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From The
Newsletter of the Belmont Historic Society, March 1998
Written by
Richard Betts, Belmont Town Historian. |
The Belmont Police Department, like the
departments of other cities and towns, had a very small beginning.
In the 1870's, Belmont was gaining a reputation |
| among hobos as a
"Tramp's Paradise." The residents were generous.
They provided food for hundreds of tramps coming and going from Boston
and it soon got to be quite a problem.
So in 1877, at a cost of $5,400, the town
built a 12 room "Tramp House and Stable" with five jail cells
in the basement on six acres of land on Concord Avenue where Stewart
Terrace is today. David Chenery, Jr. was named Roadmaster and
Constable. Thus, in effect, he became the first
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Belmont Police Department, circa 1896.
John Argy, David McCabe, Frank Chant, Chief Jerry
Ryan. |
| Superintendent of
Highways and Police Chief, and he moved into the new building which can
be considered the first police station and jail.
Over the years that building got a lot of
use. Tramps were given lodging there as they passed through town.
In return, they were obligated to work for two to three
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Belmont Police Honor Guard, 1997.
More Photos:
BPD
circa Oct 1965 (187K)
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hours the next
morning in the town gravel pit at the rear of the property, given
crackers and cheese, and sent on their way.
At that time, the Town had four
constables who made up the police force including Frank D. Chant who in
1885 was named Police Chief. The town report of that year for the
first time listed a police chief as an actual title so Mr. Chant was
therefore the first "official" chief of police.
Although, David Chenery, Jr. might also lay claim to that honor.
In his first report, Chief Chant listed a total of 11 arrests
and that 1,304 tramps were put up during the year. Perhaps being
dissatisfied with the Tramp House arrangement, he recommended in 1887 a great
need for a lock-up at the town hall. His 1888 report listed only seven
arrests for the year with five of them for drunkenness. That year, he also
worked for the highway department where his duties must have been more arduous
as for that year he was paid $89.71 as Police Chiefand $791.11 from the
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highway
budget. He ended his 1888 report with the following: "Owing to the large
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number of homes broken into in this town and
adjoining towns, I would recommend the need of having more officers for night
duty. When houses are broken into, if the occupants would notify the police at
once, it would be a great help to them in detecting the thief and recovering the
stolen goods." In 1891, Chief Chant, along with being Police Chief, was appointed
Superintendent of Streets and over the next few years added Field Driver,
Commissioner of Burial Grounds and Tree Warden to his duties. In his 1894
report, he listed 22 arrests and 6,039 tramps "furnished with
lodging." His salary had risen to $200 a year.
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The 1900 report of the Board of Selectmen offers the following: "With
the advent of the electric road, (the Waverley street car line) come almost
daily within our boundaries a large number of promiscuous strangers, not to
mention the throngs that in good weather, especially on Sundays and holidays,
are constantly passing through the town on bicycles; then again the modern |
1946, Police Chief William G. Heyd's
Lincoln |
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craze
of golf, the playing of which on Sunday is objectionable to some, all contribute
with other factors, to form an aggregation, or condition not previously, we
think, contemplated in our police provision.
"To the credit of the public at large it should be said, however, that
as a rule comparatively good order is observed. Quite frequent complaints
are made, nevertheless, for trespass and petty thieving, and other attending
annoyances, especially, if not more, disagreeable, and for which there is no
remedy except in the employment of a regular and efficient police force
consistent with the very considerable growth of the town in the past decade.
The population of Belmont according to census returns during the period has been
as follows:
| Year |
Population |
| 1890 |
2098 |
| 1895 |
2843 |
| 1900 |
3929 |
"And during this entire term the police force has been increased only by
the addition of one, while the town has almost doubled in size, and been brought
by modern conveyances, within easy, frequent and quick access to the surrounding
country. The large number of transient visitors conspicuously noticeable
in certain sections, at all hours of the day and night, and which the
contemplated further extension of the electric railway system will largely
increase, all indicate beyond any reasonable doubt that the day is not far
distant, if not already arrived, when the permanent police force must
necessarily be considerably increased, if our citizens and their property are to
be properly protected. The amount of territory covered by our present
night force is too large in area for the service to be effective as is
desirable. It would therefore seem as if the town would well consider the
propriety of early increasing the force, including a permanent day officer.
