Wilmington Police Department: 150 Years Of Stories: Then And Now

Press release from Wilmington Police Department:

December 31, 2022

With the conclusion of our sesquicentennial celebration, here is brief look back on the long trip to the present day.

As we retire our commemorative 150th Anniversary badge and patch on December 31, 2022, we are reminded that in 1875 the town paid the W. A. Brooks company $3.00 for its first police badges.

As we enter our third decade in our home, the Wilmington Memorial Public Safety Building, we are reminded that in 1884 the town built a jail, the first purpose-built structure to be used in conjunction with the new police service.

As Chief Joseph Desmond enters his fourth year of service in that position and his thirty-fourth year overall, we are reminded that in 1893 the first chief of police, Charles B. Haley was appointed.

As we enjoy the convenience of the latest mobile devices, we are reminded that in 1904 the public was first able to call the police when a telephone was installed in Chief William Swain’s home.

As officers train several days a year at a state-of-the-art firing range armed with modern Glock police sidearms, we are reminded that in 1908 the town purchased its first pistol, an Iver Johnson Safety Automatic revolver for the department.

This press release was produced by Wilmington Police Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.