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09/18/2025

Images that have never been posted (or rarely posted) from the DPHF collection are being randomly selected for depiction. Some images have stories… some may be images in search of a story. This post is one of those images that has a story but in need of confirmation….

What we know…

The principal photograph came into the DPH collection without any details from the late MCSO history chairman Joe Wilson. The photograph depicts his father, then Oakwood Police Sgt. Tom Wilson. He can be seen in uniform at the head table (chevrons on his sleeve). It was learned through recent research that Sgt. Wilson was elected in 1952 as the secretary-treasurer of the Ohio-Indiana Police Association (OIPA). He was reelected to the same position in 1956.

The OIPA was conceived by Dayton Police Capt. Roy Shephard and when formed in 1952, he was named the organization’s president. His appearance among this group of men – presumably all law enforcement officers in suits – is what helped determine that this is the LIKELY FORUM of this picture.

Capt. Shephard was appointed to his rank in 1942. He became the DPD Chief of Detectives at the start of 1952 and stayed in the position until retirement near the end of 1962 with a 38-year career. He is Dayton’s 15th longest-serving law officer (1797 to present).

Sgt. Tom Wilson was appointed to the Oakwood Police Department in 1951. In 1956, he graduated from the National FBI Academy to become the sixth from this area to be accepted in this prestigious training school (and the first officer from a local department other than DPD). In 1959, Sgt. Wilson was appointed by Montgomery County Sheriff Bernard Keiter as his MCSO chief deputy. He succeeded Russell Pfauhl, who had been the MCSO second in command for six years after a career with DPD and is credited for the 1933 arrest of John Dillinger.

Chief Deputy Wilson was elected in 1979 as Sheriff Keiter’s successor. Sheriff Tom Wilson served until 1987, and by the time he retired he was the third-longest serving Montgomery County Sheriff going back to 1803 (since surpassed by three others). Under his leadership, Montgomery County became the U.S.'s 2nd Nationally Accredited Sheriff’s Department.

It is amazing how much history you can draw from a single unidentified picture!

DPH Foundation welcomes any information that would confirm the setting and also identify the actual location and year or date.

08/28/2025

It has been more than 26 years since the disappearance of Erica Baker. Nine year old Erica left her home on Feb. 7, 1999 to walk her dog near the Kettering Rec Center, but she never came home. Eventually a suspect, Christian Gabriel, was identified and arrested, but he only served 6 years for gross abuse of a co**se and tampering with evidence. Gabriel has refused to cooperate with the investigation and tell Kettering Police where Erica is. Detectives have spent the past 26 years conducting hundreds of searches, interviewing dozens of people, and collecting over 100 pieces of evidence. Detectives believe Gabriel knows where Erica is, but that he knows her discovery would lead to evidence linking him to her murder, adding more charges against him. Even 26 years later, detectives are still tirelessly working leads and conducting searches. This has been an emotional investment for everyone involved, and all that's wanted is to be able to bring something home to Erica's family. Detectives still know where Gabriel is and will not stop tracking him until justice is brought to this case. If you or someone you know, knows/knew Gabriel, knew his ex girlfriend Jan Franks, or potentially knows anything about what happened 26 years ago, please contact Detective Pedro at (937)296-2460. You can also remain anonymous and call Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 937- 222-STOP or online at MiamiValleyCrimeStoppers.com and you could be eligible for a cash reward.

05/20/2025

***Short notice*** Please check out this link for ticket sales for the Dayton Dragons. The deadline for sales is TOMORROW 5/20/25. The tickets are only $14 and the Dragons will donate $7 back to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial. The game is on June 20th, 2025.

6/20/25 @ 7:05 PM - Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial Association

05/06/2025

What is Light Ohio Blue? Light Ohio Blue begins May 7th and runs through May 17th. This week is designed so that we can honor our fallen officers and officer's still serving. During this week we ask everyone to put up a blue light at your house for support. A lot of men and women have sacrificed to keep the streets safe. We thank all those who already have it and ask that during this week you display the blue light in support.

