Police Gamewell System - 1 6-8-2024 by Pete Zizka

1917 was a busy year for Willimantic’s leaders as they dealt with the needs of the fire and police departments. By January, 1917, the fire department was dealing with a faulty alarm system and being called upon to motorize the department. (In June, the Fire Department would transition to being a paid department). Looking beyond the FD needs, for several years prior to 1917 Police Chief E.H. Richmond had been calling attention to the fact that the police department had an urgent need for a police signal system. He stressed not only the need for one but the benefits it would provide in safeguarding life and property. Aldermen had discussed the matter in 1914, a favorable report had been submitted and an appropriation had been made but then nothing more was done. Chief Richmond tried again in 1915 but now there was a new Board of Selectmen and so that involved more “investigation”. Bids were submitted by Southern New England Telephone and Gamewell and representatives made their case to the selectmen. The Gamewell system was appealing but the cost of installing a system, “was such that the aldermen did not care to make any move”. Now, in January, 1917, at the annual city meeting, $1,000 was again appropriated for a police signal system subject to a public hearing. The installation of the Gamewell system would include “several call boxes located on Main Street and one at the extreme end of the city, most probably at the corner of Ash and Main Streets”. That location was mentioned specifically since in Sodom, “there is often considerable trouble. A fracas is not unusual. When the patrolman on beat there needed help late at night, “he has to wake up some telephone subscriber, get him out of bed and have him telephone police headquarters. Then the lieutenant has to hurry out of the station house and find some patrolman to hurry to the place in question.” Sodom was over a mile from the police station. And so public opinion was that the police system was needed just as the fire alarm system was. One person mentioned that Willimantic had a “great fire department that it took pride in” and that the city did everything it could to assist the firemen who were, “good, brave young men”. The man also said that, ”the city also has a police department (in) which the citizens took great pride. The men were excellent officers, always on the alert to safeguard the people”. It was felt that the citizens would definitely support the system, “which would add to the efficiency of the department. Another person mentioned that a police system should be considered just as useful as a fire system because both were “excellent factors in safeguarding property and human lives. Citizens believed that if Chief Richmond’s experience told him a police signal system was necessary, then he was the better judge and the city should provide it. (A note : Chief Richmond was highly respected and was considered to be a very competent man and was the source of many a newspaper story due to his adventures in apprehending Willimantic rowdies. When the office of captain was annulled by the State legislature in 1911 and the title "Chief" instituted, his appointment as chief was confirmed by unanimous vote of the City Council and he became Willimantic's first Chief of Police.) Another interesting note is that this meeting occurred only days after the disastrous fire that destroyed the Threadcity Garage, the Natchaug Garage and the Johnson House Hotel and threatened the whole downtown business district. The fire, ”demonstrated the high degree of efficiency of the Willimantic Fire Department. To the firemen, great credit is due for the able manner in which they fought the fire”. A newspaper story said that there was another, “feature that should be taken up later for consideration”. Due to the huge number of spectators, the police had difficulty keeping people back from the ropes and had to resort to carrying clubs. One of the reasons put forth for having the system was so that, “quick assistance can be rendered the patrolmen in need of help”. In February, 1917, nothing had been done. Questions were being raised as to why the selectmen, who should be alert to the city’s needs were being so negligent in regard to the police signal system. Today’s photo shows Mayor Oscar O. Tanner with Chief Richmond (right) and Captain Killourey (left) (To be continued)

<<HOME>>                    <<back to Historical Articles index>>