The Department

Mission:

We, the members of the Stephenville Police Department, are committed to being responsive to our community in the delivery of quality service.  Recognizing our responsibility to maintain order, while affording dignity and respect to every individual, our objective is to improve the quality of life through a community partnership which promotes safe, secure neighborhoods.   The values of the Stephenville Police Department evolve around people, Leadership, Service and Performance.

Current Status:

The Department currently has 33 commissioned officers and positions for 5 reserve officers. There are 8 communications officers and two animal control officers also.

History:

STEPHENVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HISTORY

09-13-1889..... FIRST RECORD OF CITY BUSINESS. ON THIS DATE, JOHN OXFORD WAS AUTHORIZED A MONTHLY SALARY OF $50.00 AS CITY MARSHALL. ALL FEES GENERATED BY THE CITY MARSHALL WERE TO BE TURNED OVER TO THE CITY TREASURY. CITY MARSHALL ALSO TO ACT AS ASSESSOR/COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
10-05-1889..... CITY MARSHALL OXFORD WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE AND KEEP A LIST OF ALL RESIDENTS WHO WERE TO WORK ON THE CITY ROADS.
10-15-1889..... THE OLD CITY JAIL WAS RENTED BACK TO THE CITY BY JAMES BUCH FOR $10 PER MONTH AS A CALLABOOSE.
12-03-1889..... THE MAYOR ORDERED MARSHALL OXFORD TO INSTRUCT RESIDENTS TO REMOVE FENCES FROM CITY STREETS. IF THEY ARE NOT REMOVED, THE MARSHALL IS TO REMOVE THEM.
04-02-1890..... JOHN OXFORD RE-ELECTED AS CITY MARSHALL.
08-16-1890..... FINE OF $25 SET FOR DRIVING A HORSE OR A TEAM FASTER THAN AN ORDINARY WALK OVER EITHER OF THE BOSQUE RIVER BRIDGES.
11-14-1890..... MARSHALL OXFORD APPOINTED TAX COLLECTOR.
02-02-1890..... 1MOTION MADE AND PASSED TO REDUCE MARSHALL'S PAY FROM $50 TO $40. A SECOND MOTION MADE AND PASSED TO ELIMINATE SALARY IN FAVOR OF FEES FOR SERVICE PERFORMED BY THE MARSHALL.
03-03-1891..... COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO DESIGN, CONTRACT A NEW CALLABOOSE.
08-14-1891..... CITY MARSHALL OXFORD RESIGNATION WAS ACCEPTED. A COMMITTEE WAS GRANTED TIME TO LOOK INTO FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OF MR. OXFORD. J.A. FOOSHE APPOINTED TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERM OF CITY MARSHALL.
04-19-1892..... CITY MARSHALL FOOSHE TO MAKE $1000 BOND FOR FAITHFUL PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES AND $2000 BOND FOR BEING TAX ASSESSOR/COLLECTOR.
05-03-1892..... CITY MARSHALL TO BE PAID $40 PER MONTH PLUS FEES.
09-06-1892..... CITY ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE THROWING OF ROCKS OR BALLS, OR USING "XXXXXX-SHOOTERS" WITHIN THE FIRE LIMITS OF STEPHENVILLE. FINE OF $1 TO $10.
01-03-1893..... CITY ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE. DOG TAX INITIATED, $1 PER YEAR,$2 FOR BITCH. DOGS WHICH HAVE THE TAX PAID, SHALL HAVE A TAG ON THEIR COLLAR AND ALLOWED TO RUN AT LARGE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A DOG IN HEAT. IF THE CITY MARSHALL FINDS AN UNLICENSED DOG AT LARGE, HE IS TO KILL THEM.
03-15-1893..... COUNCIL CREATED THE POSITION OF CITY SCAVENGER, PART OF THE DUTIES ARE TO EMPTY THE PRIVY BOXES IN THE CITY FOR A FEE OF 20 CENTS PER MONTH.
05-08-1893..... MAYOR WAS AUTHORIZED TO HAVE A DOG POUND BUILT.
02-20-1894..... MOTION CARRIED TO REDUCE THE FOLLOWING SALARIES:
CITY MARSHALL....... $25 PER MO + FINES
CITY SCAVENGER...... $40 PER MO
SCHOOL JANITOR...... $10 PER MO
04-03-1894..... JOHN A FOOSHE WAS RE-ELECTED CITY MARSHALL
