Who fought crime while most of the force was fighting overseas?
By Mike Simmons
A question that often goes unasked and unnoticed is, “How did police departments maintain a crime-fighting force during World War II when most able-bodied men went off to war?”
The answer? Each department struggled in their own way. Many raised up auxiliary units from men who were still in town, serving in various businesses or services. Pensacola was no different.
When Chief Willie O’Connell continued to lose officers, he saw his force dwindle and found it more difficult every day to continue to adequately serve the citizens. Then an idea came to him. He thought that, if he could request the men in town to volunteer, he could offer training and supervision and they could supplement his force. So, he went to the city’s police clerk, Byrd Sims, with his idea. Not only did Sims agree that the idea was good, but he also volunteered to head up the training.
The question, though, remained, would there be enough men to volunteer to serve? After all, they would have to attend ten training classes, each lasting two hours. Then they would have to work shifts throughout the day and night, providing coverage every day and night. But they put out the word anyway – just to see.
They were astonished! About ten showed up for the first class, and forty enrolled in the second! Besides Sims and O’Connell speaking to the group, Sheriff Howard Mayes, County Solicitor Forsyth Caro, City Attorney Churchill Mellen and City Manager George Roark gave talks. The FBI furnished moves on law enforcement.
When the auxiliary officers hit the streets, the rules were this: They patrolled their areas, much as the regular officers did. They were authorized to take law violators into custody and detain them under arrest, but they had to notify a regular officer to take charge of the prisoner, book him into the jail, and handle the paperwork.
The plan worked better than Chief O’Connell ever anticipated! It sufficed to supplement his force until the regulars returned in late 1945.
Good work, Chief!
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