Sean C. Morgan
The date that the Sweet Home Police Department was actually established is a bit of a question mark.
Information is somewhat sketchy and inconsistent, but the department is building up an archive and has figured out that it was established at the end of 1910 along with the Fire Department and other city agencies.
That’s the date the department is celebrating as it observes its centennial with an open house from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday at the police station, 1950 Main St., next to McDonald’s.
During the open house, the department will offer tours of the building. Visitors may also fill out a survey for a chance to win a SHPD Commemorative Challenge Coin and to try out the department’s use of force simulator.
Also, the department is creating a time capsule, to be opened at its 150th anniversary.
“Mail us your business card or calendar,” said Community Services Officer Gina Riley. “Better yet, send or e-mail us a picture of you, your family, business or staff. We will be adding all of these items to our time capsule to be opened in 2061. Won’t they get a laugh? We would appreciate names of the people in the photos (they won’t know who we are in 2061).”
The development of the centennial celebration has been a year in the making, beginning at a memorial where Sgt. Jeff Lynn told the story of Mounts Story, the only law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty in Sweet Home history.
Story, who was marshal and mayor, apparently died in 1920. He had been mayor since the passage of the city’s charter on Dec. 5, 1910, Riley said, based on information from the Sweet Home Genealogical Society. That was 17 years after Sweet Home incorporated. The first police chief was appointed in 1911.
The charter created the police and fire departments, she said. In those days with people like Story, it was like, “I’m mayor, but I’ll be chief tonight.”
In those days, the mayor could provide dog control and take care of the streets, according to Mona Waibel, who has written extensively about her and others’ memories of Sweet Home history. If stumps were in the way, it was the mayor’s job to blow them up.
Different sources list different dates for Story’s death, but 1920 is the one the department is going with, Riley said. “There was a drunken brawl out in the street. Story went out to see if he could calm people down. He was hit in the head (with his own cane) and died right there in the street.”
Among his relatives living in Sweet Home is Genevieve Daughterty Rice, who recently turned 100. She was Story’s granddaughter.
In more recent history, Riley said she had never made the connection between Linn County Sheriff’s Det. Rodney David and his father, former Sweet Home Police Chief Gary David.
Then Riley found a picture of Gary David at his son’s graduation at the Police Academy and realized they were related.
The department’s history lacks good information from 1910 to about 1925, Riley said. City Council minutes were not kept diligently during that period.
Police chiefs have included Mounts Story, 1911-1920; Walt Devou aka Punjab, 1930s; Cy Hardy, 1943; Herman “Bud” Richards, 1943; Chief Chambers, 1946; John Kinsella, 1947-1953; Roy Clover, 1953 to 1972; Chuck Smith, 1972 to 1977; Orville Powell, 1977 to 1979; Ed Savage 1979 to 1985; Gary David, 1985 to 1994; and Bob Burford, 1994 to present.
“It’s really been fun,” Riley said. “I’m actually finding out things I just absolutely did not know.”