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The Somerset
Police Department exists to safeguard the lives and safety
of all persons within the Town of Somerset, to protect
property and to assist in securing to all persons equal
protection of the law. We recognize the limits of law
enforcement authority and acknowledge the need for public
approval, acceptance and support of the law enforcement
function. Therefore, all members of the Department are
committed to making sure that every citizen we interact with
is treated with dignity, compassion and a sense of
professionalism.
The Somerset
Police Department recognizes the important role that citizen
participation plays in crime prevention. We support the core
of Community Policing, and accept its definition as both a
philosophy and an organizational strategy that brings the
police and community closer together. Our goal as a
Community Police Department is to ensure that police and the
community share the responsibility for finding workable
solutions to problems that diminish community safety and
security. We are committed to providing customer focused,
problem solving services in partnership with the community
we serve.
The maintenance
of high ethical standards shall be the core component of all
police activity. Open and honest communications with the
public will be the foundation upon which we build public
trust. A commitment to high standards of excellence in all
professional endeavors will be maintained, and all police
operations shall serve the interest of public safety and
welfare.
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- Emergencies DIAL 911
- Police Business: 508-679-2138
- Fire Business: 508-646-2810
- School Dept: 508-324-3100
- Veteran's Serv:
508-646-2827
- Selectmen: 508-646-2800
- Library: 508-646-2829
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 At their meeting in Plymouth
on March 6, 1677 the Shawomet Proprietors (buyers of the land area now
called Somerset), appointed Zaccariah Eddy as constable. His job was to keep
folk from illegally cutting the extensive stands of timber. His pay was
apparently land in the area.
Over the years, during both the time when
Shawomet was part of Swansea and following Somerset’s incorporation in
1790, constable were appointed on an as-needed basis. In 1862,
Constable Joseph Gibbs received $24 for the year, and was the only appointee.
In succeeding years, one and occasionally two or more people acted as
constable and served warrants, with payment of $10.50 to $25. The Warrant
Server got $2.50 for serving warrants; the number of warrants is unknown. The
Town Report of 1882 is the first to show “Police Service” with
a salary/payments figure of $716.70. In 1863, the figure was $841.25 and
in 1884, it was $1,021.35. The sudden and consistent rise in
expenditures indicates that a full-time constable apparently was appointed and
he was supported over succeeding years by part-time constables. The first
full-time constable appears to be John Minnehan, who was also Superintendent of
the Almshouse, where the indigents of the town were housed.
The
Almshouse was located on Read Street in the area of the present day South
School; it contained two holding cells in the basement. They were used to hold
tramps or hobos overnight. Transients were locked up for the night and awakened
at 5:00 a.m. to cut wood, perform chores, and otherwise pay in labor for their
breakfast. Then they were pointed out of town.
 An example of one
of the outstanding police officers of the time was Patrick Donahue who was
appointed in 1866, according to town records, as a full-time constable.
In addition to his other duties, he patrolled Somerset Village on foot, in all
weather, from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. Donahue was called “the Chief’ for
years before he actually headed the Department.
The Village at this
time was a small but lively coal port with two ironworks in full operation,
three or four trains hauling coal out each day, several working industries, and
apparently a number of mischief makers. According to the book, Somerset,
Massachusetts: Portrait of the American Experience in a New England Town,
Donahue established a record by bringing some 27 cases into the local court.
One of the first of many feature stories in the Fall River News to deal with
Donahue had compared him favorably to the sheriffs of the wild west and ended
with the prudent observation that “the Chief never allows anything to
stand between him and duty.” Gradually it was apparent that his word was
law.
Except for chronic offenders, most of Somerset’s crime around
this time was committed by a certain brand of individuals known to the press
and public alike as “slick strangers.” These were the real
professionals, criminals on the run from one large city to another. They
specialized in picking small towns through which they passed for burglary jobs,
or using them as hideaways. During this time, a man was charged with the murder
of a Boston policeman, and Donahue apprehended this person. A notorious safe
cracker from New Jersey was also nabbed by Donahue.
Town records for
1886 indicate that E. Buffington received $17.50 as a part-time
constable; John Shea received $2; and Thomas A. Francis received $6 as
part-time constable. Patrick Donahue received between $67.50 and $69.75 per
month.
In 1887, “Police Service” was $966.10 and
“Police Station” costs totaled $300. Pat Donahue was the full-time
constable and B.D.
 Simmons was logged in from time to time under “Services for
Police Station.” For the month of March 1887, Simmons collected
$29. Evidently, he served as jailer.
The police station was a small
building on Main Street, a part of the old Jonathan Bowers house that stood
across from the foot of Cherry Street. One section of the building was used as
a Fire station, housing a hook and ladder truck, and the jail was next to it.
The town paid the estate of John W. Pierce, owner of the property, rent of $25
a year.
The year 1888 brought the first formal report of
“Police Service” appearing in the Town Report:
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Arrested for:
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Drunkenness |
18 |
| Disturbing the peace |
7 |
| Assault and battery |
2 |
| Fast driving |
1 |
| Evading to pay fare |
1 |
| Refusing to assist officer |
1 |
| Contempt of court |
1 |
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Total |
31 |
Lodged during the year a total of 323 tramps.
Police Services in 1888 totaled $929.25 (mainly Donahue’s regular
monthly pay) and $265.69 for “Police Station.”
