By Mike Simmons
Frank Dent Sanders walked into his new office. He had his work cut out for him. As an outsider, he now commanded the police department. His priority was reorganization. To keep down mutinous thoughts and actions, he demoted Captain Fondebilla to patrolman and Marshal Frank to Turnkey. Of course, these arrangements were disputed, and the case was taken to the Board of Public Safety, who approved the new Marshal’s promotions and demotions.
Frank Sanders was born on August 26, 1867, in Barbour County, Alabama, and arrived in Pensacola in 1893. He married Ida Anastasia Duval Christie on September 4, 1899, in Pensacola’s St. Joseph’s Church. They had nine children, all born in Pensacola. His first job was as Chief Deputy under Sheriff George Smith, his brother-in-law. Sheriff Smith was quite ill at the time and relinquished almost all the duties of his office to Sanders. It was from this position that he became well-known as a good officer and a leader with a level head. As a result, he successfully ran for marshal in 1908.
An interesting fact about the office of Marshal Sanders. Although he was elected marshal by the people, he could not be appointed chief. Since 1885, a marshal had been elected, and it was expected that the appointment of the same person to the position of chief of police would follow. However, due to the intense election for Marshal in 1908, challenges were made as to the qualifications of Sanders to hold the chief’s office. It was a law that the chief of police had to be a current police officer with the city of Pensacola, and Sanders was not. Before Sanders could accept the role of chief of police, he had to be hired as a Pensacola Police officer.
Upon taking over Chief Sanders immediately realized that the 12-hour shift for five to seven days a week was too much for the officers. In addition to them never spending time with their families, their efficiency was greatly reduced. As a result, he instituted a standard 8-hour shift, three shifts per twenty-four-hour period. This shift remained in effect until the 1980s.
Among the many issues that Marshal Sanders was faced with was that of discipline. Many of the officers had been allowed to conduct themselves in a manner unbefitting their position. For example, Marshal Sanders had to decide what to do about the actions of Officer Burrel Lowry when, on July 28, 1908, he emptied his revolver at a fleeing suspect near Union Depot after an attempted arrest. His negligence forced the Marshal to charge Lowery with reckless shooting and forward his case to the Board of Public Safety. The Board heard the case and suspended the officer for 24 hours with a reprimand placed in his file. During his law enforcement career, Officer Lowry developed a reputation for provocation in most of his dealings, causing more than one internal investigation. On August 9, 1915, James Harrison shot at his brother-in-law Benjamin “Tom” Majors at Harrison’s home. After several shots were fired at him, Majors returned fire, mortally wounding Harrison. A coroner’s jury was convened and, after hearing the evidence, cleared him of any wrongdoing. However, Officer Lowry improperly inserted himself and his influence in the case and had to again be reprimanded. In 1916, Lowry separated from police service and became a shipyard worker. Frank Sanders…Most Popular Person in The City: On November 7, 1916, Chief Sanders lost his bid for sheriff of Escambia County. Meanwhile, the office of Chief of Police was done away with by the city commissioners, leaving the duties of running the department up to the commissioner of police. On June 11, 1917, Sanders was elected to the office of City Commissioner, was re-elected in June 1920, and again in June 1923. He served at different times as Mayor, Commissioner of Finance and Revenue, Commissioner of Streets and Public Works, and Police and Fire Commissioner, which office he held at the time of his death. Before his election to the office of City Commissioner, Sanders served the City as special police officer, Deputy Marshal, City Marshal, and Chief of Police. He died in 1925 at the age of 58 and his funeral was held in his home on Wednesday, November 18, 1925. It was said by the Pensacola News Journal that Frank Sanders was the most popular person in the city in his time.
Interesting…