TRENTON POLICE MUSEUM

Marshals and Chiefs of Police

In the Fall of 1792, the Common Council of Trenton resolved to establish the office of Marshal. In the early days the City Marshal was required by an ordinance of the Common Council to "carry in his hand a small staff, or wand, similar to those usually carried by a sheriff," and was to walk through the different parts of the city at least once a week hunting for idle and disorderly persons; also to enforce the laws relative to the prevention of swine running at large, which was against the dignity and peace of the community.         No records seem to have been kept between 1799 and 1852 regarding the men who held the post of City Marshal. However, it is known that the annual salary for the Marshal in 1811 was $30.00.         In 1874 the title of City Marshal was changed to Chief of Police, who had two aides and 14 Policemen in his command. While the title of Chief of Police was established in 1874, it was not actually used until 1886.

Marshals and Chiefs of Police

Charles H. McChesney	1886-1899
Judson Hiner	1899-1912
John J. Cleary	1912-1917
William Dettmar	1918-1922
James T. Culliton	1922-1925
William P. Walter	1925-1935
James P. O'Rourke	1935-1937
William A. Dooling	1937-1953
James A. DiLouie	1953-1959
Louis F. Neese	1959-1968
John A. Lanahan	1968-1970
John R. Prihoda	1970-1990
Frank M. Brady	1990-1992
Ernest A. Williams	1992-1999
Paul J. Meyer	1999-Present

Gallery

Chief Charles H. McChesney
Appointed as Marshal of the Police Department on April 20, 1881, a position which he held until 1886, when the title of Marshal was changed to Chief of Police. Chief McChesney served as Chief until 1899.

Chief Judson Hiner
Appointed to the Police Department as the rank of Patrolman on May 12, 1885. After just fourteen years of service he was promoted to the rank of Chief, a position he held until 1912. Chief Hiner was best known for establishing a records system and reporting system which was ahead of its time.

Chief John J. Cleary
(pictured at the rank of Captain, 1911)
Appointed as Patrolman May 4, 1881 and served with distinction until his promotion to Lieutenant on April 16, 1886. On February 22, 1892 he was raised to the rank of Captain (photo) until his promotion to Chief in 1912, a position held until 1917.

Chief William Dettmar
(pictured at the rank of Captain, 1911)
Appointed as a Patrolman in September, 1882, in Chambersburg, which was then a suburb of Trenton. He was promoted to Chief in 1886 and held the rank until the consolidation of Chambersburg and Trenton, at which time he was made an acting Sergeant. After ascending the ranks in the Second District, he was promoted to Chief in 1918, a position held until 1922.

Chief James T. Culliton
(pictured at the rank of Sergeant, 1911)
Appointed as a Patrolman in March 1888, in the township of Millham, then a suburb of Trenton. On May 1, 1888, he was accepted into the Trenton Police Department after Millham was annexed by Trenton. After being promoted through the ranks, he was elevated to the rank of Chief in 1922, a position he held until 1925.

Chief William P. Walter
(1929 photo)
Appointed as a Patrolman on June 29, 1904, Walter ascended the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Chief on August 26, 1925.

Chief James O'Rourke
Appointed as a Patrolman on December 26, 1900, O'Rourke ascended the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Chief on June 12, 1935.

Chief William A. Dooling
Appointed as a Patrolman on August 2, 1915, and after 2 years of service Dooling was drafted into the Army and fought in WWI. Returning from his military service in 1919, Dooling was promoted to Sergeant in 1920 and ascended the ranks. On September 1, 1937, he was promoted to Chief.

Chief James A. DiLouie
Appointed as a Patrolman on October 25, 1911, DiLouie served in all the major bureaus of the department. In 1940, DiLouie commanded the Police Academy at the rank of Lieutenant. On May 18, 1953, he was promoted to the rank of Chief.

Chief Louis F. Neese
Appointed as a Patrolman on November 15, 1926, Neese was assigned as the supervisor in charge of the "new" radio system on May 5, 1936. Promoted to Chief on July 1, 1959, Chief Neese had the distinction of establishing the K9 Corps in 1961.

Chief John A. Lanahan
Appointed as a Patrolman on June 1, 1932, Lanahan was promoted through the ranks and commanded the Criminal Investigations Bureau and Special Services Unit (Vice). On October 8, 1968, after 36 years on the job, he was promoted to the rank of Chief.

Chief John R. Prihoda
Appointed as a Patrolman in 1946, he ascended through the ranks and became Chief on October 9, 1970. Serving twenty years at the post, Chief Prihoda held the position longer than any other Chief. During his career, Prihoda commanded the Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Special Services Unit (Vice).

Chief Frank M. Brady
Hired as a Patrolman on January 1, 1951, Brady spent time in the Traffic Unit as a Motorcycle cop. On September 19, 1961, he was promoted to Detective. As he was promoted through the ranks, Brady spent much of his career supervising in the Criminal Investigations Bureau. On March 1, 1990, he was promoted to Chief.

Chief Ernest A. Williams

Hired June 16, 1963 as a Patrolman, Williams was quickly promoted to Detective in 1966. He ascended the ranks and was assigned to most of the major bureaus of the department. On July 2, 1990, Williams was appointed as Director of Public Safety, a post he held until April 4, 1992 when he was appointed as Chief. Chief Williams was the first African-American to hold the position of Director of Public Safety and Chief. Cheif Williams retired on March 31, 1999.

Chief Paul J. Meyer

Hired October 1, 1973 as a Patrolman, Chief Meyer was assigned to the Safe Neighborhoods Unit and eventually transfered to motorized patrol where he was a member of the Emergency Task Unit (ETU/SWAT). Chief Meyer served as a Plainclothesman in the Vice Enforcement Unit before being promoted to Sergeant in 1983. In 1985 he was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau until his promotion to Lieutenant in 1986. As a Lieutenant, Meyer served in the Patrol Bureau and Traffic Bureau until 1988, when he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Training Academy. In 1991 he was promoted to Deputy Chief, commanding the Uniform Bureau. On April 1, 1999 he was raised to the rank of Chief of Police.

Table of Contents

1700's	1800-1879	1880-1899
1900-1919	1920-1939	1940-1959
1960's	1970's	1980-Present
K9	Chiefs	Memorial
Guest Book		Bibliography

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