HISTORYs

POLICE DEPARTMENT

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History

This history of the Sandwich Police Department was compiled from the following sources: Available Town Reports, former and retired officers and several residents who have graciously given their time to speak with us and impart their knowledge. 

It is conceivable that from the time the Town of Sandwich was founded that there has always been one or more appointed Constables in Town. However, that information is just not available at this time. 

The men who are listed below as having served in the position of Constable or as Special Police Officers, were generally highly respected men within the community. From the Town Reports it can be assumed that the men lived in different districts in town such as Sandwich Notch or Whiteface, and it was dealt to them to handle the disputes within their district. While others, were appointed to handle certain tasks or had limited authority, such as serving as the Truant Officer or Dog Catcher. These men did their duty for little or no pay. Most of them were involved in town government in one way or another. It is not until the 1930’s that the town begins to see a more organized police force. Up and until the appointment of a Police Chief, the town police officer or officers reported directly to the Board of Selectmen. Once there was a chief officer, the subordinate officers reported to the Chief and the Chief then reported to the Board of Selectmen. Usually, however, as was often the case in small towns during this era, the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen was the Police Chief, as it was one of the duties of being “Chairman”. 

1894: The First Constable for the Town of Sandwich, that we have been able to identify was D.F. Carter. Constable Carter received $ 11.00 dollars for his services. 

1895   Two men receive the honors as being recognized as the first Special Police Officers for the Town of Sandwich. They are Moses G. Brown and Erastus Mudgett, who were appointed to their positions for the July 4 celebration and the Town Fair. 

With the coming of the automobile, public safety becomes a concern that is increasingly on the minds of the Town’s people. “By 1927 automobiles outnumbered horses in town 295 to 215, and by 1931 Sandwich had 424 cars and 24 gas pumps.” “With that many cars in Town the town had to appropriate funds for a “Silent Policeman”, a device equipped with lights and signs, placed at the center of the crossroads, to replace an officer directing traffic.” The Sandwich Reporter during the 1900’s ran several police blotter type stories in the newspaper of “Speeding on the public streets of our village… driving horses at a furious rate and in dusk.” 

Other stories reported on by the Reporter were the bootlegging and illegal selling of cider in Sandwich. The burglary of the Post Office in which dynamite was used to blow open the safe and $100 dollars taken. The case of child abuse and incest that was finally brought to trial after the accused escaped on the way to jail and was roaming Whiteface for three weeks until finally re-arrested and finally the murder of Richard Dunn in 1920. According to theSandwich Reporter George Brown killed Richard Dunn for believing that Dunn was his wife’s lover. The Sandwich Reporter, reported that Brown confessed to killing to save the county the expense of a costly trial. 

In 1932 the term “Police Officer” becomes the norm of how law enforcement officers are identified and there is no mention of an official Police Department until 1944. However, the title of Constable is still used to identify some officers. Typically, those officers who held the title of Constable from this point forward are those who have limited authority. They may have served as the dog officer or truant officer, or had been appointed expressly for certain special events, such as the Fair or the July 4th celebration and thus had limited authority and limited powers of arrest.  An example of this is below: 

From the Town Report of 1932: 

Constable John Quimby

Police Officer G. Roland Smith

Traffic Police Officer J.A. Smith 

In 1944 the Position of Chief of Police is created and until 1950 all police officers who served under the Chief held the title of deputy. The first Chief of Police is G. Roland Smith. In 1944 even though G. Roland Smith is identified as the Chief of Police in the Town Report, there is no expenditure to him for his services as Chief of Police. The only expenditures for the Police Department is $47.10 and is appropriated the following way: $26.00 to C.G. Goodwin for housing 26 tramps and $21.10 to Denley W. Emerson for the care of the raft, etc. In 1948 Everett Huston was paid $32.00 to be the Chief. In 1954 the amount appropriated to the police was $477.65 

In 1955 the first formal “Crime Report” is included in the Town Annual Report. The report was given by Chief of Police John Taylor, who reported 54 offenses for the year. Of those 54 offenses Chief Taylor reported 20 breaking and entering and 5 arrests for public drunkenness. 

