Baltimore Police went to New York to take part in rescue/recovery efforts
L to R are: Shawn Garrity, Aaron Owens, Maxx Anderson III, and Greg Woodlon.
They were standing in the demolished lobby of the Millennium Hilton Hotel,
which was directly across from the footprint of the World Trade Center complex

From the 2002 BPD Newsletter to see full year of 2002 newsletter click HERE
To see this article go to page 5 of the PDF found in the links above

September 11, 2001

The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners scheduled to travel from the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the East Coast to California. The hijackers crashed the first two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, two of the world's five tallest buildings at the time, and aimed the next two flights toward targets in or near Washington, D.C., in an attack on the nation's capital. The third team succeeded in crashing into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense in Arlington County, Virginia, while the fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania following a passenger revolt. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and instigated the multi-decade global war on terror.

The first impact was that of American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan at 08:46. Sixteen minutes later, at 09:03, the World Trade Center's South Tower was hit by United Airlines Flight 175. Both 110-story skyscrapers collapsed within an hour and forty-one minutes, bringing about the destruction of the remaining five structures in the WTC complex, as well as damaging or destroying various other buildings surrounding the towers. A third flight, American Airlines Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon at 09:37, causing a partial collapse. The fourth and final flight, United Airlines Flight 93, flew in the direction of the capital. Alerted to the previous attacks, the passengers retaliated in an attempt to take control of the aircraft, forcing the hijackers to crash the plane in a Stonycreek Township field, near Shanksville at 10:03 that morning. Investigators determined that Flight 93's target was either the United States Capitol or the White House.

Within hours of the attacks, the Central Intelligence Agency determined that al-Qaeda was responsible. The United States formally responded by launching the war on terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which rejected the conditions of U.S. terms to expel al-Qaeda from Afghanistan and extradite its leaders. The U.S.'s invocation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty—its only usage to date—called upon allies to fight al-Qaeda. As U.S. and NATO invasion forces swept through Afghanistan, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden disappeared into the White Mountains, eluding captivity by western forces. Although bin Laden initially denied any involvement, in 2004 he formally claimed responsibility for the attacks. Al-Qaeda's cited motivations included U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia and sanctions against Iraq. The nearly decade-long manhunt for bin Laden concluded on May 2, 2011, when he was killed during a U.S. military raid after being tracked down to his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The war in Afghanistan continued for another eight years until the agreement was made in February 2020 for American and NATO troops to withdraw from the country, and the last members of the U.S. armed forces left the region on August 30, 2021, resulting in the return to power of the Taliban.

Not including the 19 hijackers, the attacks killed 2,977 people, injured thousands more and gave rise to substantial long-term health consequences while also generating at least $10billion in infrastructure and property damage. It has been described by many as the deadliest terrorist act in human history and remains the deadliest incident for both firefighters and law enforcement personnel in the history of the United States, killing 340 and 72 from each organization. The loss of life stemming from the impact of Flight 11 secured its place as the most lethal plane crash in aviation history followed by the death toll incurred by Flight 175. The destruction of the World Trade Center and its environs seriously harmed the U.S. economy and induced global market shocks. Many other countries strengthened anti-terrorism legislation and expanded their powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Cleanup of the World Trade Center site (colloquially "Ground Zero") took eight months and was completed in May 2002, while the Pentagon was repaired within a year. After delays in the design of a replacement complex, construction of the One World Trade Center began in November 2006; it opened in November 2014. Memorials to the attacks include the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington County, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial at the Pennsylvania crash site.

Turnkey Carroll E. Bond

On 2 June, 1914, we lost our brother, Carroll E. Bond, to an on duty suicide. Turnkey Bond joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1900 as a patrolman. In 1911, while on a hunting trip with a fellow officer, he was shot in the face with a shotgun blast of birdshot. The tragic incident not only cost him his eye but also forced him to leave his role as a patrolman. As a Turnkey, Bond's spirits dampened, and he grew increasingly melancholy. Eventually, on 2 June 1914, he reached a breaking point and made a desperate decision. He went to the assembly area of the booking station, called out to his sergeant, and tragically ended his own life with a single gunshot to his right temple. 

To see full size article click HERE or on the article above

To see full size article click HERE or on the article above

Samuel J. Monkhouse

This is not a line of duty death, just an interesting story about what apears to be one tough police. he was shot in the cest by the safecracker, and still had the strength to capture and arrest the lookout, which most likely led to the name of the yeggman. This occured in october of 1930, Patrolman Monkhouse carried that round next to his heart for 22 years until in 1952 when it shifted and doctors felt it was safe to remove. At one point the yeggman escaped prison, was captured and taken back, he served all his time and was released, he went to Anne Arundle County where he raped a woman a crime for which he was hung. Sergeant Monkhouse would go onto to retire from the force and move to Ocean City maryland where he lived until 29 January 1960.  May he rest in peace. We thank him for his service and hope he will be rememebred for his courage and strength as a Baltimore Police officer. 

To see full size article click HERE or on the article above 

To see full size article click HERE or on the article above

More will be added to this page as we locate the information. 

Baltimore cop, stripped of police powers after fatally shooting unarmed teen, kept on payroll for 28 years

An Inspector General reports faults BPD for keeping an officer on the force, with full benefits and generous overtime. The cop’s identity is confirmed by The Brew.