05/06/2025

31 Dayton Fallen Officers – 31 Days in May

A day-to-day feature from May 1 to May 31 of all City of Dayton fallen police officers.
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Patrolman Charles V. Thomas, age 41
End of Watch: Sunday, May 21, 1916
IOOF Cemetery, West Union, Ohio
NLEOM Wall – Panel 38-West: Line 14

Patrolman Thomas and his partner, Patrolman Chester Mapes, were in plainclothes on a special bootlegging detail on May 14, 1916. They encountered two suspects at a city trash dump near the banks of the Great Miami River and the Washington Street bridge. The two lawmen approached the two bootleggers and inquired about their activities. Suddenly, one suspect pulled out a pistol and fired a shot before fleeing, gravely wounding Patrolman Thomas. The officer’s partner pursued the fleeing bootlegger shooting him five times, killing him. The other suspect stayed put and surrendered.

Officer Thomas was taken by police ambulance to the Miami Valley Hospital where he lingered for 7 days before dying from his wounds.

Officer Thomas had served with the police force for 8 years. He was survived by his wife, Kate, and daughter.
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Career Background:

Charles Thomas was appointed to the Dayton Police Department on February 5, 1908. He was assigned foot patrol. By 1910 he was working the third relief (evenings) on Beat No. 8 in the 2nd Precinct (East Dayton). In 1915, he was assigned to the department’s print shop producing wanted posters and bulletins. In 1916, he was reassigned to a plainclothes detail to interdict bootlegging operations.

05/06/2025

05/06/2025

31 Dayton Fallen Officers – 31 Days in May

A day-to-day feature from May 1 to May 31 of all City of Dayton fallen police officers.
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Patrolman George V. Purcell, age 40
End of Watch: Saturday, September 23, 1916
Shiloh Cemetery, Harrison Twp.
NLEOM Wall – Panel 51-East: Line 16

Patrolman Purcell had been sent to George Kern’s saloon on Germantown Street where he encountered a disturbance. The patrolman instructed the man who was causing the disruption, a notorious gang leader, to step outside. The gang members had badly beaten Dayton’s first African-American officer, Patrolman William Jenkins, three weeks earlier. While attempting to question the man, who was suspected of carrying a concealed weapon, the patrolman was attacked at the rear of the tavern. After the barkeeper heard a number of gun shots outside, Patrolman Purcell was found to have been shot three times by the suspect and stabbed once in the chest. Transported by a police ambulance, he was pronounced DOA at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

The suspect known as Alabama Slim was later arrested after a massive manhunt.

Detective Purcell had served with the police force for 13 years. He was survived by his wife, Minnie.
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Career Background:

George Purcell was appointed to the Dayton Police Department on January 26, 1903. He was assigned foot patrol on Beat No. 1 on third relief (evenings) in the 1st Precinct (Central Dayton). In 1910, he was transferred to Beat No. 4 on first relief (midnight) in the 2nd Precinct (East Dayton). In 1916, he was reassigned to a plainclothes investigative detail.

05/01/2025

This photo was sent to us by a member of our community. She shared her appreciation of Officers Ray and Harris for taking time to talk to her daughter when they crossed paths. The mother and daughter first talked to Officer Ray, but the girl was especially happy to see Officer Harris. Here is an excerpt from our community member:

My baby said "MOMMY DO YOU SEE THE GIRL POLICE OFFICER TOO!!!!!?" While jumping up and down suuuper excited to see this in real life and not just in the books we read. Both officers genuinely looked like they enjoyed talking to my kid and we all pulled off with big smiles.

We appreciate community members sharing their stories with us. Our officers take pride in serving our community.

05/01/2025

31 Dayton Fallen Officers – 31 Days in May

A day-to-day feature from May 1 to May 31 of all City of Dayton fallen police officers.
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Patrolman Lee Lynam, age 33
End of Watch: Saturday, January 17, 1880
Woodland Cemetery, Dayton
NLEOM Wall – Panel 42-East: Line 24

Note: A replicated 1880 Dayton police badge is displayed. No image has been found of Ptl. Lee Lynam but this officer – depicted in an 1876 police assembly photograph – has a family resemblance according to Ptl. Lynam's great-grandson.