In 1955 the Town appropriated $12,000 dollars to build a medical office and dedicate it to Dr. Robert Quinby, MD. The Medical Centerwas opened in 1955. The first “Town” doctor was Dr. Harold Conrad, MD a West Point graduate. Dr. Conrad had his medical practice inSandwich from 1955 to 1960. During the interim years of 1960 through 1969 doctors from other communities held office hours in the building. In 1969 Dr. Peter Hope, MD occupied the MedicalCenter and kept his practice in Sandwich until 1985, until he moved his practice to Moultonborough. The Sandwich Medical Center from 1986 to present is now Sandwich Police Headquarters. 

In 1967 the Town of Sandwich votes “Yes” to appropriate the sum of 10,000.00 to hire staff and support a full-time Police Chief and department, for fiscal year 1968. If this warrant had failed the appropriation would have been $1,500.00. Raymond Martel is hired as the first Chief in 1968. 

In September 1973 Chief Martel resigns and Bernard Swan is appointed interim chief of police until the installment of David Huard in July 1974. Bernard Swan is then made a Sergeant (the first) by Chief Huard. Another milestone is met in 1974, when the town buys its first cruiser. No longer are officers to use their own vehicles to patrol. The police budget in 1974 was 18,000 dollars plus 3,700 dollars for the cruiser.  The cruiser was purchased with a 60/40 grant through the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency. 

In 1974 Chief Huard began a cadet program in Sandwich, by 1975 this program had become a State effort that was co-sponsored by the NH Chiefs of Police and the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1975 Chief Huard is chosen to head the State of NH Police Cadet Program. Also in 1974 under Chief Huard’s leadership the Police Department received a grant from the Governor’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency to help start establish the Sandwich Police Department as a full-time Law Enforcement agency. The grant money was used mostly for training and equipment. 

In 1977 Lester Heath, becomes the “full-time Police Officer” as stated in the Town Warrant for the Town of Sandwich. In 1978 the Warrant is amended on the floor to change the language from “Police Officer” to “Police Chief”. Almon “Moose” Evans is the SPD Sergeant. 

In 1978 A phone line is installed a NH State Police Troop- E. This phone line now gives residents the ability to call for police service twenty-four hours a day. Part-time officer Chris Jackson graduates from the NH Full-time Police Academy. Sandwich’s first Officer to do so. Officer Jackson is now a Sergeant with the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Highway Patrol. 

In May 1981 Chief Marc Mayberry takes over for Lester Heath. Chief Mayberry serves as Chief until 1985. 

In 1985 Charles Berry is appointed interim Chief of Police. He is replaced by Chief Louis Brunelle in 1986. Chief Berry later becomes the Chief of the Tuftonboro Police Department. Chief Brunelle serves as SPD chief until 1998. Chief Brunelle is the longest serving SPD Chief, with 12 years of service to the Town of Sandwich as Chief of Police. 

In 1991 a second full-time officer is added to SPD. Bruce Burrows is hired as the first 2nd full-time officer. He also has the distinction of being the second Sandwich Police Officer to Graduate from the NH Police Academy. Officer Burrows attended the 95th session of the NH Police Academy. 

In 1992 the NH State Police begins to test a digital radio system by Motorola that includes dispatch base units, cruiser radios and hand held radios.

Over the next few years this system is fully integrated into NH Law Enforcement, through a multi million dollar NH Department of Safety Grant. Also, during this time period SPD retired the six shot revolver as the issued sidearm, and purchased a .45 caliber semi automatic pistol that was produced by the Austrian company Glock. In 1993 a second cruiser is added to the Police Department. 