Above: Posted in 2018, Edward T Gorwell II stands beside Maryland Governor Larry Hogan outside the White Marsh Fire Station. (facebook.com/edward.gorwell)

Baltimore’s inspector general today faulted the police department for allowing an officer – who was stripped of his enforcement powers after shooting an unarmed Black teenager in 1993 – to remain on the payroll for 28 years, collecting full benefits and generous overtime.

The officer was not identified in the public synopsis of the report, but The Brew has independently verified that the officer is Edward T. Gorwell II. (The Twitter account @TruthTi42873 has previously written about Gorwell’s continued BPD employment, pension and overtime.)

Now 52 years old, Gorwell was at the center of a case that riveted Baltimore after he killed 14-year-old Simmont Thomas, who was allegedly fleeing from a stolen car in West Baltimore when he was shot in the back.

Indicted within weeks of the incident, Gorwell claimed to have heard a gunshot before he opened fire, but no gun other than his own was found at the scene.

His first trial in 1993 ended in a mistrial when one of the jurors failed to show up for deliberations. A second trial scheduled in 1999 was dropped after a police laboratory technician, using a forensic test unavailable during the first trial, reportedly found traces of gunshot residue in the teenager’s left hand.

In January 2002, Gorwell reached an agreement with the BPD that permanently revoked his police powers but kept him on the payroll. An aide to Mayor Martin O’Malley said the outcome was preferable to losing a case before an internal review board, which would allow the officer to go back on the street.

Since then, Gorwell has worked as a call taker in the police communications division, in the telephone reporting unit, in 311 non-emergency services and in the management information section.

Ample Overtime

When Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming began looking at the officer last fall, responding to a complaint alleging overtime abuse, Gorwell was assigned to the Quartermaster’s Unit, which is responsible for ordering uniforms and other supplies for the department.

The complaint alleged that Gorwell received preferential treatment by being allowed to work for the Building Security Unit – to which he was not assigned – and reportedly racked up overtime acting as a guard for the Fraternal of Police Lodge 3, the bargaining unit for city police.

On August 1, Gorwell’s employment was terminated by Police Commissioner Michael Harrison. The termination happened three months after Harrison and Mayor Brandon Scott received the inspector general’s full report.

In a written response, Harrison agreed with Cumming that the unnamed officer (Gorwell) should not have been given full employment rights and union protection after he was permanently stripped of his police powers. (Officers on temporary medical or administrative leave are allowed to retain those powers.)

Instead, he got regular salary increases and substantial overtime through 2020, according to today’s report.

Between 2016 and 2020, for example, he received $158,804 in overtime pay on top of his regular salary, which pushed his total pay over five years to nearly $600,000 (see below).

His duties could have been performed by a civilian employee with an annual salary of about $44,000, the Cumming report notes.

Gorwell has not yet responded an email request for comment by The Brew.

To reach this reporter: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FELLS POINT COBBLESTONE STREETS
A TRIP BACK IN TIME!

Fells Point is named after the Englishman William Fell, who founded a ship-building company here in 1726 that went on to produce the famous “Baltimore Schooners”. This charming area has waterfront streets – most paved in granite cobblestone – dating from the 18th century.

William Fell purchased the peninsula in 1726, seeing its potential for shipbuilding and shipping. Starting in 1763 his son Edward and his wife, Ann Bond Fell, divided and sold the land. Soon docks, shipyards, warehouses, stores, homes, churches, and schools sprang up, and the area quickly grew into a bustling seaport.

The notoriously speedy clipper ships built here annoyed the British so much during the War of 1812 that they tried to capture the city, a move resulting in Fort McHenry’s bombardment. The notable African-American Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. worked at a shipyard at the end of Thames Street and lived in Fells Point from 1820 to 1838. Around the 1840s the shipbuilding industry started to decline, in large part because of the rise of steamships, which were being constructed elsewhere.

Today the well-preserved cobblestone streets, stores, restaurants, taverns and homes give you a feeling little has changed since it was founded several hundred years ago. Fells Point has so much to offer, an entire day can easily be filled by wandering the charming cobblestone streets.

The History of Cobblestone in the United States

Cobblestones are a strong, natural material, originally collected from riverbeds where the flow of the water made them round. When set in sand or bound with mortar, cobblestones once proved perfect for paving roads. With the strength of cobblestone, no ruts developed in the streets. The surface remained flexible, so it wouldn’t crack during freezes. The stones also wouldn’t easily crack due to any normal movement on the road. Cobblestones prevented a road from getting muddy when it rained or from getting dusty in dry weather. If a stone did need replacing for any reason, it was easily dug up and a new one put in its place. Read more about the history of cobblestone in the U.S.A below.

Though commonplace in Europe, cobblestones were also used extensively in the United States. In the 1800s, most cobblestones arrived on ships from Europe as ballast. The cobblestones were then configured into city roads. In the mid-1800s in Philadelphia, most of the city streets were cobblestone. Today, Elfreth’s Alley is still paved with old cobblestones. In Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill North, a cobblestone street lined with beautiful, historic homes still exists.

Cobblestone streets in the historic district of Charleston, South Carolina have now been preserved as well. These streets, made up of used cobblestones, also came over in ships from Europe and were eventually repurposed as pavement for the city’s roads. By the late 18th century, more than ten miles of streets in Charleston were ultimately paved with the old cobblestones.

