|
100 YEAR HISTORY
Humble Beginnings
What is today the Oroville Police Department,
had its beginnings in approximately 1906. Originally a Town Marshall
headed the police department. During the time between 1906 and 1940,
the City of Oroville had approximately twelve Town Marshalls.
In 1940, Ole Lund became the City of Oroville's first Chief of Police.
Chief Lund had a short tenure and was replaced in November 1942 by Chief
Archie Sadowski. Chief Sadowski tenure as the Chief of Police however
was even shorter. In 1943 A.F. Kessler became the Chief of Police until
he retired in 1961.
In March of 1961, Wesley Barrett became the Chief of Police and served
until his retirement in 1979. Chief Barrett's daughter, Cindy Smith,
maintained the family tradition and currently works for the Oroville
Police Department as an Executive Assistant in the Investigations Section
of the Support Division.
Other Chiefs to serve the city include:
Jan Duke (1979-1985)
Gary Grant (1985-1994)
Gordon Pitter (1995-1999)
John Bullerjahn (interim 1999-2000)
Mitch Brown (2000-present)
An Emerging City
As the city grew over the years the Police Department has seen several
locations. Originally the Oroville Police Department was located in
what is now the present day City Hall Building. An old police holding
cell still exists today within its walls. From there, it moved to the
basement of what is currently the Butte County School District Office.
This building was originally the Butte County Court House, which also
housed the Sheriff's Department and Jail. In the 1960's the Police
Department moved again to a building on the levee, near the present
day Traffic Court house on Arlin Rhine Drive. In 1984 the Oroville
Police Department moved to its present location at 2055 Lincoln St.
The Department now shares this public safety complex with the Oroville
Fire Department.
Click the pictures below for a larger image.
|
Pixels by Design