By Mike Simmons
As I have researched through the old Pensacola Police records over the years, I have run across some interesting facts. Maybe by the customs of past times they weren’t so outlandish, but judging by today’s standards, some are…wow!
On April 20, 1885, City Commissioner W.D. Chipley believed that prisoners should be treated better, so he ordered that the ones who worked be allowed three meals a day instead of two, as was the previous norm.
During the month of December 1885, seventeen prisoners escaped. Fifteen of these were working outside under the guard of one officer, and two of them left from the police station.
On June 17, 1895, the city commission approved new rules for prisoners. Two examples were: 1) Prisoners after arrest and while in the station house using profane, insulting, or indecent language will immediately be confined to the dungeon and given only bread and water. 2) If a person was fined for an offense but could not pay the fine, he was ordered to work for punishment instead. If he refused to work, he was also placed in the dungeon and fed only bread and water.
On July 24, 1895, Officer W. H. Ryan came before the Board of Public Safety on the charge of discharging a firearm unnecessarily in the city limits. Ryan pled guilty but stated that he would do it again if he had to. He stated that he shot an escaped prisoner who had been convicted of arson and attempted murder. The case was dismissed.
On October 21, 1895, Officer Charles Haberman was dismissed from the Police force for (1) Inefficiency of duty (2) Living with a known prostitute without being married and (3) Obtaining money from a woman and refusing to return it. The officer was dismissed.
In 1896 the Board approved changes in the jail. At the time, female prisoners and male prisoners were housed separately, but under the same roof, and they could still talk to each other. Marshal Wallace ordered a new jail built next door and the female prisoners, described as “irreputable,” were housed in the new building.
If a citizen had an issue with an officer in 1896, he or she would file a complaint with the Board of Public Safety. On December 11, 1896, Mr. John Lear made a complaint against Officer E. C. Briggs for “unwarranted clubbing” him during his arrest. The Board of Public Safety investigated the incident and found that the clubbing was justified, and Officer Briggs was found not guilty.
June 24, 1900, Officer Ward, with the assistance of a citizen, Isau Vau, captured a convicted murderer from Alabama. The sheriff of Lowndes County, Alabama, sent an $8 reward for the deed and it was split between the two.
I love these old photos; they give us a glimpse of days gone by.
Yes they do. Thank you.