In Omaha’s Old Market district, the cobblestone streets date back to the late 1800s, when the area used to serve as a railroad center. Now it’s a popular entertainment center. In Minneapolis, original cobblestones still pave Main Street — the oldest street in that city. When exploring Old Town Alexandria in the state of Virginia, one can find Captains Row lined with old homes and cobblestone streets. In Boston, you’ll find Acorn Street on Beacon Hill paved with antique cobblestone. It’s known as the most photographed street in the United States.

Historically, cobblestones were not only used for roads but for buildings as well. Cobblestones were once found in the Finger Lakes region of New York and used in architecture before the Civil War. Many of the old cobblestone buildings still standing today are in or near Rochester, New York, where the style was prominent.

Most existing cobblestone buildings are now private homes, such as the Walling Cobblestone Tavern in Wayne County, New York. The two-story, gable-roofed tavern — built around 1834 from irregular, multicolored cobblestones — is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, some public, cobblestone buildings do still exist today. In Wayne County, a historic one-room schoolhouse remains standing. Constructed of cobblestones in the early 1800s, the builders of the Roe Cobblestone Schoolhouse used the same type of cobblestones as used with the Walling Tavern. It’s now a schoolhouse museum, operated by the Butler Historical Society.

Another public cobblestone building is the Alexander Classical School in Alexander, New York. This three-story school was first erected in the 1830s with cobblestone. After being used for a variety of purposes throughout the years, it was finally remodeled in the 1990s, restoring it to its natural beauty with reclaimed cobblestone to keep its historic charm. The building now contains a museum.

Due to their uniqueness and beauty, old cobblestones are once more becoming popular building materials. Old cobblestone, where the surface of the stones became smooth through years of activity, is now used to pave driveways or for use on patios, walkways, and more. For additional information about authentic, antique cobblestones for building projects or to restore properties, please contact us today. Reclaimed or used cobblestones uphold “green” building principles, and they add a unique beauty to any residential or commercial property.

What Do You Really Know about Cobblestone?

Cobblestone roads are uncommon these days. At one time, however, road builders used cobblestones in many cities and towns. Building contractors also used them to create buildings.

What do you really know about cobblestone history? Let’s take some time to explore the history of cobblestone streets in a little depth.

True cobblestones, the building material made of small, natural stones with edges smoothed by water, have been around for centuries. In England, the term cobblestone first appeared in the 15th Century when towns wanted to make trade routes and traveling from town to town more reliable and sturdier than the old dirt roads. Actually, though, it was the Romans who first invented cobblestone streets. The first recorded cobblestone roads appeared in Rome’s unparalleled network of roads in the third century.

The term cobblestone refers to the smooth, round shape of the stones that workers picked up in rivers and streams. Cobblestones were cheap and they were plentiful. They generally range between 2 and 10 inches in size. They were laid together by hand without any tools in a sort of jigsaw puzzle configuration. Cobblestones were generally laid in sand or sometimes set in mortar if the road owner were wealthy. Cobblestone roads are serviceable. They do not get muddy or rutted by rain like the old dirt roads that needed fixed each spring. Granite cobblestone pavers do not break easily and when they do they are easily replaced with new cobblestones by hand.

Are cobblestone streets still in view in Europe?

In Europe, there are still a few true cobblestone streets. In general, however, what many people think of as cobblestone streets are really pitched surface roads. Pitched surface roads use flat stones that have a narrow edge. Builders set the stones on their edges instead of flat on the ground. Builders made pitched surface roads long after cobblestone streets but 1,000 years before man-made setts.

Setts consist of granite that men mined from quarries and then shaped into a rectangular shape. These rectangular blocks (Belgian Blocks) are then used to make street surfaces.

When did cobblestones come to the US?

During the 17th century in New York, the city streets began to change from oyster shell and dirt roads to cobblestone streets. The original cobblestone streets used the rounded stones but later the construction materials gave way to Belgian Block. Belgian Block was the construction material until the mid-19th century when concrete replaced cobblestones because it was cheaper to use. Street builders poured concrete over the Belgian Block and later asphalt did the same.

There is a restoration movement afoot in New York and many of the old cobblestone streets are in the process of finding their original glory. Where asphalt and concrete have broken from wear and tear of the last centuries, the restoration rules require that builders use the original material upon restoration.

In addition, firms that carry antique cobblestone (also called vintage cobblestone) and reclaimed cobblestone are in great demand for construction projects for private residences, including driveways, fireplaces, walls, patios, or the buildings themselves. One such firm states that its reclaimed cobblestones are granite pavers that are 150-200 years old and will last forever. They mostly come from old streets in turn-of-the-century mill towns and old seaports. Most of the 17th and 18th century cobblestones in the US are actually Belgian Block.

There is something magical about cobblestones. Walking on the natural, water-smoothed stones transports pedestrians back in time to a less complicated and more romantic time when the clip-clop of horseshoes echoed with each step and gaslight street lamps pushed back the night.

For more information contact  Gavin Historical Bricks HERE or HERE

Sergeant James Joseph Roach

Photo courtesy Lankston-Roach Family Archive
James Joseph Roach
1944
 

James Joseph Roach was born in 1893 and served in the US Navy during WWI.  He served in the trenches in France during WWI.  The family has a diary James kept during his time in France, but that is a story for another archive perhaps they will provide a link to a page if they have it posted.  

James was honorably discharged from the Navy in the summer of 1919.  In the 1920 census, he is listed as single, living with his widowed mother and siblings, and employed as a foreman at a steel plant.  His brothers were also listed as working at a steel plant.  James married in 1920.  

