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1902 Police Department

In 1902, nine officers made up the Manitowoc Police Department. Salaries at that time were $850 per year for the chief, $600 per year for the assistant chief, and $540 per year for patrol officers.

Each officer, including the chief, got two days off each month. The department had two shifts and officers worked 12 hour days. Patrol officers worked over 4,176 hours per year and averaged just under $0.13 per hour.
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1904 Police Department

Members of the Manitowoc Police Department circa 1904, from left to right:
  • First Row: Anton Trochlell, Chief Jerome Pierce, and Captain William Carle
  • Second Row: George Groffman, Charles Dueno, Hiram Smith, and William Menge
  • Third Row: Peter Ziarnik, Royal Sniffin, Gunder Benson, and August Eggert
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Manitowoc Police Department's First Motorcycle

In 1923, the Manitowoc Police Department purchased this Harley Davidson motorcycle. The officer shown is George Darbant. This photo was taken in front of the Glander Art Studio, located at South Ninth and Washington Street (northeast corner).
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1920 Police Department

Police Department circa 1920 from left to right:
  • Top Row: Charles Schmidt, Frank Tomchek, George Darbant, William Lasch, and William Deigel
  • Center Row: Charles Denor, William Christiansen, Walter Herman, and Reinholdt Boeder - Unidentified Brown County Officer
  • Bottom Row: Matt Dufek, Con Healy, Aaron Peterson, and Charles Novak
This picture was taken by the Police Department on Franklin Street.
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Manitowoc Police Department's Second Motorcycle

On April 3, 1933, the Manitowoc Police Department purchased this 1932 model Harley Davidson motorcycle for $704. The officer shown is George Darbant. This photo was taken in front of the Manitowoc County Court House located at South Eighth and Washington Street.
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1926 Police Department

Police Department circa May 30,1926, from left to right:
  • First Row: Matt Dufek, Detective William Christiansen, Con Healy, Charles Denor, George Darbant, William Deigel, and Aaron Peterson
  • Second Row: Charles Novak, Frank Tomchek, William Lasch, Reinholdt Boeder, Walter Herman, and Charles Schmidt
  • Top Row: Assistant Chief Ed Ladwig, Chief Anton Trochlell, and Captain Charles Dueno
This photo was taken on the steps of U.S. Post Office, located at the southwest corner of South Ninth and Franklin Street.
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Manitowoc Police Department's City Ambulance

This 1927 Studebaker Commander was used as Manitowoc's Police Ambulance. It replaced the horse-drawn buckboard that the officers had used since 1906. The police department was in charge of the sick and injured. This Studebaker was one of the first vehicles the department was issued and was with the department until 1959.
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1938 Police Department

The Manitowoc Police Department circa July 30, 1938, from left to right:
  • Bottom Row: Lieutenant Aaron Peterson, Captain William Christiansen, Chief Anton Trochlell, Detective Frank Tomchek, Detective Walter Herman
  • Second Row: Emil Schultz, Frank Orchekowski, William McConnell, Sergeant William Lasch, Sergeant George Tulach, George Darbant
  • Third Row: William Deigel, Clarence Tomchek, Arnold Mahnke, Ralph Kahl, Charles Denor, Donald Sears, Melvin Reinhardt
  • Top Row: Andrew Pribek, Milton Larson, Jacob Mraz, Anton Glysch, Ray Boehm, Eugene Koebke, Elmer Scherer, Ben Muchowski
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Police Department's First Police Boat

The City of Manitowoc is divided by the Manitowoc River, and Lake Michigan boarders the city's east side. This 1942 photo shows the first police boat. Prior to the purchase, the department had to borrow boats tied along the river. This photo was taken on South Ninth Street along side of the Police Station, which was addressed 824 Jay Street.
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Bud Abbot & Lou Costello in Manitowoc

In the photo left to right: Manitowoc Mayor Martin Georgenson, unknown, Lou Costello, Police Chief James J. Kuplic, Bud Abbot, and Police Detective Frank Tomchek.

August 7, 1942, Bud Abbot and Lou Costello appeared in Manitowoc as part of a World War II war bond drive. This photo was taken in the hallway of their hotel just before their appearance at Washington Park.
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U.S. Navy Police Sporting Events

During World War II, hundreds of sailors from the U.S. Navy were stationed in Manitowoc, while their submarines were being built at the Manitowoc Ship Yards.

The police department frequently challenged the sailors to a baseball game. This photo, taken sometime in the summer of 1944, shows U.S. Navy personnel and police officers at a post-game celebration at one of the local parks.
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1958 Train in River 

March 7, 1958, 0210 hrs., a Chicago and Northwestern Railroad train crew, their train parked and running, took a breakfast break. The engine and nine cars were gone when they returned. The train traveled l0 miles and went through 20 crossings before the engine and two box cars smashed through a dead-end obstruction, traveled 60 feet, and plunged into 18 feet of water in the Two Rivers Harbor.  Here is Engine 1083 after it was recovered.  Photo research by Jeff Seidl,  Manitowoc Police Department (Retired)

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1960 Police Department

This 1960 photo of the Manitowoc Police Department was taken on the steps of the Manitowoc County Court House.

In 1960 the department consisted of 47 men. The salary of a patrol officer was $5,478.96. A detective received $6,819.96. Benefits included paid vacation and holidays, sick pay, and uniform clothing allowance.

For a new officer, the department provided one summer hat, one winter hat, one summer jacket, one winter coat, one shirt, and one pair of pants.
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1962 Police Department Detectives

The Manitowoc Police Department's Detective Bureau October 5, 1962,
from left to right:
  • Sitting: Detective Francis J. Lallensack, Chief Elmer H. Scherer, and Detective Robert W. Schmidt
  • Standing: Detective Norbert Nelson, Detective Leroy Strauss, Detective Dave Egan, and Detective Henry Ospedale