In 1997 an additional radar and two in-car video systems were purchased for the department through a federal grant and money donated from the Lena T. Nelson Trust Fund with the assistance of Robert Burrows. 

In 1998 the police department purchased reporting and data collection software from IMC (Information Management Corporation). This purchase greatly enhanced the police department’s record keeping and data retrieval process. The IMC software allows the officer to generate all of there reports through this software and saves them to a database. Evidence inventory, Court dates and dispositions can also be tracked and managed with this software.

Also In 1998 Chief Brunelle retires and Officer Bruce Burrows leaves the department to accept an Investigator’s position with the NH State Police, Bureau of Gaming Enforcement. Chief Mark D. Cavic takes command of SPD. Chief Cavic transferred from the Antrim, NH Police Department where he had previously served as a Sergeant. 

In 1999 the police department acquires two Panasonic lap top computers through a department of safety grant. The police department also purchases the software from IMC that enables the officer to generate reports out the cruiser and be downloaded into main database at the police department. Also in 1999 the police department traded in the Glock .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol that officers had been issued as their sidearm, and purchased Sig Sauer .357 caliber semi-automatic pistols. Ballistic studies of the time showed that officers were not trading in stopping power by changing to the .357, but were gaining magazine capacity. The .357 model holds 12 rounds to the .45’s 8 rounds. The company Sig Sauer, which is headquartered in Switzerland has a plant in Exeter, NH. 

2001: SPD remains a one full-time officer dept. until 2001, when Officer Joe Canfield is hired full-time and is the third officer to graduate from the full-time academy for SPD. Officer Canfield attended the 126th session of the NH Police Academy.  In July 2001The Sandwich Police Officer’s Association is formed. During the late summer months of 2001 Chief Cavic resigns to take a position as a U.S. Postal Inspector, while Officer Canfield is in the academy, Part-time Officer Doug Wyman is appointed “Officer in Charge” while the town searches for a new Police Chief. In September of 2001 Jeff D. Jaran is hired as Chief of Police. Chief Jaran came to the department from the NH Attorney General’s Office Drug Task Force, where he worked for several years as an undercover officer. 

In 2003 Officer Canfield leaves SPD for a position with Moultonborough PD. Richard Young comes to SPD as a Sergeant. Sergeant Young who has been a law enforcement officer withinCarroll County for several years had previously served as Chief of Moultonborough Police Department and as a Corporal with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. 

 In 2004 Chief Jaran resigns to become the Chief of Bow, NH. Sgt. Young is appointed Chief of Police. Part-time Officer Doug Wyman is promoted to full-time Officer. Officer Wyman came to SPD full-time having previously served as a Corporal with the NH Department of Corrections/ State Prison at the Lakes Region Facility in Laconia, and had also previously served as a Corporal with the Moultonborough Police Department. Officer Wyman was promoted to Sergeant in March 2005. 

In 2005 the police department decided to increase its tactical ability and purchased two Colt AR-15 Law Enforcement Rifles. The rifles are .223 caliber and are the Law Enforcement/ civilian model of the U.S. military’s M-4, which is the collapsible stock version of the M-16 Field Rifle. These rifles are semi-automatic only. Only S.W.A.T units have the fully automatic version. Previous to this purchase the only “long arm” capability the department had were shotguns. The SPD also took the “on ramp” onto the information highway, with the creation of the SPD website. The website was consolidated into the Town website in 2007. 

In 2006 the police department purchased a portable radar unit. This unit purchased with the help of a highway safety grant, has the ability to preserve data, as to the number of vehicles that traveled the road, the times they did so, and at what speed. This capability helps the police department immensely in figuring out traffic patterns, and patrol deployment in so far as what areas of town may need close attention. Additionally the unit has a large face display that shows the operator of the oncoming vehicle what their speed is. This piece of equipment has become a great asset to the police department. Towns people were also allowed to request that the unit be placed at there house if they felt the passing cars were going to fast. The data gathered was also shared with the property owner. 

