Edmonton Bulletin
26 Aug 1915
n6up1029
First Official Inspection of Police Force of Albertas Capital by Lieut.-Governor
Guardians of Law and Order Review by Lieutenant-Governor Buyea and Member of Police Commission Brave Showing mad by Force whose proven Efficiency is source of pride to Edmonton Citizens Force is Complemented on every side.
Edmonton has good reason to be proud of her police force. The first inspection and review of police took place in the history of the city took place at eleven oclock yesterday on the Rice street market square, before his Honor Lieutenant-Governor Bulyea and the police commission Magistrate Primrose, Judge Taylor and Major Henry.
Promptly at eleven oclock the members of the force 82 strong, led by four mounted men and headed by Chief Constable Hill, paraded from headquarters to the square, where the Lieutenant Governor and the police commissioners awaited them. The inspection followed military maneuvers under the direction of Sergeant Fraser, who has seen eight years service in the Imperial army. His honor and the police commissioner accompanied by Chief Commissioner Harrison, Alderman Picard, Calder, Douglas and Williamson, proceeded down the line of the men standing at attention, carefully inspecting them. The official party then moved o the center of the east side of the square to witness a march past by the force. Fully 2,000 citizens were present to witness the inspection and the brave showing made was highly complimented on all sides. The average height of the men was 5 ft 11 1-2 inches, and the average age 32. The tallest man in the force is Constable Mechan, 6 ft 4 inches. From this force in the past year twenty men have enlisted for overseas service. Of the men remaining practically all the married men. The present strength of the force including detectives and office staff is 102, which is 33 less than six months ago.
Lieut-Gov. Bulyes and Magistrate Primrose addressed the men. His Honor declared the force was a great credit to the city. He congratulated Chief Constable Hill in having brought to such a high state of efficiency so fine a body of men. He was certain each man connected with the police force had the interests of the city at heart, and was imbued with a proper appreciation of his duty as a guardian of law and order.
Magistrate Primrose declared it was not his business to compliment or praise but he assured the men the Police Commissioners were delighted with the showing they had made.
Following the inspection the entire force marched to the Macdonald hotel where photographs were taken.
Many citizens who have seen the police forces of other citizens on parade stated during the inspection that they never saw on this continent a better body of men.
To many it was in the nature of a surprise that the policing of the city of such far-flung boundaries is handled by so comparatively small a force. The necessity of economy has been recognized but has not been effected at the cost of efficiency. The total appropriation for this year for the police department is $142, 630 which is over $50,000 less than last year.
The following is a list of the men comprising the force together with the date of enlistment and promotion.
Head of the Force.
Chief Constable George Hill has been at the head of the Edmonton Police force for nearly fifteen months. Coming here from Winnipeg, June 15, 1914. Chief Hill is a native of Scotland. He commenced his life work by serving seven years in the office of the Crown Prosecutor of Lanarkshire and qualified as a barrister. Before his final examination he received an appointment in the detective department of the Edinburgh city police, which numbered 600 men. After being two years in the force he was promoted to chief detective inspector and two years after this he was again promoted, this time to chief lieutenant of the force. For the next eight years he was the chief Constable of Klmarnock, Scotland having under him a force of fifty men. On leaving Kilmarnock he was presented by the Judges and aldermen of the city with 100 Pound and silverward.
In Calisle Seven Years
In 1904 he was appointed chief of the town of Carlisle, with a force of 70 men, where he remained for seven years. On resigning he was the recipient of silver plate and a gold watch from the police force and citizens of Carlisle. During his term of office in Carlisle, King George visited the city and personally thanked the chief for the efficient manner in which the policing of the town had been carried out during his visit. Shortly after, Chief Hill was presented with the Kings medal for long and efficient service and which he proudly wore on his uniform today. On his retirement at Carlisle he was the recipient of a gratuity of $2,500 from the council. During his terms of office at Carlisle and Kilmarnock he acted as crown prosecutor. He has made a thorough study of the police systems of France and Germany and has had years of experience in England and Scotland and lately in Canada. In his office at Police headquarters hangs an autograph letter from the earl of Longsdale and judges of the high court bearing testimony to the excellent work he had done in the Old Country.
