The Pensacola Police Historic Society
“Cassdy.” That is what he is known as. Any member of the Pensacola Police Department who has worked on the street in the 1970s – 2000s has been asked, “Is Cassdy workin’?” or “Do you know Cassdy?” If you answered in the affirmative, you were hailed as a star, because you, like them, knew Cassdy. Henry Cassady knew people. He was as comfortable eating with the regulars at the old Grand Hotel as he was with the richest lawyer in town. They all knew him personally. And he treated them with respect. Even as he arrested people, he respected them. That reputation grew. People knew that “Cassdy” wouldn’t do them wrong. He treated people right, so he was treated right. More than once, citizens stood up for Cassady in defiance of someone bent on causing harm. If Cassdy needed information, he got it, because people trusted that he needed it for the right reason and he wouldn’t abuse that trust.
Don’t misunderstand – if a person needed to go to jail, Henry took them to jail. If they needed to be hit or shot, Henry hit or shot them. Henry did what needed to be done. But citizens knew that he only took the action that he needed to. He treated people right. Henry was liked and respected by citizens of all classes in Pensacola.
The relationships he had with citizens, though, paled in comparison to the relationships he had with the other members of the police department. He would treat everyone – from the chief to the newest cadet – the same. If they needed reprimanding, he reprimanded. If they needed praising, he praised. One instance occurred in the late 1980s.
Lou Goss, the police chief, was THE chief. When he barked, everyone jumped. No one dared to cross him.
It was a very busy weekday morning, and Chief Goss called on the radio…
“Unit 1.”
“Go ahead, Unit 1.”
“There is a drunk (man) lying beside the road on Palafox Street. Send somebody to get him up.”
No answer…everyone was tied up. Then, more authoritatively, the chief said,
“Did you hear me? Somebody needs to take care of this drunk!”
Still no answer. I remember the tension across the airwaves.
Finally, Sgt. Cassady came on the radio.
“Chief, we ain’t got nobody. We’re all busy. Handle him yourself.”
Silence… What did he say? Thought every officer who was listening. Uh oh. That was it! Everyone was convinced that Henry Cassady was history. He was going to be fired.
Then the chief’s now-hesitant voice came over the air: “Uh…10-4.” Nothing else was said.
Henry Cassady’s reputation was this – if he told you something, it was the truth – good or bad. That is a real cop.
Come hear his story on Monday night, November 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Pensacola Police Department!