Over the
years, crackers, blankets and coal were charged to the jail. Old timers say
that the transients got a handout of crackers in the evening, before bedding
down, to tide them over until morning. Then a lady living close by the jail
served them a hot breakfast, for which she was paid $.25 per individual served.
After breakfast, the tramps were informed of the quickest way out of town and
strongly advised to take it.
In 1890 new offenses appear in town
records:
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Breaking and entering in the
nighttime |
1 |
| Keeping and maintaining a common
nuisance |
1 |
| Keeping an unlicensed dog |
1 |
Total offenses for 1890 was 33.
Also, “Found five stores open during the year; returned 3 lost
teams to proper owners; lodged 199 tramps.”
New offenses in
1899 were:
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Arson |
5 |
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Bastardy |
2 |
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Larceny |
1 |
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Vagrancy |
1 |
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Malicious mischief |
1 |
Total of offenses in 1891 was 23.
From 1891 through the early 1900s the cost of
“Police Services” dropped. In 1893 Pat Donahue was
Superintendent of Streets, at $2,031.91 per annum, and continued his constable
duties. P. Lonigan served at the police station. In 1909, the first
townowned telephone was installed in the jail.
Chief
Donahue’s reputation was firmly established throughout New England when,
in 1908, he made a capture that won him national recognition. While the
Village Railroad Bridge was under construction, material to be used in the
construction was blown up with dynamite. The Chief, along with the police from
surrounding communities, joined in the search for the saboteurs.
The
stakeout was fruitless until Donahue happened to board a streetcar and came
face-to-face with one of the alleged dynamiters. A scuffle ensued, a revolver
clattered to the floor, but the well-muscled and determined chief had it kicked
aside and his man firmly pinned down before a shot could be fired. The gun
alleged to have been taken that day is on display at the Somerset Historical
Society on High Street.
 Beginning in 1913, Donahue signed
report as Chief of Police. He served on the police force until 1918 when
George A. Staples headed the Department. Part-time constables were William
Thompson (who became full-time in 1919); Issac Wilson, and William
Ashton.
In 1919, the town bought its first traffic signal known
as a “Silent Policeman,” for $7.50. Charles Sullivan received $7.50
to maintain it. Also in 1919 the Somerset Police became motorized with
the purchase of a motorcycle and sidecar for $500. Most roads were not much
more than dirt paths.
Through 1925, Staples and Thompson were
the only full-time officers, earning $1,540. The records are not clear, but is
appears Thompson became Chief in 192 7. Assisting officers were Wilson,
Ashton, J. William Nolan, Frank Hathaway, Herbert Bridge, and Arthur Plant.
During this period, another motorcycle was purchased.
In 1936,
automobiles were acquired at a cost of $1,500. In 1939, a new police car
was bought from Gell Motor Sales for $472.29, but the Town Property Inventory
remained at $1,500.
In 1941, Thompson
earned $2,120; Nolan $2,040, Ashton $962.50 and Thomas E. Ducharme $720. During
1942 the first police car radio was purchased for $260, but with the start of
the war, it was never used.
In 1945 J. William Nolan became
Police Chief of a five-man department that now also included Thompson,
Ducharme, Cornelius V. Lynch, and John 0. Soares. The yearly report shows
crimes listed by categories:
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Violation of auto law
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24 |
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Crimes against the person |
1 |
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Crimes against property |
30 |
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Crimes against public order |
13
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In 1946, a new car was added and the
cruisers were equipped with radios with a call sign of WRKM.
 John 0. Soares
became Chief in 1958 and by 1959 the Department had grown to ten
full-time officers. The Department budget was $41,396.47, there were 172
crimes, made 106 arrests and investigated 7001 complaints. Also in that year
the Department became a 24 hour-a-day operation. Chief Soares commanded the 9
a.m. - 5 p.m. shift, Deputy Chief Lynch commanded the 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. shift and
Lt. Michael Sypko handled the 1 a.m. - 9 a.m. watch.
Constables
assisted the regular officers at $.50 per hour and in 1960 Peter J.
Kerrigan, Alfred Medeiros and Herbert E. Menezes were appointed full-time
officers at $66 per week.
In 1965, the Department moved from its offices in
the Town Office Building to a new Police/Fire Station. By 1969, the
Department had grown to 14 men including Chief Soares, Deputy Chief Lynch,
Capt. Sypko, Lt. Roland Rivard, Sergeants James McIntyre, Wayne Snell and
Alfred Medeiros.
 The patrol force
consisted of Kerrigan, Menezes, Bobbie Sterne, Roy Stout, Timothy Thompson,
Lawrence Veloza, and Gerald Simons. William F. Ready, a retired State Police
Captain, succeeded Chief Soares as Chief of Police and in 1982, Peter
Kerrigan was named Chief. He served until 1991 when James M. Smith was
appointed Chief of Police.
By the year 2000, the Department consisted
on 32 full-time officers, six full-time dispatchers, a records clerk and
custodian. In addition, there were 16 part-time Reserve Officers and five
part-time dispatchers. The Department budget had grown to $1.8 million, there
were over 18,000 calls for service, 2,336 crimes, and 664 arrests.
This article was prepared by Sgt. Thomas Mello with the assistance
of James Bradbury, curator of the Somerset Historical Society. We also want to
thank Virginia Jackson of the Spectator for providing some of the pictures
found on our web site. We also want to thank Ptl. Ken Smith (Retired) who
provided many of the pictures appearing on this site.
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