06-06-1894..... VOTE FOR MOVING THE CITY CALABOOSE TO A NEW LOT OWNED BY THE CITY.
10-02-1894..... MOTION CARRIED TO INCREASE MARSHALL'S PAY TO TO $40 PER MONTH.
12-04-1894..... DISCUSSION ABOUT CUTTING MARSHALL'S SALARY. COUNCIL ADJOURNED WITH NO RESOLUTION.
06-04-1895..... MARSHALL FOOSHE ORDERED TO REMOVE ALL HOGS FROM FIRE LIMITS OF THE CITY.
08-13-1895..... MARSHALL FOOSHE ORDERED TO "LOOK AFTER THE CONDITION OF MS.KATE MOORE AND SUPPLY HER WITH THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE, TO THE AMOUNT OF $6 PER MONTH IF NECESSARY.
12-03-1895..... MOTION MADE AND FAILED TO REDUCE THE MARSHALL'S SALARY TO $35 PER MONTH + FEES. MOTION MADE AND CARRIED TO SET SALARY AT $25 PER MONTH + FEES. MOTION CARRIED TO REVOKE PERMITS FOR SPECIAL POLICE TO CARRY GUNS.
12-23-1895..... MOTION MADE AND CARRIED TO HIRE FOUR EXTRA POLICE OFFICERS FOR HOLIDAYS AT $2 PER DAY.
03-13-1896..... DR. OXFORD REPORTED THAT MS. DENNIS GLISSON HAD SMALL POX AND THE MAYOR ORDERED A GUARD ON HER RESIDENCE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM CONTACTING HER.
04-07-1896..... JOHN M OXFORD WAS ELECTED CITY MARSHALL, DEFEATING JOHN FOOSHE AND A MR. GREGG.
07-07-1896..... ORDINANCE PASSED, PROHIBITING BREAKING WILD HORSES IN THE CITY.
09-15-1896..... MOTION PASSED TO PAY MR. BALDWIN $24 MONTH TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN 32 ELECTRIC LIGHTS IN THE CITY.
03-12-1897..... CITY ORDINANCES PASSED PROHIBITING TRESPASSING AND CARRYING DEADLY WEAPONS.
07-06-1897..... CITY SCAVENGER RESIGNED, DUTIES TRANSFERRED TO CITY MARSHALL OXFORD UNTIL A NEW SCAVENGER APPOINTED.
09-07-1897..... COUNCIL PASSED ORDINANCE PROHIBITING PLAYING BASEBALL ON SUNDAYS WITH A FINE OF TEN DOLLARS.
04-05-1898..... J.M. OXFORD DEFEATED MC CRESSWELL IN ELECTION FOR CITY MARSHALL.
05-02-1905..... CHIEF OF POLICE JAMES L CRANE REPORTED TO THE COUNCIL #4 ON HIS WORK ON THE CITY STREETS WITH THE ROAD GRADER USING THREE TEAMS OF HORSES.
01-02-1906..... CHIEF CRANE REPORTED THAT HE HAD GATHERED FUNDS FROM MERCHANTS TO PAY FOR A NIGHT WATCHMAN DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.
05-01-1906..... CHIEF CRANE WAS REAPPOINTED POLICE CHIEF FOR THE YEAR.
06-05-1906..... AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE PENNING OF HORSES, CATTLE, ETC. WITHIN THE CITY WAS READ & TABLED.
07-03-1906..... CHIEF CRANE REPORTED THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE TO WORK ON THE STREETS ARE ALL PAYING CASH INSTEAD OF WORK ON THE STREETS. HE IS ALSO HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SCAVENGER NOT DOING HIS JOB. ORDINANCE #112 WAS PASSED, PROHIBITING CATTLE, HORSES, MULES, JACKS, JENNETTS, SHEEP & GOATS FROM BEING AT LARGE IN THE CITY.
08-07-1906..... CHIEF CRANE REPORTED TO THE COUNCIL THAT WATERMELON VENDORS LEAVE ROTTEN MELONS BEHIND THE COURTHOUSE.CHIEF CRANE ALSO TOOK THE OATH OF HIS OFFICE WHICH INCLUDED HIS SWEARING THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A DUEL WITH DEADLY WEAPONS.
09-04-1906..... MAYOR JAMES COLLINS IN A LETTER TO THE COUNCIL STATED THAT CHIEF CRANE WAS SHIRKING HIS RESPONSIBILITIES AS STREET OVERSEER AND RECOMMENDED THAT CRANE NOT RECEIVE THE $25 MONTHLY FOR THAT POSITION. HE SAID A ENGINEER SHOULD BE HIRED FOR THE JOB. HE ALSO NOTED THAT SEVERAL OF THE "BOYS" WERE QUITE OPEN IN GAMBLING IN THE CITY AND WERE NOT AFRAID OF CHIEF CRANE, SAYING HE WAS ONE OF THE GAMBLERS.
10-02-1906..... CHIEF CRANE AUTHORIZED TO EMPLOY PERSONS TO ASSIST CITY ENGINEER IN ESTABLISHING GRADES ON CITY STREETS.
