History of the Department
 

    The facts surrounding the history of the Wellesley Police Department have been gleaned in part from three bound books that appear to have been established during the very first days of the department.  Book One begins with a page entitled “Department Record.”  Its first line, apparently in the handwriting of its first Chief of Police reads, “Police Department organized – April 1893.”  The books chronicle the department’s early years, and remain in their original form in the Office of the Chief of Police.

    The department’s first police officer was Harry M. Kingsbury.  He was appointed a patrolman on November 4, 1893 and Chief of Police on July 16, 1895.  The first police station was established June 10, 1903.  The original police station was part of the old fire headquarters on Route 9, the location of the current fire headquarters.  The police department occupied the east end of the building.

   
Chief Harry M. Kingsbury                                                        Fire/Police Station on Worcester Street

    Chief Kingsbury retired from the Wellesley Police Department on March 15, 1928.  Chief William Flemming was appointed to take his place. 

    In 1929, a new fire station was opened on Central Street and the police station was moved into the old fire station on Church Street.  It remained there until 1950 when the new police station opened at 485 Washington Street.

 
Church Street Police Station and Ambulance                 Wellesley Town Hall (Old Police Lockup)

    Back in those days, the police ran the ambulance service.  During the day, an officer in the station would take the ambulance to the scene.  At night, the desk officer would activate a horn and light in the hose tower and the officer on the walking beat in the Square would return to the station to drive the ambulance.  A new Cadillac ambulance was purchased in 1941 and was in service until the middle 1950's.

    The police station did not have cells so the basement of the Town Hall was used.  You can still see the area where the cells were located.  The Chief of Police was designated the "keeper of the lockup" each year as one of his additional duties.  (The Board of Selectmen still appoints the Chief of Police as the keeper of the lockup every year.)  The officer on the walking beat in the square checked on the prisoners once every hour.  There was a police call box outside the basement door at the rear, which the officer would ring during each cell check.  Today, dispatchers use an electronic system to document that they are checking the prisoners, but they now check them every fifteen minutes.  The lockup at Town hall was used until 1950 when the new station opened on Washington Street.


1930's Square Man                           Box 33 Wellesley Square                  1930's Motorcycle Officer

    On November 4, 1933 Officer Thomas E. Shea was patrolling Wellesley by motorcycle.  As he chased a vehicle towards Natick on Central Street, it is alleged that a second vehicle pulled out of Pond Road as Officer Shea passed by on his motorcycle and struck him.  Officer Shea was rushed to Newton Wellesley Hospital and treated for serious injuries.

    Following the accident, Officer Shea returned to duty as a Wellesley police officer, but was assigned largely to desk duty.  For six years, he received periodic treatment for his injuries.  In late 1939, his condition worsened and in February of 1940 he was hospitalized for an infection and internal hemorrhaging.  On March 14, 1940 Officer Shea died from injuries sustained in the 1933 collision, and became the first Wellesley police officer to die in the line of duty.  Upon the death of Officer Shea, the Wellesley Board of Selectmen appointed Officer Robert P. MacBey as his replacement.  Officer MacBey would go on to become Wellesley’s third Chief of Police, appointed on January 1, 1947.

    On September 28, 1950 the Wellesley Police Department moved from Church Street to a small building at 485 Washington Street.

  
1950's Police Station on Washington Street

    Chief MacBey retired on October 10, 1973 and was replaced by Chief Leroy Weaver, Wellesley’s fourth Chief of Police.

    On November 2, 1978, while directing traffic at the intersection of William Street and Worcester Street, Officer Joseph Fitzsimmons was struck by a motor vehicle traveling westbound on Worcester Street.  He sustained multiple injuries including severe brain damage.  Officer Fitzsimmons survived for fourteen years until he passed away on April 10, 1992 as a result of the injuries sustained on duty.  He was the second Wellesley police officer to die in the line of duty.

    On April 4, 1986 Chief John K. Fritts was appointed Wellesley’s fifth Chief of Police.

    On Sunday March 12, 1995, Officer Stewart E. Savage III was involved in a motor vehicle crash on Wellesley Avenue by the intersection of Swarthmore Road.  Due to icy conditions on the roadway, Officer Savage’s cruiser, Car 1409, skidded and struck a utility pole.  He was rushed from the scene by ambulance, and then flown to the hospital by helicopter.  On Saturday, March 18, 1995, Officer Savage passed away as a result of the injuries sustained in the crash.  As a tribute to Officer Savage, cruiser number 1409 was retired by the Wellesley Police Department and will never again be issued to a Wellesley Police cruiser.

    On January 1, 1992, Thomas O’Loughlin was appointed Wellesley’s sixth Chief of Police.  The former chief of the Wayland Police Department, he was the first chief to be appointed from outside the department.

    In 1996, the Wellesley Police Department moved back to 485 Washington Street and into its second Police Headquarters at that location.  During construction of the new police station, the department had been temporarily housed at the intersection of Routes 9 and 128.

    Chief O’Loughlin left the Wellesley Police Department on December 23, 1997 to become chief of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Police Department.  Chief Ernest “Joe” Gagnon was appointed Wellesley’s seventh Chief of Police.

     On November 15, 1999 upon the retirement of Chief Gagnon, Chief Terrence M. Cunningham was appointed Wellesley’s eighth Chief of Police.

     Today, the Wellesley Police Department is comprised of forty-three police officers including one Chief of Police, one Deputy Chief, three lieutenants, five sergeants and four detectives.  The department’s eleven dispatchers provide emergency communications services to the police department, fire department and Emergency Medical Services.