Keyser Police Department

History of the Keyser Police Department

1874-1913

On the 16th of November, 1874 the Circuit Court of Mineral County was petitioned and a charter for the Town of Keyser was issued. The Mayor-Council form of government was chosen.

The first officers of the town were Mayor J.T. Hoke, Councilman James I. Barrick, Thomas B. Davis, William M. Welch, Dr. Arnold Gerstell, Fred Huffman, and John Hughes. Research indicates the position of a "Town Sergeant", and the sole responsibility of this position was to collect the town's taxes. The Town Sergeant was very well paid for that period of time, recieving an annual salary of $2000.00. At the time B&O railroad employees worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for a salary of $1.00 per day.

During the town's beginning years the following individuals held the office of Town Sergeant:

John J. Payne: 1874

John H. Payne: 1875

George W. Parson: 1876

C. W. Burke: 7/1/1877 thru 8/16/1877

William H. Head: 8/16/1877 thru 7/1/1878

Willaim Brophy: 1878

William Virtz: 1879

Silas M. Atkins: 1880 thru 1881

Samuel W. Head: 1882 thru 1887

L. O. Davis: 1888 thru 1889

Between the years of 1890 and 1904, research does not indicate any names in the sergeant's position. It is unknown whether the office was filled or not. Some believed that L. O. Davis continued to serve in that position. Research indicates Davis served on the city council during the year 1893. Even in early years of government this probably would not have been permitted, the state constitution did not then or now allow an individual to hold two public offices at the same time and it no doubt would have been a conflict of interest.

The 1904 list of town officers shows that the position of Town Sergeant was filled by Henry Halbritter. There is no listing for that position in the year 1905. Although documentation does not list a police department during these early years, it was written in the 1974 Keyser Centennial Program that F. G. (Ginger) Davis was appointed a police officer during 1905. The list of Mayor R. A. Welch's appointments for the year 1907 listed Ginger Davis appointed as Chief of Police and W. S. Davis appointed Town Sergeant. This is the first indication showing two separate offices or departments. Ginger Davis continued to recieve Welch's appointments throughout his three terms of office. This brings us to the year 1913.

Circa. 1905. Left to right: Tom Coffman standing, Chief of Police Ginger Davis sitting, standing Jack Batdorf, standing Lute Smith.

The Area Grows

The Town of South Keyser

Initially, the Town of Keyser's southern most corporate line or limits ran east to west just south of present day Fort Avenue. It is believed that it was in the neighborhood of present day 175 South Main Street. Everything south of there was out of town and was land farmed and owned by Colonel Thomas Carskadon.

During the 1890's Carskadon began to sell the property in lots. It was initially called Carskadon's Addition. By 1903 the area had grown and developed to the point that a group of citizens in that area decided to meet on December 10th of that year in Wilhide's Wagon Shop at the corner of South Water and Chesnut Streets.

At that meeting they decided to incorporate their neighborhood into a separate town. They debated names for their new town. One motion was made and seconded to name the town Brooklyn. During the 1904 term of the WV Legislature, a charter was issued and the area was incorporated into the Town of South Keyser. This new town elected a mayor and councilmen, their council chamber and jail was located at the corner of Chestnut and Southwater Streets. They operated as a completely seperate government body until 1913 when the Towns of Keyser and South Keyser merged.

Keyser Becomes A City- 1913

The year 1913 brought a new merged City of Keyser. The charter reorganized or made changes to both towns government. The charter called for a Mayor-Council for of government. It mentions the Department of Public Affairs and Public Safety which included the formation of a police department. The Mayor is to act as Police and Fire Commissioner. The police department is to be staffed by a Chief, appointed by the Mayor with Council approval. It is also to be staffed by whatever number of officers deemed necessary by the Council. The number of council persons was reduced to three. It also brought a new Mayor and Council. Elected Mayor was F. H. Babb. The council consisted of E. V. Romig, A. J. Keenan, and H. G. Steorts. The previous city government employed a town recorder, it now employed a City Clerk. The clerk, Louis M. Bomberger, was new also. Published reports state that the only official that did not change was F. G. (Ginger) Davis, who continued as Chief of Police. Evidently Ginger's reputation of being a firm but fair man caught the attention of this new mayor and several future mayors.

Ginger continued at the Chief until 1931, serving the City of keyser for over 25 years. He was appointed twelve times during the terms of six different mayors; R. A. Welch, F. H. Babb, W. C. Pifer, E. V. Romig, K. H. Stover, and W. J. Koelz. Ginger appears to have been a well liked and evidently very capable to fill the position. In 1908 an editor of a local paper described Ginger, only three years into his career as a police officer, as follows:

"Mr. Davis as Chief had three uniformed and two extra policemen to assist him in the execution of his duties. He has made many sensational arrests, and in a quiet way is a powerful conservator of the peace."

Ginger was constantly showing his interest in the safety and welfare of the young people of Keyser. The railroad was a very busy place during Keyser's early years. He was a fixture at the railroad crossing each morning and afternoon to make sure that the young people safely made it across the tracks. In 1916 while attempting to arrest a fugitive, Ginger suffered a gunshot wound to one of his legs. Just a few days later and with the assistance of a cane, he was back at the crossing watching over the children. While recovering from the wound to his leg, he pulled two 12 year old girls to safety. In doing so he fell to the ground and had to be assisted to his feet. He was nominated to recieve the Carnegie Hero's Medal but refused it because he felt what he did was part of his job.

In 1924 the Mineral County Sheriff, C. E. Nethkin called upon Chief Davis for his help. Two young men had left Fort Ashby driving toward Keyser in an Overland roadster. The occupants were Wagoner, owner of the car, and Corbin, a resident of Fountain. After a few days Wagoner had not returned home. His mother became concerned and an inquiry followed. After a few more days a letter arrived in the mail for his father. The letter, postmarked in Virginia, stated that he had joined the army and it would not be possible for him to write for a while. His parents were not convinced. Corbin had been arrested for forging a check and he was placed in jail. The forged check and the alleged letter from Wagoner were taken to Chief Davis. In possibly the first handwriting analysis case in Mineral County, Chief Davis determined that the signatures on the check and the letter were written by the same individual. There is no doubt that this fact helped Shefiff Nethkin obtain a confession from Corbin. Corbin finally admitted that he had struck Wagoner in the head during an argument. Corbin had heard that Wagoner was going to turn him in for selling moonshine.

Another of Ginger's accomplishments was the erection of the first safety island at the intersection of Mineral and piedmont Streets. Even though this was long before the arrival of the Memorial Bridge and Route 220, Ginger could envision safety concerns for the students trying to make their was to the public schools located on the east side of South Mineral Street. Due to his insistence, the island was erected.

Ginger Davis insisted that something needed to be done to control traffic around town. On Novermber 3, 1928 the first traffic signal was erected at North Main and Armstrong Streets. This signal would remain until updated in the early 1970's. In an interview with the local newspaper (News-Tribune) on that day, Chief Davis advised that a second light would be erected within the week. This light was to be located at Mineral and Piedmont Streets to assist the school children in safely reaching the school.

It is not known why Davis left the police department but he was elected Sheriff of Mineral County in 1932. In 1931, Mayor W. J. Koelz appointed Troy Alkire as the new Chief of Police.

PAST CHIEFS