Inspectors and Detectives
Inspector Anthony G. Shute joined the Edmonton police force April 26, 1911, promoted to sergeant January 1, 1912, promoted to inspector March 1, 1913 eight years Owen Sound Police.
Inspector Andrew M. Haig joined October 15, 1905, promoted to sergeant September 27, 1909, to Captain March 1, 1913 to Inspector February 4, 1914.
Inspector James Robinson joined May 5, 1907, was chief of Strathcona police previous to amalgamation. Appointed inspector June 26, 1914. Next to Inspector Haig he is the oldest member in point of service in the force.
Humane Inspector Down appointed June 1, 1912
Henry Haldane Sterns accountant joined February 11, 1914, thirteen years military experience with the Canadian garrison artillery, resigned command of the 37th Battery C.F.A. October 1912
Chief Detective Josiah J. Shaw joined April 22nd, 1910, Promoted Sergeant of detectives June 1, 1914 detective inspector Jan 7, 1915, Chief of detectives April 12, 1915
Detective William J. Gillam joined May 16, 1912, appointed detective April 1, 1914.
Detective Arthur Cobb joined September 15, 1914. Previous experience seven years with the London Metropolitan Police.
Detective Jesse W. Derby joined September 22, 1913 appointed detective April 1, 1914, previous experience, three years with the R.N.W.M.P. and three years with the B.C. Police.
Acting Detective George Charles Effenberger joined June 6, 1914, acting detective since January 30, 1915, was district scout commissioner and scout instructor of Edmonton district until 1914
Detective Richard L. Fryant joined June 1, 1914
Detective Leonard Lang, joined June 1, 1911 appointed detective February 19, 1914. Served two years with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Detective Renholdt F. Matx joined January 11, 1910 appointed detective April 1, 1914
Acting Detective Walter B. McIvor joined September 22 1913 acting detective since January 30, 1915, previous experience, three years and four months with the Toronto city Police.
Detective Herber Brewer Petheran joined July 20, 1914, three years in the Assinibola Manitoba Police.
Detective Oliver G. Smith, joned May 1, 1911, appointed detective March 12, 1913
Acting Detective William Cooper Shaw, Joined February 8, 1914 appointed acting detective January 30, 1915, formerly with the royal Irish Constabulary and the British Columbia provincial police.
Sergeant Matthew Blackwood joined May 18, 1912 promoted to sergeant July 7, 1914
Sergeants of Force.
Sergeant Alex Decoteau joined January 16, 1911, promoted to sergeant April 13, 1914
Sergeant John S. Edwards joined November 1, 1911 promoted to sergeant Marcy 20, 192 former member of the Edinburgh police.
Sergeant Daniel R. Fraser joined in 1906, promoted to sergeant January 1, 1914, formerly member of Govan Glasgow police force for three and a half years.
Sergeant Donald F. Hind joined May 15, 1913 promoted to patrol sergeant, October 1, 1914 formerly in Edinburgh city police for 14 years.
Sergeant Andrew R. Irvine joined February 1, 1912, promoted to Sergeant November 1, 1912
Sergeant Michael A. Kelly joined May 14, 1913, promoted to Sergeant October 1, 1914, formerly with the London Metropolitan British Columbia provincial and Prince Albert city police.
Sergeant Duncan A. McRae joined June 25, 1909, promoted to sergeant January 1, 1914
Sergeant Norman McRae, joined August 2, 1912, promoted to Sergeant January 1, 1914
Sergeant George Rait (or Ralt) joined May 17, 1913, promoted to sergeant July 7, 1914, formerly three and a half years with City of Aberdeen police, Scotland.
Sergeant Edward M. Watson joined November 18, 1913, promoted to sergeant July 7, 1914, ten years and nine months with Toronto city police.
Constables of Force
The following are the constable and the date when they joined the force, also their previous police experience.
Thomas Adams April 11, 1912, four and a half years with Glasgow borough police.
