History of the Police Department

On September 6, 1896, a small one story structure was built for the City of Granite City, City Hall located near 19th and Edison Ave. It was at this time a single jail cell was constructed and the City Council appointed Henry Fosseick as the History 1first Chief of Police. The Council also hired William Cool as the first patrolman for $50.00 per month.

The City Council purchased property at 20th and Edison in 1916 and by 1929 completed the building. Housed in this building was the Granite City Police Department and jail facility. The Police Department remained in this building until the completion of the current building in 1978. Today the building has the capabilities of housing 22 prisoners, with 11 jail cells.


Officers who died in the line of duty

Frank Holmes - Patrolman 1900-1903 Shot at 20th & Railroad tracks
Tom Balance - Patrolman 1907-1910 Seriously crippled and died during recovery.
William Hunt - Horse Patrolman 1909-1911 Shot and killed near Nameoki Road
Frank Smith - Patrolman 1910-1911 Shot and killed during a bank robbery.
Frank Simeral - Patrolman 1912-1914 Shot and killed while patrolling West Granite.
R. Bolin - Patrolman 1919-1919 Killed on duty as Constable.
George Lewis - Patrolman 1919-1929 Died after being struck in the head with a brick.
Jerry Odum - Sergeant 1903-1930 Died while bringing in a prisoner.

Police Chiefs

H. Fossick

        1896 - 1903

7 Years

WM. Kessinger

1903 - 1904

1 Year

C. Wetzel

1904 - 1905

1 Year

M. Shepherd

1905 - 1909

4 Years

F. Gottselig

1909 - 1911

2 Years

A. White

1911 - 1915

4 Years

H. Hahn

1915 - 1917

2 Years

A.B. Hettick

1917 - 1919

2 Years

R. Clark

1919 - 1922

3 Years

L. Martin

1920 - 1920

1 Year

R. Johnson

1922 - 1933

11 Years

J. Tappel

1933 - 1942

9 Years

C. Bernaix

1942 - 1943

1 Year

E. Burnett

1946 - 1951

5 Years

E. Holmes

1951 - 1958

7 Years

R. Willaredt

1958 - 1967

9 Years

R. Veizer

1967 - 1985

18 Years

WM. Harris

1985 - 1987

2 Years

R. Astorian

1987 - 1988

1 Year

J. Lengyel

1988 - 1989

1 Year

D. Knight

1989 - 1993

4 Years

J. Lengyel

1993 - 1994

1 Year

D. Ruebhausen

1994 - 2005

11 Years

R. Miller

2005 - Present