In a page from the 1923 Baltimore City Directory.  James was listed as a policeman, telling us James joined the police department sometime between spring of 1920 and the time information was collected for that 1923 City Directory.  The family moved into their Hoffman Street row home sometime between 1926 and 1929. This information is also based on a City Directory. 

The 1930 US Census lists James as a patrolman.  The next item the family recovered was from the Sun dated December 29, 1934.  The article lists the officers who received awards HERE.  James was given an award by the SPCA, but no details are given. 

Next comes the 1940 census in which James is still listed listed as a City Police Officer.  James' draft registration card during the WWII era dated April 1942 lists him as working for the Baltimore City Police Department, Marine Division at he foot of Wells St.  So, here, we get the sense that the unit’s name had changed to Marine from Harbor Patrol. 

In an article in the Sun from December 13, 1942.   The article lists James as Patrolman and handling the helm of a 48 ft craft.  This article names the Wells Street dock.  The article gives the length of the craft as 48 ft but does not name it.  I presume that it is, The Robert D. Carter. 

At this time we are unsure when Sgt Roach retired.   

The story ends with the death of Sgt roach in November 1957.  His wife was an Army nurse during WWI, she lived into the 1970s They are buried together at Baltimore National Cemetery.  The Sun printed an obituary that included a memorial from the Baltimore City Retired Police Association on November 13, 1957. 

Environmental police are 'real police'

By Heather Cobun Times Staff Writer 
Carroll County Times

8 March 2014

Carroll County residents may have noticed an unusual law enforcement agency on the road, sometimes making traffic stops. It's the Baltimore Environmental Police, and it's been around for years, actively patrolling in any area near a reservoir.

The environmental police is a unit of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works tasked with protecting water supply assets for the city, but it has full powers of arrest in the water supply and watershed regions around Liberty, Loch Raven and Prettyboy reservoirs, according to Chief Luke Brackett.

"If it's got markings, it's legit," said Lt. Patrick McCrory, commander of the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack, of resident concerns about what agency was making traffic stops on Md. 26 and Md. 32 in Eldersburg recently. According to Brackett, this area falls into the Baltimore Environmental Police's Northern Patapsco region.

"We're real police," Brackett said of the nine officers patrolling Carroll and Baltimore counties.

"We add an extra layer of protection," he said. The environmental police share concurrent jurisdiction in approximately half of Carroll County with the Maryland State Police and the Carroll County Sheriff's Office.

"The assistance of the [environmental] police on their property ... has been invaluable," said Col. Phil Kasten, of the sheriff's office, adding that his office is glad to extend support whenever it is needed to assist in investigations in the environmental police's jurisdiction.

While no officer from the environmental police is assigned specifically to traffic patrol, all units are prepared to enforce the law, according to Brackett.

"Any of our officers, when confronted with a traffic violation in our jurisdiction, will deal with it," Brackett said.

According to Brackett, traffic enforcement is a key area of protection for the reservoirs and their watersheds because crashes and unsafe driving can be a danger to the water supply.

The environmental police also assist county law enforcement and provide backup in emergencies. When the Carroll Community Bank in Sykesville was robbed in September 2012, a Baltimore Environmental Police officer pursued a suspect across the Md. 26 bridge over Liberty Reservoir and into Baltimore County, where he was apprehended, according to Brackett. Officer Silas Phillips received the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Valor Award for his actions.

They also participate in searches for fugitives because they are responsible for bridges on routes leading out of Baltimore, Brackett said.

"In Carroll County there's a real teamwork approach to policing due to the rural nature of the county and the distance between units when calls come in," he said.

The Baltimore Environmental Police was previously the Baltimore Watershed Police but was out of commission for several years due to funding issues. The agency was re-established in 2007 as the Watershed Rangers, then renamed the Baltimore Environmental Police, and Brackett said he was the only officer for the first year.

"The Carroll County law enforcement family was a great group to work with," he said of getting the environmental police off the ground in 2007.

Anyone receiving a citation from the Baltimore Environmental Police will receive a hearing date in the county where the violation occurred and fines are paid to that court, Brackett said. The police does not receive any portion of these fines.

Anyone can report suspicious activity in and around the reservoirs by calling 911 for emergencies or 410-517-3600.

27 June 1861 to 29 March, 1862 - (Under control of the United States Military authorities) Baltimore's Police Commissioners were appointed by the military authorities - Columbus O'Donnell,  Archibald Sterling Jr.,  Thomas Kelso,  John R Kelso,  John W Randolph,  Peter Sauerwein,  John B Seidenstricker,  Joseph Roberts, and Michael Warner. Our newly sworn police officers at the time were recognized by a simple, "Pink Ribbon" worn on their left lapel, and the, "Espantoon" carried by Baltimore police, other than those two identifiers, a uniform had not yet been selected, and so they dressed in civilian attire. 

When Baltimore’s Police Board Was Sent to Prison

25 June 1911

Written by Matthew Page Andrews

General Cadwallader was replaced in charge of what was essentially the military district of Annapolis and Baltimore in the early part of June 1861 by Maj. Gen. N. P. Banks. General Cadwallader, according to the extremists who were at the time pushing for the continuation of the war, was too indulgent with Baltimore's "disloyal" residents. They also stated that Baltimore was a "hotbed of treason" and that the majority of people there were sympathetic toward the South, if not actively prepared to overthrow the government. A second St. Bartholomew would immediately follow if the 5000 muskets currently bursting around Baltimore were removed, according to The New York Tribune, which was likely the most widely read newspaper at the time. Officers of a passing regiment once forbade their soldiers from drinking any water handed to them by locals out of concern that it might have been purposely tainted by "Rebel" sympathizers. Such was Baltimore's national reputation as a result of the political press of the time.

