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
first 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 |
|