About Us

The City of Huntington was founded in 1871 when it became the western terminus of the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad. The founding fathers wasted no time in providing for the safety and security of its citizens. Isaac H. Mitchell was appointed Town Marshal at the first meeting of the town council on January 6, 1872. The council soon authorized Marshal Mitchell to appoint special police when the circus or other special events came to town. It was determined that a night policeman should also be hired at a rate of  $1.25 per night and $1.50 per night during winter months. City council made an order on June 6, 1876 requiring each officer to provide themselves with a uniform and a star. This is the first indication of a uniform being worn by policemen in Huntington.

Marshal Mitchell received a wire at 5:00 a.m. on June 26, 1876 from Highland County Ohio set out in pursuit. The pair overtook the man around 2:00 p.m. the next day on Route 60 just west of Hurricane station. Marshal Mitchell jumped over the back of the buggy and called on the man to surrender. A rough and tumble fight began with the Marshal being shot during the fracas. Tom Turner attempted to fire on the assailant but his pistol would not fire and he was also seriously wounded in the affray. Marshal Isaac Mitchell died from his injuries later the same day. The assailant was captured and returned to Huntington. Tom Turner was able to identify the man despite hovering near death. The prisoner was housed in the Putnam County jail but a trial was never held. A mob made up of what was described as the most representative men of the city and county went to Winfield, took the prisoner from the jail, and lynched him. The first sworn Law Enforcement Officer for the City of Huntington also became the first to die in the line of duty.

The position of Town Marshal was replaced with an elected Chief of Police with an
amendment to the Charter in 1891. W.M. Staley served as the first Chief of Police but resigned after only a few months. Staley was succeeded by Scott Turner on June 1, 1891.

The period at the turn of the century was one of rapid growth and development for the City of Huntington. The industrial growth of the city rapidly expanded its population.  The Police Department was located at 424 Ninth Street and the force consisted of five officers. The early 1900’s were a period of political upheaval for the asking for the arrest of a certain man. The wire indicated the man would be driving a fine horse and buggy  and provided a full description of the wanted man. The man had been seen in the city earlier in the day.

Marshal Mitchell accompanied by Tom Turner, Police Department. During this time, the political party of the day would hire Police Officers based upon their political affiliation. In 1905 the Democrat Council passed a resolution dispensing with a number of Republican Officers and replacing them with an equal number of Democratic Officers. The Republican Mayor declined to recognize the newly appointed Officers. The case was taken to the West Virginia Supreme Court but, during the interim, the City had two police forces. The West Virginia Supreme Court ruled that Council was within its rights to discharge the Officers under the Charter provisions. The City Police Force would eventually be placed under Civil Service in 1909 and ended this period of political  upheaval within its ranks.

The Police Department continued to grow and add to its ability to police. The Identification Bureau or “Police Bertillon Department” was established when the Police Force moved into the New City Hall Building on July 10,  1915. Prior to the establishment of this bureau the Police Department was handicapped by the lack of facilities for the identification of prisoners and the keeping of authoritative records. In 1921, Garfield Rose replaced the outdated Bertillon system of measurement and began use of the fingerprint system. The first permanent Detective Bureau was established in 1922. In 1934 the radio patrol system was established under the guidance of Police Chief Ben Robinson. Chief Robinson has the distinction of being the only person to serve as Chief of Police at two different times. He was first appointed to the position in 1909. By 1937,
the Police Department had six radio-equipped patrol cars and 70 full time personnel. The Police Department continued to adapt in the coming decades to meet the needs of the community.

In 1947, the Department had seven radioequipped vehicles, ten radio-equipped motorcycles, and first aid equipment. In 1947, the Department also had a police
manned ambulance, a radio technician, and a newly organized Detective Bureau with eight Detectives. The Huntington Police Department broke new ground in 1972 with the Community Service Officer organization. This emergency ambulance service was the forerunner to the modern EMS system we have today. In 1978, the Police Department had its largest contingent with 120 sworn Officers and 37 civilian employees. The Police Department had grown beyond the confines of City Hall after 71 years.

The Department relocated to 330 Third Avenue in 1985. The Police Department moved again in 2000 to its present location at 675 Tenth Street. The Police Department has changed much in its 136 years of history. Tragically, seven officers, have died in the line of duty. These Officers gave the fullest measure of service to the citizens of Huntington;

Isaac H. Mitchell 1876
Oscar Christian 1914
Charles Ball 1923
Fred Bricker 1940
Clemmie Curtis 1976
Paul Harmon 1981
Jim Mills 1981

The Huntington Police Department is currently staffed with 87 sworn Officers and seven civilian employees. These men and women are dedicated to serving the community and providing the best possible police service.

Like their predecessors, they are challenged each day by the changing needs of our community.

Each new member that joins our ranks will continue this long and proud heritage of police service.

In 1911 the Call Box System was added which allowed Officers on the beat to
communicate with headquarters. In 1912 the first motorized vehicle was purchased. The Kissel Patrol Wagon allowed for the quick transport of prisoners and Officers alike. Prior to this, the Officer had to walk his arrest to the jail. If the street cars were still running he could then catch a ride back to his beat. If the street cars had stopped running, then the Officer had to walk back to resume his post. This sometimes resulted in a six mile walk. The first call for the new patrol wagon was a failure however. The patrol was sent to the Third Avenue Guyandotte Bridge after an intoxicated man. The man jumped from the bridge and drowned in the river before the patrol arrived. The joke of the day was that the man preferred that fate to chancing a ride in the “new fangled” patrol wagon.
The flood of 1913 forced the Police Department to relocate to the basement of the Cabell County Courthouse.