One of the officers in the regular Army was General Cadwallader. The decision to completely abolish civil law was made by General Banks, a civilian appointed to a military command, which seemed revolting to Cadwallader but was welcomed by Banks. Gen. Banks used informants and spies after being given command in Baltimore to entrap "disloyal" civilians, taking note of individuals who were outspokenly opposing the war and coercing those suspected of harboring Southern sympathizers into sharing their views.

The Maryland legislature adjourned on June 22, 1861, in Frederick, after passing resolutions vehemently opposing the "military despotism" that had been ushered in in the state, declaring that no one's person or property was safe, no home was respected as sacred, and private correspondence was no longer sacred. Following this proclamation, vents moved quickly. Three months prior to the Baltimore mayor and a large number of other notable residents, Gen. Banks was gathering information and preparing to make arrests of citizens starting with the lowest-ranking rider.

The younger generation, who are heavily impacted educationally by a significant influx from the northern states, is unaware that Baltimore, Maryland, was almost as warmly a southern metropolis as Richmond, Virginia in 1860. It had a population of around 200,000, and the vast majority of its powerful residents supported the union up until the idea of coercing the South was floated. They either left Maryland to fight for the Confederate or were out of sympathy with an aggressive war against their southern neighbors when that subject was directly presented to them.

While opposing the war in the heat of April's excitement, Governor Hicks eventually saved himself by submitting completely to federal authority. The rest of the Maryland leaders were marked men, with a few notable exceptions. As an example of this, it should be noted that Chief Justice Taney told Mayor Brown in May 1861 that his [the mayor's] time would come and that his activities were then being closely watched because he was aware that his own arrest had been considered.

Following this explanation, it is simpler to follow and comprehend the events surrounding the arrests of George P. Kane, the most well-known of Baltimore's police marshals and later the city's mayor, as well as the arrest a few days following the news of the city's whole police board.

Remarkable Contrast and Point of View

The Sunday Sun of April 9 of this year hailed Marshall Kane's bravery and composure in defending the Massachusetts Regiment following the firing upon the citizens. He was the one who prevented the federal volunteers' detached companies from perhaps being alienated at the time. Even so, Marshall Kane opposed continuing the war, and the federal government would never pardon him for the telegrams he sent as part of one of numerous activities leading up to and soon following April 19th. The first was a request for information sent in the following words by a Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore railroad official: "Is it true, as claimed, that an attempt would be made to pass the volunteers from New York destined to war upon the South across your train today?"

This interpretation of what the call for federal troops was intended to accomplish differed so significantly from that of the federal authorities—at least in Baltimore—that it essentially amounted to evidence of treason against the US government. The language used by the federal government at this point in the conflict can be seen in secretary Cameron's letter to Governor Hicks dated April 18, which claimed that illegal groups of Maryland residents were obstructing the movement of American troops through Maryland on their way to the defense of the capital. Marshall Kane also sent a message to Bradley T. Johnson asking for volunteers to aid Maryland in fending off beaters who had turned Baltimore's streets "red with blood." Kane was arrested and imprisoned as a result of these telegrams and his opposition to the use of military authority without approval from the police board. On June 27, this story of Kane's arrest was written by the local paper's editor in chief and later by a staff member of the Sun, beneath a black headline in 10-point type that was quite sensational in Baltimore at the time.