01-02-1907..... CHIEF CRANE REPORTED HE HIRED WILL LINDLEY AS A SPECIAL OFFICER DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND HAD LITTLE TROUBLE WITH THE "BOYS".
02-11-1907..... THE STEPHENVILLE NORTH & SOUTH TEXAS RAILWAY PETITIONED THE COUNCIL FOR PERMISSION TO LAY TRACKS IN THE CITY. COUNCIL GRANTED THAT RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO THE COMPANY FOREVER.
05-09-1907..... COUNCIL TOOK APPLICATION OF J.L. CRANE AND J.D. WOODALL FOR CHIEF OF POLICE. CRANE WON; WITH EIGHT VOTES TO NONE.
08-06-1907..... MAYOR JAMES COLLINS ASKS FOR AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE THROWING OF WASTEWATER INTO CITY STREETS AND DITCHES. SINCE IT IS THE "SICKLY" TIME OF THE YEAR THE ORDINANCE SHOULD ALSO PROHIBIT COOKING AND DINING ON PUBLIC SIDEWALKS.
02-04-1908..... COUNCIL VOTED TO NOT INCREASE CITY EMPLOYEES RAISES FOR NEW YEAR. THEY SET TAXES AT 25 CENTS PER $100. THE SCAVENGER REPORTED HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH GETTING COMPLIANCE WITH REQUESTS TO HAVE SANITARY CLOSETS CLEANED. THE CHIEF OF POLICE WAS INSTRUCTED TO ISSUE WRITTEN NOTICES TO BE POSTED ON THE CLOSETS ALLOWING THREE DAYS TO HAVE THE CLOSETS CLEANED OR FACE PROSECUTION.
03-03-1908..... COUNCIL PASSED ORDINANCE , ARTICLE 48, CHAPTER 7, THE SCAVENGER SHALL REMOVE FILTH FROM EACH PRIVY WITHIN THE CITY, TWICE EACH MONTH. COUNCIL WAS PRESENTED A PETITION SIGNED BY J.H. HERRING AND 186 OTHER RESIDENTS THAT REQUESTED THAT AN ELECTION BY POPULAR VOTE BE ALLOWED TO ELECT THE CITY MARSHALL AND CHIEF OF POLICE, JUST AS OTHER ELECTED OFFICES ARE FILLED. COUNCIL DECLARED THAT THE TIMING WAS INCORRECT AND PASSED THE PETITION TO BE CONSIDERED BY A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING.
04-07-1908..... COUNCIL REFERRED THE PETITION OF MR. HERRING TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE FOR ACTION AND RECOMMENDATION.
05-05-1908..... FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE TO DO AWAY WITH THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE, CREATING THE OFFICE OF CITY MARSHALL/ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. THREE APPLICANTS FOR POLICE CHIEF(G.H. DEASON, J.L. CRANE, H.E. STARR). #5 G.H. DEASON WON BY ONE VOTE.
06-02-1908..... SECOND READING ON ORDINANCE TO CHANGE POLICE CHIEF POSITION. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES ON DOG TAXES, SETTING FEES OF $1 FOR MALES AND $2 FOR FEMALES, SETTING FINES OF $2 TO $10 FOR NOT HAVING THE FEES PAID AND THE TAGS ON THE DOG COLLAR. ORDINANCE PROHIBITING CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE, ON PUBLIC STREETS AFTER 9 PM, FROM OCT. 1 TO FEB. 28, PROVIDING FOR A FINE OF UP TO $10. A PARENT ALLOWING SUCH BEHAVIOR COULD BE FINED UP TO $25.
06-09-1908..... READ AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE PUBLIC AUCTION OF ANIMALS; THE SELLING OF MEDICINE, OR MERCHANDISE OF ANY KIND FROM WAGONS OR PLATFORMS; GIVING CONCERTS SUCH AS SINGING AND DANCING. A SECOND ORDINANCE PROHIBITING SWINE FROM SPECIFIC AREAS OF STEPHENVILLE, AND ASSESSING A FINE OF $5 TO $25. THE CITY CODE WAS REVISED TO ALLOW FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO BE PAID $10 FOR EACH CONVICTION HE PROSECUTED IN CITY COURT THAT WASN'T APPEALED.
07-15-1908..... SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING TO CANVASS THE RESULTS OF A BOND ELECTION, AS FOLLOWS:
STREET IMPROVEMENT FOR 208..... AGAINST 41
SEWERAGE FOR 183..... AGAINST 71
CITY HALL FOR 227..... AGAINST 22
08-18-1908..... BOND ISSUE FOR ERECTION OF NEW CITY HALL @ NE CORNER OF GREEN & BELKNAP ST.


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