Hugh Allen April 5, 1913, One year in the Wetaskiwin police force.
Percy Appleby February 18, 1914
George William Appleby (City Pound) June 18, 1914. Three years with Gateshead-on-Tyne borough police.
Thomas Brown June 2, 1909
John H. Bible March 6, 1913
A.K. Buckham September 1, 1914
Joseph S. Carroll March 20, 1912
Albert Chapman March 24, 1914
Murdo Cameron June 19, 1914 Six years with Glasgow city police.
Richard Dealy November 23, 1910
Benjamin Duclos December 28, 1911
Joseph P. Dunne February 6, 1914
Louis S. Duncan October 17, 1914 (or 1911)
George W. Edwards April 11, 1912
Robert Forester June 13, 1914 Middland railway and C.N.R. police.
L.O. Guertin February 13, 1912
Francis Gudgeon June 13, 1912
Harry Howes July 25, 1912
Lawrence Hunter April 1, 1913 Thirteen years Montreal city police.
Herbert E. Hornbrook September 28, 1914
Garnet Wolsely Hoover October 19, 1914
John Irvine June 23, 1914 ten months with Winnipeg city police and six months C.P.R. Police.
James R. Irvine August 19, 1914, four years Winnipeg City Police.
Reginald Jennings April 3, 1913
Fred Job June 3, 1913
Samuel Kennedy December 1, 1910
Thomas Kellagher August 21, 1914 Five years with Royal Irish Constabulary
William Lucas Lamb January 30, 1914
John Leslie July 2, 1914 Two an a half years with Clydebank, Scotland police, also in the North Battleford police force.
John McMinnon October 2, 1912
Walter R. Morris February 19, 1912
James A. Muttart July 4, 1912
David McClements September 7, 1912
John W. Muttart April 5, 1913
Hugh Hill Morrow January 27, 1914
William Bernard McDonald February 16, 1914, five years with Deumfernline city police, Scotland
William McDonald August 3, 1914 (or 1911) four and a half years with Dumfiries county police, Scotland.
Charles E. McLean August 21, 1914 twelve years with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Murdo Munroe September 30, 1914 two years and nine months with the London Metropolitan Police and three months with the British Columbia provincial police.
Joseph Patrick Meehan December 4, 1914
Yens C. Neilson January 6, 1913
James Newell April 15, 1913
Kennedy OBrien May 7,1913, six years London Metropolitan police.
John OGilvie June 4, 1914 nine years with the Lanarkshire, Scotland constabulary.
Dennis Palmer March 21, 1914
Alfred Earl Richarson February 14, 1914
Alexander Riddell July 3, 1913 Winnipeg city police.
Robert Sutherland October 2, 1911 five months with London Metropolitan police.
Chris R. Shaw March 2, 1912
William A. Smith June 1, 1912
Henry W. Silvester - September 27, 1912 Regimental Provost Sergeant at Gibraltar.
James A. Smith December 6, 1913, six months with Borough of Accrington, Lane Police.
David Stewart November 10, 1914, sixteen years with the Airdrie police.
Robert Unruh December 20, 1911
Robert Vise February 12, 1912
Percy Howard Wyn (Poundkeeper) March 10, 1913
A.M. Watt April 7, 1913
William Walter Vance May 5, 1913, two years with Saut Ste Marie police
William J. Ward May 19, 1913
James Lexon Wynn November 22, 1913
John Watson August 1, 1914, ten years with the Cumberland and Westemoreland police.
Thomas Wilson Wallace December 4, 1914, two years and eight months with the Winnipeg city police.
The staff also includes George Hill, son of the chief, Miss May Crawsford Hill, Stenographer and telegraphist. Miss Elizabeth R. Burns, Stenographer and telegraphist, Thomas A. Hiag operator, W.S. McNaughton, Alex H. Taylor and Noel Turgeon, chauffeur, Miss Lou Adelaide Rice, police matron, Robert Broder and George Hoslop Eleictrians
Extracted by E. Howard 2005-06-29