The Arrest of Marshall Kane 

The long-simmering plot against Baltimore has finally materialized, resulting in the eradication of all civil liberties and the establishment of a military despotism. Early this morning, a rumor that Marshall Kane had been apprehended by the troops and sent to Fort McHenry spread across our village, causing considerable anxiety. The confirmation of the story increased the enthusiasm, and throughout the morning, a sizable number of the marshal's acquaintances visited his office and the police commissioners' rooms eager to learn more. The realization of this act has stirred up a lot of emotion and practically all of our citizens' attention, who are gathered around every corner talking about it despite the fact that it has long been anticipated due to the threats made. The arrest took place this morning around 2:30 a.m. when a company of soldiers, made up of some Maryland volunteers from Camp Carol and some Pennsylvania Regiment soldiers stationed on Federal Hill, marched as quietly as they could from the federal camp to 136 St. Paul Street, the Marshall's home, with troops guarding every entrance. The marshal was asked to show up. He opened the door after coming down the stairs looking dapper and half-dressed when he was suddenly grabbed and dragged into a waiting carriage in front of the home. He was not told why he was being held, and he was also not allowed to speak to his wife or any other members of his family. When the military gathered around the carriage and one of the commanders sat down inside, he hastily made his way to Fort McHenry. It goes without saying that his wife and family were understandably extremely scared by his abrupt detention and worried that violence would be used against them. It took them a few hours before they learned of his temperament. “ The military took all the police they encountered and forced them to march with them as a measure of precaution against a rescue attempt for the marshal. One of Mr. John B. Egerton's neighbors was concerned by the noise as they drew up to his home and stooped to the door. He was placed in charge with them until Col. Kane's person was safe. The officer in charge told the cops who had been detained that they may now resume their duties when the troops arrived at Federal Hill. The announcement that General Andrew P. Banks was about to impose martial law and that he had appointed Col. John R. Kenley of the Maryland Volunteers as the provost marshal was posted on newspaper bulletins around 9 AM, which may have served to heighten the excitement generated by Marshall Kane's arrest. Col. Kenley called on the police commissioners at fifteen minutes before eleven o'clock and presented them with the following paper, declaring that they were now superseded in their role as such because he had previously been supposed to take full control of the police force. General Banks gave the following order on June 27, 1861: "Headquarters Department of Annapolis. I am hereby appointing you Provost Marshal in and for the city of Baltimore in accordance with instructions I received from the department of war at Washington on June 24, 1861, to Col. Kenley, commanding first Regiment, Maryland volunteers. You will start your duties right away at the city's police headquarters, and after informing the mayor of your appointment by reading him this order and the proclamation that is included with it, you will immediately start working with other officers in the police department to put the police law that the Maryland legislature has provided for the administration of the city of Baltimore into effect. "I am most humbly yours, etc.," said N. P. Banks, the commanding general of the Annapolis department. While denying the legitimacy of his [Col. Kenley's] action, the commissioners noted that they should offer no resistance to General Banks assuming control of the marshal's office despite their refusal to recognize General Banks' authority to act in this manner. They stated that they should file a written protest against this procedure. A meeting was conducted after inviting the mayor to the board, and in the meantime, Col. Kenley made his way to the marshal's office. There, he informed Deputy Marshal Gifford that he had arrived to assume command and invited the various captains of police to report to headquarters. The following order was subsequently issued and given to them: "Special Order number 1 "Office Provost Marshal, Baltimore, "June 27, 1861. "By order of Major-General Banks, commanding the Department of Annapolis, I assume intake commands of the police force of the city of Baltimore, the superintend, and to execute and cause to be executed the police law provided by the Maryland legislature for the government of the city of Baltimore, with the assistance of the subordinate officers of the police department. According to Col. J. R. Kenley's directive, the provost marshal of Baltimore is commanding the first Maryland Regiment. Col. Kenley requested verbally that the board call a meeting of all the captains of police to meet him at the marshal's office. Informing Col. Kenley that the board did not acknowledge the legitimacy of Gen. Banks' actions on the property, the president asked him to put his recent request in writing on behalf of the board. He retracted the request and declined to do so. After that, he said that he would be heading straight to the Marshal's Office. In response to a request from the board, the president and mayor went to the marshal's office and gave the deputy marshal orders to not interfere with Col. Kenley's actions and to hold off on taking any action until he had been informed of the board's opinions.

THE POLICE BOARD’S RESOLUTION OF PROTEST

The whole subject having been maturely considered, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted, viz.: “whereas, the laws of the state of Maryland gives a whole and exclusive control of the police force of the city of Baltimore to the board of police, organized and appointed by the Gen. assembly; and not only are the said board bound to exercise the powers in and to discharge the duties imposed upon them, but all other persons are positively prohibited, under heavy penalties, from interfering with them in so doing; and, “Whereas, there is no power given to the board to transfer the control over any portion of the police force to any person or persons whomever other than the officers of the police appointed by them, and pursuance of the express provisions of the law; and acting under their orders; and, “Whereas, by the orders of Maj. Gen. Banks, an officer of the United States Army, commanding in this city, the marshal of police has been arrested, the board of police superseded, and an officer of the Army has been appointed provost marshal and directed to assume the command and control of the police force of the city; therefore be it “Resolved, that this board do solemnly protest against the orders and proceedings above referred to of major – Gen. Banks as an arbitrary exercise of military power not warranted by any provision of the Constitution or laws of the United States or of the state of Maryland, but in derogation of all of them. “Resolved, that whilst the board, yielding to the force of circumstances, will do nothing to increase the present excitement or obstruct the execution of such measures as major – Gen. Banks may deem proper to take on his own responsibility for the preservation of the peace of the city of Baltimore and of public order, they cannot, consistently with their views of official duty and of obligation of their oath’s of office, recognize the right of any of the officers and men of the police force as such to receive orders or directions from any other authority than from this board. “Resolved, that in the opinion of the board the forcible suspension of their functions suspends at the same time the active operation of the police law and puts the officers and men off duty for the present, leaving them subject, however, to the rules and regulations of the service as to their personal conduct and deportment and to the orders which this board may see fit here after to issue when the present illegal suspension of their functions shall be removed. “Charles Howard, Pres., “William H. Gatchell, “Charles D. Hinks, “John W. Davis, “George William Brown, Mayor and ex- officio members of the board.”

DISBANDING OF POLICE FORCE

Considering that the laws of the state of Maryland give the board of police, organized and appointed by the General Assembly, a whole and exclusive control of the police force of the city of Baltimore; and not only are the said board bound to exercise the powers in and to discharge the duties imposed upon them, but all other persons are positively prohibited from doing so," the preamble and resolutions that follow were unanimously adopted. "Resolved, that this board do solemnly protest against the orders and proceedings above referred to by Major General Banks as an arbitrary exercise of military power not warranted by any provision of the Constitution or laws of the United States or the state of Maryland, but in derogation of all of them." Resolved, that while the board will submit to the force of circumstances and take no action to heighten the current commotion or obstruct the execution of any measures that major-general Banks may deem necessary to take on his own responsibility for the preservation of the peace in Baltimore and of public order, they are unable to do so in a way that is consistent with their views of official duty and the obligations of their oaths of office. In the board's opinion, the forcible suspension of their duties suspends the active enforcement of the police law at the same time as taking the officers and men off duty for the time being. They remain subject, however, to the service's rules and regulations regarding their conduct and demeanor as well as any orders that the board may subsequently issue when the current illegal suspension of their duties is lifted. George William Brown, Mayor, William H. Gatchell, Charles D. Hinks, John W. Davis, Charles Howard, President, and ex-officio board members.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ANNAPOLIS FORT MCHENRY 1 JULY 1861.