Suitable lock-ups at more convenient points should also be provided."
1935 Ford Wagon
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The report concluded with "Early in July, Mr. F. D. Chant who has been
the efficient head of the department since its organization, and who during all
that time has enjoyed the fullest confidence of our citizens, resigned."
Thus this last statement seems to point out that Mr. Chant was indeed the first
"official" police chief.
Jerry F. Ryan, who in 1887 had become the town's first night officer, was
appointed Police Chief. He is listed in the town reports for the next
three years as "Jerry" but starting in 1904 as Jeremiah. Then,
for some reason, starting in 1910, he is listed again with the more informal
name of "Jerry."
Chief Ryan took upon himself the duty of policing the town in the day
time. Evidently the law-breakers of Belmont were more active in the
night time for there were two officers on the night force. They were John
Argy who patrolled Waverley, and Thomas Murphy, who kept the Belmont section in
order. During the evening hours they sometimes had their hands full
warning bicycle "scorchers" from tearing up the gravel roads.
Also, when band concerts were events of the day, "the Belmont officers had
their hands full handling the crowds that came out to Waverley Oaks, and which
proved more than the Metropolitan police could sometimes take care of."
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1933 Buick Ambulance
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Jerry Ryan died in 1917 and John Argy was appointed Chief. He had been
a Constable since 1896 and night officer since 1899. A police horn and red
flashing light signal system was installed throughout the town and "has
proved most effective on many occasions in the apprehension of wrongdoers." |
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The final police officer shown in the picture (shown above) is David S.
McCabe. Following his service as a Constable, he was appointed the
towns first Building Inspector in 1899, and later elected Selectman in 1908
serving until his death in 1913. Thus all four men shown in the
picture eventually became officials of the Town.
Upon Mr. Argy's death in 1928, John J. O'Brien was named Chief serving until
his death in 1938. During his tenure, in 1931 the present day police
station at the corner of Concord Avenue and Pleasant Street was constructed.
For many years prior to that time the police department operated out of a room
in the basement of the town hall complete with two jail cells. An article
on the new station concluded with "Equipment for carrying on the work of
the department has been added as necessary and now included a modern, well
equipped ambulance and patrol car, two motorcycles, chief's car, and service
car. The equipment also includes first aid boxes, riot guns, tear bombs
and hand grenades for use in emergency work." They must have been
preparing for World War II!
The next Chief was William G. Heyd who had been a member
of the force since
1925. He headed up the department for the next 24 years and for many
Belmont "old-timers" probably the best known Police Chief.
Upon his retirement in 1962, Lt. Joseph J. Drolette filled the top job until
Donald Robinson was appointed in 1963. He served for only five years
retiring in 1968.
Alfred H. King was then named acting chief, but in 1969, upon topping
the civil service exam, Jeremiah V. Kiley was appointed the new chief. Chief Kiley held that position until retiring in 1981. He was followed by Robert T. Shea who served until he retired in June of
1992.
Lt. Daniel P. Pergamo filled in as acting chief for about a year until
the Selectmen appointed Chief Ronald J. Blanchette, who retired in 2002
Captain Andrew E. O'Malley Jr. was appointed
acting chief in the fall of 2002, and appointed permanent chief in October 2003,
Chief O'Malley retired in April of 2006.
Assistant Chief Richard Lane was appointed acting
chief in May of 2006.
Arlington PD Captain Richard J. McLaughlin was
appointed Chief in February of 2007, he is the first Chief to be appointed from outside
the Department.
So from David Chenery, Jr. to Richard McLaughlin, the town has been served by
eleven Police Chiefs over a 130 year period.
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