Chief James Duane

James T. Duane was born on December 20, 1885, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His father died attempting a rescue during a town flood.

Phoenix's First Town Marshall

On May 9, 1896, the Saturday morning edition of the Arizona Republican carried a story with the heOn May 9, 1896, the Saturday morning edition of the Arizona Republican carried a story with the headline, "A Brave Officer Gone". Before the story began, bold letters also announced. "He was one who knew not fear" and "Some of his deeds won for him Southwestern renown". The article was referring to Henry Garfias, the first appointed Town Marshal of Phoenix.adline, "A Brave Officer Gone". Before the story began, bold letters also announced. "He was one who knew not fear" and "Some of his deeds won for him Southwestern renown". The article was referring to Henry Garfias, the first appointed Town Marshal of Phoenix.

Phoenix Officer Stabbed in 1912 Narrowly Escapes Death

In 1911 Harrison Williams was eighteen years old when he was called upon by Phoenix Police Chief A. J. Moore to become the first motorcycle officer in the city of Phoenix.

The Chief Takes Over!

By the end of the Second World War it was obvious that Phoenix was destined to transform from a small town into a big city. At the beginning of the war the town's population was around 45,000. By the end of the war the "city's" population was over 65000, and there was no end in sight to the growth that continues to this day.

A Beginning

On June 19, 1919, on a Monday morning an unusual event took place in Phoenix, Arizona. The event made headlines in a local newspaper, the Phoenix Tribune. The headline read, "Phoenix Now Has Colored Man on Police Force ". The story reported that, "W.H. Williams, one of the enterprising colored men of this community was sworn in as a full fledged peace officer and assigned on the nightforce of the City Police". Officer Williams replaced Officer Alejo Valenzeula who quit the Department to go into business for his self.

Once A Cop Always A Cop

Just weeks before his death, I had lunch with retired police chief, Charlie Thomas, serial #32. I found out that even though the Chief was 89 years old and had been retired for over 37 years, he still had a concern for the Department and those he called "my officers." During the conversation, I mentioned to the Chief that I was going to have lunch with his friend, retired lieutenant Ed Langevin. The mere mention of Ed's name brought a wide smile to the Chief's face. Chief Thomas explained to me that they were once partners riding together on the old police ambulance.

The Phoenix Police Department's First Line of Duty Death

In 1925 Phoenix was a small town of about 25,000 citizens. On February 5, 1925, 41 year old Officer Haze Burch was on night patrol in a Model A Ford. Shortly after midnight Officer Burch was driving east on Jefferson Street approaching Eighth Street. As he turned onto Eighth Street he noticed a parked red Nash automobile with Oklahoma plates. Further up the street at 700 E. Jefferson he observed two men who were siphoning gas from another vehicle Officer Burch approached the two young men.

Police Women

Police women were first recruited in Phoenix by an open article written in the Sunday newspaper in the spring of 1957. It reported that the city was considering the hiring of women as police officers. The original requirements were that you had to be between ages 21 and 35, weighed 125-190 pounds, were 5'4"-5'10" tall, had a college level education and were in good health.

A Lifetime… Of Dedicated Service!

December of 1938, Joe Island received a letter that he described as the best Christmas gift he would ever receive. It was a letter instructing him to report to ' the Phoenix Police Department. He was to be appointed a patrolman at a starting salary of $110 a month. Mr. Island was leaving other city employment that paid a better salary, but felt a career as a police officer would be a challenge that he welcomed. Joe Island was used to challenges; he signed on as the first African-American player on the Arizona State University baseball team (1936-1937).

In His Fathers Footsteps...The Moore Legacy

Andrew Jackson Johnny Moore is another of Arizona's Peace Warrior lawmen. Johnny Moore, who was one of the few true romantic figures that link our Wild West past with the staid and law abiding present. He was bigger than life. Strikingly good looking, tall in stature, he stood out wearing a black ten-gallon western hat when not wearing his police uniform.