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The St. Paul Daily Globe
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Monday Morning, May 02, 1887; p. 2
Vol. IX No. 122

In the New Stations: May 01, 1887

Please note that a fourth sub-station, the Union Park Sub-Station1, was not mentioned in the newspaper article. Commanded by Mounted Sergeant William Budy2, and with the exception of the jailor, all of the assigned personnel were Mounted Patrolmen. The other three sub-stations, along with Central Station, were full-service precincts. Please also note that footnotes have been added to provide additional information on the officers and locations mentioned in the article.

Photos from the Saint Paul Police Historical Society Archives – E. Steenberg

How the New Officers Observed Their First Sunday Under the Changed Police System.

There was no crowding for room when Lieut. Morgan3, at the central police station4, ordered the second relief to "fall in" at 6 o'clock last night. The reorganization of the force and the opening of the new sub-stations leaves the central with only fifty patrolmen. At the several sub-stations Capts. Walsh5, Hanft6 and Lowell7 called the roll over their details for the first time. The officers all appeared in bright new uniforms, with stars shining and boots polished, in honor of the event.

Central Station
Central Station (c. 1904)

 

Union Park Sub-Station
Union Park Sub-Station (c. 1904)

At the Rondo street station8 the prevailing word was, "all's quiet." Lieutenant Bah[e]9 sat in the new cushioned revolving chair in front of the new cherry desk, and looked out on the storm. The station was not honored with a solitary prisoner. The Margaret street station10 also failed to score one arrest. Lieut. Dowlan11 pulled his long black whiskers nervously, and waited all night in vain for the expected guest.

Rondo Street Sub-Station
Rondo Street Sub-Station (c. 1904)

 

Margaret Street Sub-Station
Margaret Street Sub-Station (c. 1904)

Over on the West side, in Capt. Walsh's district, the Ducas street station12, scored the first prisoner in the person of one Bisseau, arrested by Officer Sorenson13 for drunkenness shortly after 6 o'clock. He was agreeably surprised when chucked into the new iron cage with its iron slat bedstead, having known and dreaded the musty and cramped old cells at the Central. Officer [R]uffner14 brought another man to the West side station about midnight on the same charge. Of course Sergeant Roleau15 had no time to listen to explanations as he wrote down the name in his fine large hand, and ordered the prisoner searched, with a dignity befitting the initial performance. The central station got a full quota of minor offenders as usual, but it being Sunday, and the saloons partially closed, the arrests were not numerous. The horses for the new patrol wagons at the sub-stations will not be purchased until this afternoon, and for this reason many prisoners properly belonging in the sub-precincts were sent to the Central in the Central patrol. The sub-stations will be provided with their own patrol alarms shortly, but for the present alarms will be sent to the "Central," and communicated by telephone to the sub-stations.

Ducas Street Sub-Station
Ducas Street Sub-Station (c. 1904)


1 Union Park Sub-Station also known as the Prior Avenue Sub-Station was located at 490 North Prior Avenue, between Feronia and University Avenues, and had a staff of 11, including one Sergeant and one Jailer.

2 William Budy was appointed Patrolman on June 23, 1881; was detailed Acting Sergeant (Mounted) in 1885; was promoted to Sergeant (Mounted) on May 01, 1887; was promoted to Lieutenant (Mounted) on April 10, 1889; and died on August 24, 1909.

3 Isaac D. Morgan was appointed Patrolman on July 01, 1866; was promoted to Lieutenant on March 24, 1885; and retired on pension on January 11, 1893.

4 Central Station was located on Third Street, between Washington and Market Streets, and had staff of 76, including assorted command and support personnel.

5 Thomas Walsh was appointed Patrolman on January 04, 1875; was promoted to Captain on May 01, 1887; and retired on pension on June 02, 1896.

6 William Hanft was appointed Patrolman on January 04, 1875; was promoted to Captain on May 01, 1887; was removed from service on January 23, 1893; was reappointed Captain on June 11, 1894; was reduced to Lieutenant on June 04, 1896; was promoted to Captain (date unknown); and retired on pension on July 31, 1911.

7 Adelbert M. Lowell was appointed Patrolman on September 18, 1872; was promoted to Sergeant in March of 1885; was promoted to Captain on May 01, 1887; and died on February 23, 1900.

8 Rondo Street Sub-Station was located at the southeast corner of Rondo Street (now Concordia) at Western Avenue, and had a staff of 28, including command and support personnel.

9 Henry Bahe was appointed Patrolman on June 01, 1875; was detailed Acting Sergeant (date unknown); was promoted to Lieutenant on May 01, 1887; and retired on pension on May 01, 1902.

10 Margaret Street Sub-Station was located at 745-747 Margaret Street, at Hope Street, and had a staff of 26, including command and support personnel. It is the only substation still standing, now utilized as a fourplex dwelling unit.

11 William Dowlan was appointed Patrolman on March 18, 1874; was promoted to Lieutenant on May 01, 1887; was reduced to Sergeant on August 01, 1889; and was removed from service on January 23, 1893.

12 Ducas Street Sub-Station (originally called the Winslow Station) was located at the southeast corner of South Robert and Delos Streets, and had a staff of 16, including command and support personnel.

13 Soren P.D. Sorenson was appointed Patrolman on July 13, 1885; resigned after May 02, 1887; was reappointed Patrolman on June 13, 1892; resigned on July 07, 1893; was reappointed Patrolman on January 15, 1894; was removed from service on June 07, 1894; was reappointed Patrolman on July 15, 1896; and resigned on June 30, 1898.

14 George W. Ruffner was appointed Patrolman on September 06, 1886; and resigned on September 24, 1890.

15 Charles T. Rouleau was appointed Patrolman on April 10, 1872; was promoted to Sergeant on March 24, 1885; was promoted to Lieutenant on April 01, 1889; was promoted to Captain on April 04, 1893; was removed from service on August 09, 1900; was reappointed Patrolman on June 15, 1906; was promoted to Sergeant on July 01, 1911; was promoted to Lieutenant on January 01, 1912; was promoted to Captain on July 01, 1912; and died on May 21, 1914.