SDHS Newsletter

MICHIGAN'S YOUNGEST POLICE CHIEF* SAUGATUCK 1958
By Russell L. Colling, November, 2009

Russell Colling as Saugatuck's 21 Year Old Police Chief, and 50 years later

In the late 1950's, the Village of Saugatuck was experiencing a rapidly changing community environment. The commercial fishing business was still strong, the Fruit Exchange, American Twisting, and Harris Pie were for all appearances thriving. The principal town economy of tourism was, however, changing. An increase of the younger "party-type" of visitor was beginning to overshadow the family environment. Also during this time a major concern was the influx of motorcycle groups and the beginning of a loosely organized gang type influence in the community known as the "Rebels."

I was a police officer in Saugatuck for the summer of 1957. I then returned to Michigan State University in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement. In the spring of 1958 I received a call from then Saugatuck Mayor Richard Hoffman, asking me to be a candidate for the vacated office of Chief of Police. I began serving as the Police Chief in April of that year. The Town Council wanted a Police Department that was helpful and friendly, but that would maintain a high level of safety for the community. Promoting Saugatuck as a fun, family vacation destination was a high priority.

In 1958 we had five full-time police officers, including myself, and a host of local part-time officers, which included among others, Jim Boyce, Floyd Maycroft and Maury Herbert. The Allegan County Sheriff's Department and the State Police provided significant levels of patrol and back-up support for the town. Part of my Michigan State training was with the State Police (South Haven Post), so I was known to many of these fine State Police Officers, which provided a basis for our interagency cooperation and mutual support.

The following year (1959) the police budget allowed for increasing the number of full-time officers to seven positions, with an increased number of part-time officers.

Part of the Saugatuck Force - Russell Colling 3rd From Left

During the 1957-1959 summer seasons, we employed less than half the number of police officers as recommended nationally, at 1.5 officers per 1,000 persons. As it was, the town's economic base and government infrastructure was taxed to the limit to be able to provide adequate town services. Also to be expected, the weekends would bring the largest influx of persons to the town. Many nights the Pavilion bar capacity of 950 patrons and the Old Crowe bar capacity of 350 patrons would be completely full by early evening. Persons would line up at the doors waiting for someone to leave so they would be permitted entry. The two lines would extend backward until they merged into Water Street. The town would often be grid locked by automobile traffic, prompting us to block off the three entrances into town from the highway (no interstate highway at that time), allowing traffic to only exit. Persons seeking to enter the town would often park their cars on both sides of the highway and walk to the downtown area. Policing was a real challenge with the numbers of people and the grid locked traffic. We really didn't want to walk (or carry) an arrested person down our streets to a lock up facility. There were two police holding cells in the Public Works building, but there was no one in attendance and no meal capability. In this respect, prisoners had to be transported to the Sheriff's Office in Allegan, which often required continuous round trips during a single evening, even transporting three prisoners at a time by a single officer. This time-consuming activity was drastically reduced when I was successful in establishing night court on Friday and Saturday nights (summer). Court was held upstairs in the City Hall from around 9 PM until 2 AM each of the two nights.

During these years, the main police dispatch center was the front desk of the Maplewood Hotel. A separate telephone (the Police number) would be answered by the desk clerk on duty (who was frequently hotel owner Bobbi McCray) as the Saugatuck Police Department. The "dispatcher" was in contact with officers in vehicles via two-way radio. In this era of time there was no such thing as a radio that could be taken out of the police car to be carried by a walking officer. When performing walking patrol the officer was basically on his own until he could get to a telephone or have someone, often a bystander, make the call for needed police assistance. With the grid lock of traffic, numbers of people, and frequent criminal activity, it was imperative that a high percentage of police officer duty was performed by foot patrol.

Policing in Saugatuck during those years was truly different than today. We did not have the Miranda law at that time (advising arrested persons of their rights before interviewing them), vehicle search laws were more permissive, and parents supported both the schools and the police. The Justice of the Peace officials rendered a quick and sure resolution for the town's law enforcement program.

When I reflect on some of my police experiences during the time I served Saugatuck, a variety of mundane, scary, and unique events emerges from my memory:

l Climbing the endless stairs to Mt. Baldhead (location of the old radar tower) to put out fires, break up fights, and assist ill or injured tourists.

l At the request of the State Police, we frequently manned a "road block" at the Kalamazoo River Bridge in the rain, sleet, snow, and freezing temperature, but we did manage to apprehend some really bad persons.

l Being called out of bed at 3 AM to respond to a vehicle running into a parked cement mixer-the car was gone but he had left his license plate hanging on the mixer as he had apparently backed away. Guess who I in turn got to wake up! He said he had been sleeping as I observed steam and smoke pouring from the engine of his not too well hidden car.

l Horrible fatal automobile accidents.

l Assisting distraught parents find their missing children.

l A late night raid on illegal after hours selling of alcohol in a residence with about 200 partygoers at the scene.

l Too many suicides.

l The pregnant woman who told me I'd better step on it getting her to the hospital or she would deliver in the back seat of my patrol car - I stepped on it.

l The man sitting at the restaurant breakfast counter with a concealed weapon. After asking him to put his hands in the air he produced his FBI credentials.

These, among other Saugatuck experiences were instrumental in preparing me for my future careers and goals. These included completion of my Masters Degree at Michigan State University, college professor, Titan missile security, hospital administrator, and my long-lasting engagement in the hospital security field that resulted in my publishing of five college textbooks along the way.

My family and I return on a frequent basis as just another tourist family enjoying the wonderful environment, activities, and residents of Saugatuck.

* Russell Colling was appointed Chief on April 1, 1958, two days before his 22^nd birthday, after having served as a regular officer in town the year before. At 21 years of age, he remains the youngest Chief not only in Saugatuck, but in the history of the state. He was 22 when he subsequently applied for and was granted membership in the Michigan Police Chief Association. This article has been synopsized for SDHS Newsletter for the sake of space. To see the full article, click HERE.

HISTORY MYSTERIES
by Jack Sheridan
(Click on an image for the answer)

HISTORY: Ca 1893 Between Douglas and Fennville, the James Wark farm had a good crop.
MYSTERY: What was the crop?

HISTORY: Ca 1938 Located near two busy roads, this operation does a great business.
MYSTERY: What is the business?

HISTORY: Ca 1955 A busy Saturday race day.
MYSTERY: What is going on here?

HISTORY: The government vessel General Meade is entering the harbor.
MYSTERY: What was her mission and when?