Following the conclusion of their meeting, the police commissioners and the mayor sent a notification to the police captains of the various stations at 2 o'clock informing them of their decision to dissolve the force and giving them instructions on how to go about doing so. The men were subsequently called to the station house and informed that their employment as police officers had been terminated effective immediately. The board of police's refusal to comply with Gen. Banks' military orders swiftly and supinely caused the latter to become extremely irate. Baltimore was thereafter made aware of her complete helplessness and the futility of any civil rights-related protests, which were now at least nominally but undoubtedly actually suspended. As a result of this decision, the announcement of the police board's arrest and detention on General Banks' command stunned the city early on July 1st, 1861. Nearly all business was shut down, and groups of people congregated all over to talk about the news of the most recent incident, as it was known to be. The Pennsylvania Infantry under Col. Morehead made the arrests of the police commissioners early in the morning. At before 3 AM, the soldiers made their way to John W. Davis' house near Federal Hill, where they arrested him and transported him to Fort McHenry under guard. They then went to Charles D. Hanks' house on W. Lombard Street. Despite Mr. Hanks' deteriorating health, he was imprisoned and sent to the fort. The soldiers then proceeded to Charles Howard, the board president's home on Cathedral Street, where they detained both him and William H. Gatchell before transporting them to what Baltimoreans were now referring to as "the American Bastille." Any members of these commissioners' families who may raise suspicion were likewise temporarily detained. General Banks announced the arrests at 8 o'clock, providing an explanation that, in Judge Brown's words and later on, "did not explain":

“Nath P. Banks
“Major – General Commanding.”

Artillery and Troops in City Squares

An excerpt from a reliable historical account of military activity in and around Baltimore reads, "At an early hour this morning the movements among the military indicated something new for the "defense of the capital," as infantry and artillery were hastily moved from the various camps into the city. As three companies of Col. Pratt's 20th New York Regiment were marched inside these structures and are currently maintaining a rigorous guard over them, a part of Col. Cook's Boston light artillery were stationed in exchange Place, fronting the customhouse and post office on Lombard Street. No one is allowed to enter the customs building unless he can prove that he is there on business, and everyone traveling to or from the post office must follow the guards' authorized route while dodging their bayonets. Col. Lyle's Regiment and the rest of the Boston artillery were also stationed in Monument Square, however it is unclear what their specific roles were at the time.

"The remaining regiments in and around the city were all on guard at various spots around the steamboat words and at other sites. A unit of the 20th New York Regiment has also been stationed in front of St. Patrick's Church on Broadway. The 13th New York Regiment, under the command of Col. Abel Smith, dispersed its camp this morning at 6 a.m., marched to the McKim's Hill on the York Road, and set up camp there. The officers took control of the ancient mansion home as their headquarters. Soon, squads of this Regiment were dispersed throughout the eighth Ward of the "rebels," looking for weapons. Though the soldiers claim that the statements made by union men to Gen. Banks indicating that an organized movement was about to be made to attack several camps and Fort McHenry and that they had been ordered in to prevent it and to protect the "loyalist" were the cause of the large military demonstration, there has been much speculation regarding its cause. ”

At the time, the sight of troops from other states restraining the citizens of Baltimore in this way upset Marylanders descended from colonial forebears of revolutionary records so much that further hundreds left the city for the South. Today's well-known Maryland Club members and others have told the writer that the Boston Artillery's presence in Monument Square on one July 1861, as they were making their way to work, so sparked their ire that they immediately prepared to leave and go see if they could express it to the Southern Confederacy's armies.

Baltimore Police Historical Society

 This oath officers in the Baltimore Police Department took, as a reminder of our duty to uphold the law and protect the public. It is a solemn promise to maintain high ethical standards and uphold the values of their community and agency  "On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the Constitution, my community, and the agency I serve." 

It is difficult to comprehend and appreciate that Baltimore Police Officers have been patrolling Baltimore streets since 1784 and doing so with pride, loyalty, and dedication. It is one of the oldest police departments in the country. During these nearly 240 years of service, the department has experienced major changes that have been negative, positive, and tragic. Because of this, in 2014, the Baltimore Police Historical Society was founded. The men and women who comprise the society are volunteers who recognize the significance of our past, which is steeped in dignity, honor, pride, and tradition. More than 200 of Baltimore’s police officers have lost their lives while working or in the line of duty. Until the society began its research, most of them had been completely forgotten. It was in their memory, and the memory of every officer who has served this department, that the Baltimore Police Museum was rebuilt in 2016. The society continues to research the department's proud history and locate and display police memorabilia in the museum and on this site.