In 2007 SPD increases the “tools in the toolbox” by purchasing a Taser. The Taser is electro-muscular disruption device that is used to subdue combative subjects, by delivering a 50,000 volt jolt of electricity into the body. The device, however delivers less than a half of one amp to the 50, 000 volts, thus, making the device relatively harmless, with no long lasting effects. The electricity is delivered when the weapon is fired and two probes attached to copper wiring puncture the skin of the combative/ non-compliant subject. The Taser appears on the scale of force progression at the same level as O.C. Spray; which is after the suspect has failed to obey verbal commands and before strikes or impact weapons are used, thus reducing the risk of injury not only to the suspect, but to the officer too. A suspect need not be “actively” resisting to be “Tazed” or O.C. Sprayed. They could be resisting defensively or passively. The sole aim of this tool or any tool on an officer’s utility belt is to seek compliance, gain control, and stop attack, while the officer is defending themselves, defending a third person, seeking to effect the arrest or detention of a person, or preventing the escape from official custody. 

SPD also changed handguns in 2007. As part of a seven year maintenance and replacement program, the department disbanded the use of the .357 caliber Sig Sauer pistols they had been using. SPD purchased instead .40 caliber Glock pistols. This purchase was done with no tax payer money, in that the department sold there existing inventory (5) to a Law Enforcement distributor and bought (3) pistols, and holsters. The switch in firearms was done mainly with officer safety and inter-agency operability (tactical) in mind. The surrounding communities with the main source of officer back-up coming from Moultonborough, carry the Glock .40 caliber pistol. Thus officers can interchange magazines and ammunition if needed. The department also purchased fewer weapons as is the current practice that our part-time officers all of whom are full-time officers for other jurisdictions wear their duty rig and use their duty firearm from their primary agency. SPD signs a memorandum of understanding with that officer’s primary agency that those officers will be using that equipment while on duty inSandwich. 

In 2010 SPD increased its investigative ability by becoming a member of the New England State Police Information Network, (NESPIN). This agency headquartered in Massachusetts allows for law enforcement agencies New England wide to share information. NESPIN also maintains a New England wide Pawn Shop Data Base as well as the ability to loan equipment, process evidence and provide technical personnel to member departments while conducting investigations. 

SPD also joined A Child Is Missing, which is an organization headquartered in Florida and provides high speed mapping and phone dialing services while police departments are conducting searches for lost children and or elderly persons. SPD used this service successfully in May of 2010. This service is free of charge to Law Enforcment. 

In 2011 SPD continued to upgrade its ability in getting information out the citizens of town quicker by first creating a facebook page. SPD can be found atwww.facebook.com/sandwichnhpolicedepartment  and then by joining with NIXLE to provide up to date traffic delays, road closures and other community information via text message and e-mail. All one has to do to subscribe to this service is text their zip code to 8887777. 

In August of 2011 The Sandwich Police Department was notified that it had been named a Finalist by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for their Community Policing Award for cities and towns with a population under 50,000. The International Association of Chiefs of Police which has members in over 239 ountries has been recognizing Community Policing efforts since 1998. Some of the programs that peaked the interest of the judging panel was Project good Morning and the Ice Cream Ticket Program. 

SPD continued its Community Outreach in 2012 by developing a Volunteer In Police Service Program. In the wake of yet another series of burglaries that plagued our community once again. The Police Department was riving a record number of requests to its House Watch Program. The house watch list became unmanageable. The Police Department then recruited four Volunteers to assist the police department in conducting housed checks. In the year since the volunteers have also been trained in traffic control and direction and are ready to assist the department in whatever way possible. The program was registered through the International Association of Chiefs of Police VIPS Program, whereby our volunteers can receive on-line training free of charge. 

There have been two men who have served as both Sandwich Police and Fire Chief over the years. (They did not serve in those positions simultaneously.) They are: 

Chief Francis G. Hambrook, and

Chief Louis G. Brunelle. 