While patrolling his beat shortly after midnight on a Saturday, Patrolman Lynam entered Mace Crable’s Saloon at 109 E. Third Street. Earlier the day before, the patrolman had taken a man who had been carrying a concealed firearm into custody, walking him to the Central Police Station. Now, as Patrolman Lynam spoke with the barkeeper, that same man entered the tavern, approached the patrolman, drew a revolver, and shot him point blank. The man fled to a back door. Patrolman Lynam pulled his club and started to chase his assailant, but he collapsed to the floor and died on the scene.

The killer was soon thereafter apprehended by the police and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Officer Lynam had served with the police force for 5 years. He was survived by his wife, Mary Ann, and five children.
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Career Background:

Lee Lynam was appointed to the Dayton Metropolitan Police Force on September 5, 1875. He was assigned to foot patrol duties on a city beat. At death, he was a veteran on “1 beat” covering nine “squares” that ran north from East Third Street and east from North Main Street to the Great Miami River and the canal basin (now North Patterson Blvd.).

03/22/2025

Today and in forthcoming weeks, images depicted will mostly come from the SCRAPBOOKS of the families of Chief Price, Major Tobias, Captain Guerra, Sgt. Zennie, and maybe a few others. Most have never been posted (or rarely posted). Some pictures have stories… some may be images in search of a story. This post is one of those images with a story, but is in search of more information….

What we know…

The three photographs today are from the “Capt. Russ Guerra collection.” He appears in all three set shots with police cruisers as the background. These photos are from 1948 when Ptl. Guerra was appointed to the police force into at least 1950. The use of automobles for regular patrol of the city began in 1932 with the installations one-way radios and expanded further two-way radio communications in 1940. Over the course of time, various terms were used by Dayton police to describe its police cars such as radio car, patrol car, squad car, and police cruiser.

No new police automobiles were obtained by the City during WWII but began again in 1946. There were 30 Plymouth, Fords, and Chevrolets purchased. There was a need for cars to “crack down” on speeders and Chevrolets were the most desirable for street duty. Ptl. Guerra is pictured in the winter with a 1946 Chevrolet radio car (top). A “POLICE” placard is on the hood and a new “siren with built-in flashing red light, a type used by the state highway patrol,” can be seen on the left fender. New sirens replaced exhaust whistles which “damaged clutches and motors.”

Ptl. Guerra is depicted in warmer weather in front of a 1948 Chevrolet patrol car (below). At left are Ptl. Jaspar Shotts (career 1942-1967), and in the center Ptl. Ray Weaver (career 1945-1973). He is also depicted inside the 1949 Chevrolet squad car (right circled). Patrolmen were regularly doubled-up in police cruisers during the 1940s (thus the term). The officer at the left appears to be Ptl. George Ryan [see March 6 post]. The other patrolman is unidentified.

At the end of the decade, actual markings and color (instead of industrial black) came to the Dayton police cars. In a 1949 newspaper article after the purchase of 15 new police cruisers were described:

“Fifteen new blue and silver and police cruisers paraded through downtown Dayton yesterday carrying the 22 new patrolmen. All cruisers have been painted blue and marked with four-inch silver ‘Scotchlite’ stripes from the radiator the radiator grill to the trunk an along the bottom of the fenders and doors. They are labeled ‘Dayton Police’ with gold ‘Scotchlite’ letters in four places. The stripes and letters give a bright reflection at night.”

As always, Chris Lillis – the brother of Dayton retiree Carl Lillis – is our automobile expert and came through again for this post. DPH Foundation would like the names of the unidentified patrolmen and welcomes any additional information that might be provided.

03/22/2025

Police Officer William Steven Whalen
Dayton Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch Friday, March 22, 1991

Police Officer William Whalen was shot and killed near the intersection of Xenia Avenue at St. Paul Avenue while attempting to stop a vehicle wanted in connection with a shooting at a local hotel.