Retired Detective Kenny Driscoll recalls talking our history over with Bill Hackley back in 2008 and offering to help Bill with his website, a site dedicated to Baltimore Police history but geared more toward remembering our fallen and injured police. Ken made several suggestions, such as adding a page for Baltimore’s Women in Blue, Baltimore African American Police, and several others. Bill refused, saying we had worked too long to desegregate our department for us to separate everyone. Ken understood Bill's view but also felt it was part of our history and something that needed to be done. In other talks with Bill, it was decided that Ken could work on the site’s photos. Ken had been using Photoshop and was able to clean up many of the old photos as well as make banners. The site had 90 pages. In 2012, Bill called Ken; he used to make a post on Facebook on the days our police had passed, giving the name of the fallen officer, and asking that he be remembered. He asked Ken if he was ill and if he would take over making these posts. Within a week, Bill passed away. Ken received an email asking him to contact Bill’s wife as Bill was handing Ken the website. They drove to someplace near the Pennsylvania state line to pick up the passwords to the site. Ken tried paying the monthly hosting fees, but Bill’s wife refused. Then Ken started adding to the site, and before long he received a message from the hosting company that he had reached the limit and that it would cost an extra $40 a month to get more space. Ken offered to pay the difference, but again, Bill’s wife refused. Ken asked if she would mind him moving the site to a professional hosting company, and Ken would take over all payments. She agreed, and Ken got started. It took two months, but the site was done, going from 90 pages to more than 300 pages. The site has been rebuilt five times. One of the sites called for making duplicate pages or very similar pages and had nearly 1200 pages; most of them were due to the site’s calendar. In Ken's last build, he had everything the old site had, including a calendar, and the site was right under 600 pages. The calendar mentioned is important and often visited by city leaders as it has "This Day in Baltimore Police History on it, telling when officers had fallen in the line of duty, when various units began, and when certain tools and equipment was introduced, or ended use within the agency. The site is one of the most viewed police history sites in the country; it is used by city hall, departmental commissioners, education and training as well as other top brass, local media, authors, playwrights, movie and TV scriptwriters looking to gather historical data as technical support. With the historical society, the police newsletters took notice, and our agency’s historical interest picked up. The police academy started having trainees do reports on fallen officers, and they added a timeline to a wall in the police school so young officers could learn about the footsteps they would be following. The department is rich with talent, accomplishment, and pride, all of which are built on a tradition of excellent service to the community. Not everyone can work as a police officer. It is a special calling that requires unique attributes not found in the civilian sector. In particular, officers must have the courage to face injury and the possibility of death every day and constantly deal with society at its worst. Once accepted, an officer becomes part of something special. It is hard to explain, but those who have worn the badge of a Baltimore City Police Officer will tell you that it is a unique experience. The Baltimore Police Historical Society is dedicated to ensuring that the service of all the officers who have proudly served or are currently serving our city will always be remembered. Being a police officer is not an easy job, it requires a great deal of courage and strength to face the things they do, which can be emotionally draining. However, for those who are accepted into the force, it is a truly special experience. The camaraderie and sense of purpose that come with being part of our department are hard to explain, but they are something that all Baltimore City Police Officers understand. That's why the Baltimore Police Historical Society is so important—it ensures that the service of all officers, past, present, and future, will always be remembered. By preserving our stories and honoring our sacrifices, we can continue to appreciate the vital role Baltimore’s Police Officers play in the communities. 

They are no longer a 501(c)(3) non-profit because they never wanted to bring in enough funds that they would have a surplus of funds. They never wanted to pay anyone to be part of their group. They want people who are interested enough in the department's history to want to contribute their help because they know what they have to offer is needed and would improve or add to our already known information. They do take donations, but not like most people would think. Donations are used to pay for, or partially pay for, domain names, web storage, and sun archives which is used for research, etc.  Essentially, donations are just chipping in to help cover the bills. They receive so few donations that maintaining a 501(c)(3) was costing them more than they were bringing in, and while some people said they could have made what the society had a profitable business, they don't want to get into having a historical society that has the purpose of making money. As a result, in most cases, Ken pays for everything out of his pocket, amounting to around $1500 a year, just over $100 a month for the site's servers, and about $300 a year for domain names (they have a few), archive experiences, and a few other necessary needs to keep things up and running. So if you would like to contribute to one of the bills, use one of the donation buttons found on most of the pages.

Using The Site

Using the site, obviously, you could use the top drop down menu to find most of what you are looking for, but remember that we also have what are known as "hidden articles." These are pages that are linked to from other pages and not found in the drop down, photo banners, or side menus. You could also use the search engine; just type in what you are looking for, click on one of the links provided in the search results. Once you get to that page, we recommend hitting CTRL F and again typing a key word as to what it is you are looking for; it should highlight the word searched, but you could also use the down arrow in the search box to skip from word to word until you find what you are looking for. Ken built the site and uses the search engine anytime he is researching something on the site; first always using the search box just under the calendar on the top right side of the page, then CTRL F to find what he is looking for on a specific page.

Speaking of the calendar, any day of the year you can look at the calendar and if it has a color or black underline, click the date and you will see what happened on that day in history. The calendar is often used by mayors, commissioners, and deans of Baltimore's universities; it is a wealth of information.  In addition to the calendar, the site also features a section dedicated to other historical information from Baltimore's past. The site is regularly updated and provides information on Baltimore's police, good or bad. Visitors are invited to join us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on our latest historical findings or memorabilia purchases.

If you have something to add to the site, it would be best to contact Ken at, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.