a fractured skull suffered yesterday afternoon when a Negro resisting arrest allegedly attacked Officer Ham as he was patrolling in the 600 block of DeSiard Street. The Negro was captured about 4:00 P.M. and lodged into the city jail. He will face a charge of assault with intent to kill after he was booked for investigation at police headquarters, Chief Brantley said. Police said Officer Ham, whose beat covers Catalpa and Fourth Streets, was stopped near Five Points by an unidentified Negro who complained he was being followed by a subject named Howard, who was wielding a knife. After a short search, Officer Ham located Howard, who ran up DeSiard Street at the sight of the officer. Officer Ham pursued the fleeing Negro and caught up with him when he stumbled. The Negro reportedly butted Officer Ham in the stomach and at the same time hit the officer in the face with his hand. Officer Ham was knocked down and his head hit the curb and he became unconscious. Receiving a report that approximately fifty aroused citizens were preparing to storm the city jail for Howard, police transferred him to the parish jail.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:58:24 +0000