1874 - Northwestern District History - 1874 - The Northwestern District was first opened at Pennsylvania Ave and Lambert Street in 1874 where it remained until 1958/9 when they moved to their present district on Reisterstown Rd. The Northwestern District is one of the largest in the City and it borders the Northern District, Southwestern District, Western District, and Baltimore County. The Northwestern District has a very diverse population and its Police personnel are also very diverse. The police have made great strides in reducing violent crime and will continue to do so.
Northwestern District
Neighborhoods
Arlington, Ashburton, Burleith - Leighton, Callaway - Garrison, Central Forest Park, Central Park Heights, Cheswolde, Cross Country, Dolfield, Dorchester, East Arlington, Eastwood, Fallstaff, Forest Park, Garwyn Oaks, Glen, Grove Park, Hanlon Park, Hanlon - Longwood, Hillsdale Park, Howard Park, Langston Hughes, Liberty Square, Lucille Park, Park Circle, Park Heights, Pimlico, Powder Mill Park, Purnell, Reisterstown Station, Seton Business Park, Television Hill, Towanda - Grantley, West Arlington, West Forest Park, Windsor Hills, Woodmere
Northwestern District
Fallen Officers
1902 - 20 May 1902 - We lost our Brother Police Officer John a McIntyre NWD
1902 - 30 July 1902 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Charles J. Donohue NWD
1912 - 25 November 1912 - We lost our Brother Officer John McGrain NWD
1915 - 21 September 1915 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Herbert Bitzel NWD
1926 - 29 June 1926 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Webster E. Schuman NWD
1926 - 12 July 1926 - We lost our Brother Police Clerk Thomas J. Dillon NWD
1927 - 5 August 1927 - We lost our Brother Police Officer William F. Doehler NWD
1931 - 7 January 1931 - We lost our Brother Police Officer John P. Burns NWD
1932 - 2 January 1932 - We lost our Brother Police Officer William A. Bell NWD
1934 - 2 November 1934 - We lost our Brother Police Officer John A. Stapf NWD
1935 - 31 Oct 1935 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Arthur H. Malinofski NWD
1944 - 29 January 1944 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Joseph Waldsachs NWD
1948 - 30 December 1948 - We lost our Brother Police Officer John W. Arnold NWD
1954 - 19 April 1954 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Aubrey L. Lowman NWD
1955 - 24 October 1955 - We lost our Brother Sergeant James J. Purcell NWD
1956 - 29 September 1956 - We lost our Brother Police Officer John R. Phelan NWD
1959 - 11 January 1959 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Richard H. Duvall, Jr. NWD
1964 - 15 October 1964 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Teddy L. Bafford NWD
1964 - 25 December 1964 - We lost our Brother Sergeant Jack Lee Cooper NWD
1973 - 6 April 1973 - We lost our Brother Police Officer Norman Frederick Buchman NWD
1979 - 2 March 1979 - We lost our Brother Police Officer John H. Spencer NWD
2007 - 9 January 2007 - We lost our Brother Detective Troy Lamont Chesley, Sr. NWD
May they Rest In Peace
Neighborhood Resources
Reisterstown Plaza Associates - Mt. Washington Village - Mount Washington Improvement Association
The Northwest District is the home of the world-renown Preakness and Maryland’s famous Pimlico Racetrack attracting visitors from around the world
Gustav A. Romoser Sr., c1880-1940
Appointed to the Baltimore City Police Department on March 2, 1913, he was assigned and proudly served in the Southwestern District, the Northern District and the Traffic Division.
In 1925 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the Northwestern District. He then attained the rank of Lieutenant on April 14, 1938. While serving in the Northwest District he developed a very serious heart problem, after a long illness, he passed away June 18, 1938, at the age of 60. Lt. Gustav A. Romoser had an exemplarity 27-year career with the department and his death was a great loss to the department and the citizens of Baltimore. His service Honored the Department. Lieutenant Romoser was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and was a member of Baltimore Police Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a Mason and a member of Pythagoras Lodge and a Knights Commander. He leaves his widow, Wilhelmina (Minnie) C. Romoser, three sons, Gustav A. Romoser, Jr., a member of the Baltimore Police Traffic Division; Winfield Romoser, and Vernon Romoser, and two sisters, Mrs. Clara McDonald, of Parkville, Baltimore County, and Mrs. Lottie Lupton, Baltimore. Fellow Police Lieutenants served as pallbearers and he was laid to eternal rest in Western Cemetery near the New Cathedral Cemetery. Data compiled Sister Anne M. O'Donnell Pratt Library, Maryland Room, Biography File, Index Card with Obit; also Microfilm Obituary, Baltimore Sun, Wednesday Morning, June 19, 1940, p. 20 [11-15-10]
25 Picked City Policemen Training For Riot Squads
Northwestern District Officers Getting Special Instructions On Small Arms, Tear Gas And Sub-Machine Guns
August 30, 1939
A select group of twenty-five Baltimore policemen is going back to school these days to again learn their ABC's-only this time they are learning the ABC's of firearms.
The men all of whom are attached to the Northwestern police district is being formed into riot squads to handle any and all types of mob disorder and violence in the Northwestern district and maybe in the city. They will be under the supervision of Sergeant Albert N. Kirwan.
Following their graduation, the officers will be well versed in the use of small, medium and large pistols, tear gas, sub-machine and riot guns.
Made Careful Selection
The idea of organizing the riot squads was fostered by Sergeant Kirwan and captain King commander of the district. The two spent quite a bit of time choosing the group. All members were selected because they had telephones in their homes and owned automobiles. After they were picked the men were separated into three divisions to serve on each of the three shifts.
If and when an emergency arises, Captain King said, a single division can be assembled in the station house in ten minutes and dispatched to the scene of disorder. The three divisions, he added, can be notified and assembled for action at the station house within thirty minutes.
Practice Already Begun
Sergeant Kirwan-better known as Sergeant Jack---who is acting as supervisor of instruction, was selected for his post because of his own ability with all types of firearms and because is well liked by the men.
Practice and instruction in the use the various weapons began Monday At the Police Department pistol range at Saunders Field, on the Governor Ritchie Highway.
Although the twenty-five men were chosen primarily because of their proficiency with small arms, they will not be allowed to fire the larger weapons until they have mastered the technique of taking them apart and assembling them and learned how to and unload them without endangering others.
Skull Sessions Set
Skull sessions will be held at various intervals either at the station-house or at Saunders range. When the schooling is over each squad will have 2 sergeants. The 8 A.M. to 4 P. M. squad will have seven members and other two squads will have nine.
The divisions and those comprising squads are as follows:
A- Division:
Sergeants Harry Ernest and Leonard Fehlauer; Patrolmen Edward Bees, Fred Knorline, Fred Gladstone, Carles Schuhart and Elmer Tracy.
B- Division:
Sergeants William Vinup and Carl Kornke; Patrolmen Charles Blaney, William Krause, Frank McKenna, Edward Bender, Leslie Kummer, Norman Kelly, and James McLaughlin.
C-Division:
Sergeants Stanley Oster and John Allen; Patrolmen John Griffin, John O’Brien, Charles Heim, Roger Stocksdale, Francis Kotmair, George Klander, and John W. Smith.
The Following are all courtesy William Starkey
NORTHWEST DISTRICT OLD TIMERS BREAKFAST
Northwest District old-timers meet for breakfast on the last Monday of each month at Bob Evans on Padonia Road.
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