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Toledo Police Museum
Open every Saturday from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Free Admission.
In 1867, Ohio legislature passed the Metropolitan Police Law which required a full time paid police force for the City of Toledo. At 8 AM on April 27, 1867, the "MP's" as they were respectfully called by the public, took charge of policing the City of Toledo.
In 1933, when popular bootlegger Jack Kennedy was killed, the Toledo Police Detective Bureau was divided into specialty squads that handled all felony crimes. Some of the squads had absolutely delightful titles. One of these was the newly organized Rackateer Squad, the name that quickly morphed into the Hoodlum Squad, created to rid the city of the influx of violent gangsters.
The men who worked the squads focused on the crime for which they were assigned, but there was much overlap of duties. To highlight the men of the Hoodlum Squad without mentioning their peers would be shortsighted. It is clear that ridding Toledo of the influence of organized crime took the cooperation and efforts of the entire department.
However charming the titles of the detective squads were, the men who worked them were serious crime fighters whose work molded the shape of this city.
The Bank and Hotel Squad
Regular Detectives Connors and Culver took care of all bank, department store and hotel offenses. Their work constituted the handling of all fraudulent check offense, shoplifting and like offenses.
The Homicide Squad
Regular Detectives Cairl and Hovey and Detailed Detective Clark were in charge of the Homicide Squad. Their close cooperation with the Lucas County Coroner was credited as a large factor in the success these men had.
Confidence Game Squad
Regular Detective Langendorf and Detailed Detective Hartung were assigned to the Confidence Game Squad. Their work was entirely in the downtown district, taking care of all complains of a “Con Game” nature. They were also very active in the apprehension of narcotic offenders.
Hold-Up Squad
Regular Detective DeLora, Detailed Detective Mullen and Patrolmen Sheets and Green were in charge of the Hold-Up Squad. They took care of all robbery complaints.
Burglar Squad
Detailed Detectives Cummings, McBride and Patrolman Murphy and Manson composed the Burglar Squad. They took care of all burglary offenses, regardless of the district in which they occurred.
Racketeer Squad (Hoodlum Squad)
Captain George Timiney was on a special duty most of the year, acting as head of the “Racketeer Squad,” also fondly known as the Hoodlum Squad. Patrolmen Brennan, Fielding, Tafelski, Brown, Michalak and Baumgartner comprised the squad. Their duties were to handle all assignments where citizens or business places had been intimidated to pay protection for things that might happen to them.
Auto Squad
Regular detectives Eaton, Peters, VanVorce and detailed detective Stevenson and Patrolmen Davis and Scarlato and Reese made up the Auto Squad. The men investigated all recovered automobiles, whether reported stolen locally or from other jurisdictions. They also interrogated prisoners who were found to be auto thieves.
Pawnshop Squad
Regular detective Raitz and Patrolman Rogers were assigned to the Pawnshop detail. They visited all places where money was loaned on goods pawned, checking to ascertain if the pawned articles had been stolen.
Polish Squad
Regular detectives Palicki, Dobzeniecki, Detailed Detective Switecki and Patrolmen Dlugewicz constituted the Polish Squads. They took care of all cases originating in the Polish districts. Their wide acquaintance and knowledge of Polish offenders were a big asset to their success.
Colored Squad
Regular Detective Harris and patrolman Wilson investigated all complaints originating in the “colored settlements”.
West End and Auburndale Detail
Regular Detectives Hassenzahl, Detailed Detectives Ringle, Mavis and Daly made up the West End/Auburndale Detail, investigating all offenses except burglaries and robberies. This was a very large part of the city at the time.
South End Detail
Regular Detective E. Brown, Patrolmen Bricker, Tank and Posers were assigned to the South End.
Missing Person Detail
Patrolman Hollinger investigated all complaints of a “Missing Person” nature.
East Side Detail
Regular Detectives Herman, Ford and Detailed Detectives Bach and Unkle were assigned to work from the East Side Station.
Flyer Crew
Detailed detectives Kina and Dreyer were assigned to the “flyer Cres”. They answered all emergency calls coming in during certain hours.
Desk Crew
Patrolmen Glenn, Papenfus, Ness, Bielefeldt, Meeker and Gonia were assigned to the Detective Desk. They assisted the Captain of Detectives in his duties. They were practically confined to inside work.
The Good Guys
THE 1933 HOODLUM SQUAD
More Good Guys . . .
Detectives working the other 1933 squads
Patrolman Henry Bricker
South End Detail
Patrolman Fred Tank
South End Detail
Patrolman Clair Powers
South End Detail
Patrolman Carl Hollinger
Missing Person Detail
Regular Detective E----- Brown
South End Detail
Detailed Detective Stanley Kina
Flyer Crew
Detailed Detective Arthur Dreyer
Flyer Crew
More Good Guys . . .
Hoodlum Squad detectives from other years
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