The Sandwich Police and Fire Departments, as well as the residents of the Town of Sandwich thank you all for your dedication to keeping our community safe.

The Chiefs of Sandwich Police Department 

 

NAME                                                                                     DATES OF SERVICE

 

 

 

G. Roland Smith                                                                     1944-45,47, and 49-51

 

First Police Chief 

 

Everett M. Huston                                                                       1946 and 1948 

 

Rueben Hodge                                                                                   1952 

 

Joseph N. Glover                                                                             1953-1954 

 

Francis G. Hambrook                                                                        1958-1959 

 

Bernard Swan                                                                                   1960-1967 

 

Raymond Martel                                                                                1968-1973

 

First Full-Time Chief 

 

Bernard Swan                                                                                   1973-1974

 

Appointed Acting Chief 

 

David Huard                                                                                   1974-1976 

 

Lester Heath                                                                                  1977-1981 

 

Marc W. Mayberry                                                                           1981-1984 

 

Charles F. Berry                                                                              1984-1986 

 

Louis G. Brunelle                                                                            1986-1998 

 

Mark D. Cavic                                                                                 1998-2001 

 

Jeff D. Jaran                                                                                   2001-2004 

 

Richard M. Young, Jr.                                                                      2004- 2009 

 

Douglas F. Wyman, Jr.                                                                   2009 - Present 

 

Officers of Sandwich Police Department 

 

1894 

 

D.F. Carter 

 

1895-1915 

 

Daniel O. Brown                         Charles Hoyt                            Moses G. Brown

 

H.F. Barker                                 Winfield S. Pennimen              George York

 

Cornelius Turner                          Amos Gale                               A.J. Brown

 

Erastus Bagley                             Frank Atwood                        George Hawson

 

Frank Bryer                                  Fred Tappan 

 

1916-1932 

 

Amos Gale                                   Frank Hanson                            Eugene Mudgett

 

John S. Quimby                             Leverett C. Felch                      Eugene Wallace

 

Ryvers Ainger                               Daniel O. Brown 

 

1932-1943 

 

John S. Quimby                         G. Roland Smith*                      J.A. Smith

 

Clifford Merryfield                       Clarence Brown               W. LawrenceWoodward

 

Irving Mudgett                             Maurice Pierce 

 

1944-1950 

 

Jesse Ambrose                          Asa Bryant                            Severance Bryant

 

Elmer Moody                             Maurice Pierce                       Harry Blanchard

 

Theodore Wallace                     Irving Mudgett                         Herbert Perkins 

 

1951-1959 

 

Elmer Moody                       Reuben Hodge*                    William Forristall

 

Maurice Pierce                    Joseph Glover*                      Edwin Elliott

 

Charles Knox                      William Hacker                       John Taylor*

 

Francis G. Hambrook*         Edwin McCormack                   Lawrence Blumberg 

 

1960-1985 

 

Bernard Swan                     Joseph Fogg                        LawrenceBlumberg

 

Francis G. Hambrook*          Milton Bryant                       Arthur Dragon

 

Almon Evans^                     Peter Prentice                      Stearns Smalley

 

David Huard                       Lester Heath*                       Christopher Jackson

 

Marc Mayberry                    James Dobson                      William Lear

 

Mark Goglowski                   Charles Berry                        Lee Collins

 

Raymond Martel 

 

1986-2012 

 

Louis Brunelle                    Bruce Burrows                     Sven Carlson

 

William Cantwell                  Mark Cavic*                       Stephen Kessler

 

Shane Hayes                       Carl DiOrio                        Wayne Giles

 

Peter Beede, Jr.                  Joseph Canfield                  Jeff Jaran

 

Richard Young                    Douglas Wyman                  Thomas Riley

 

Shawn Varney^                  Christopher Keaton

 

© 2021 Sandwich, NH Physical: 8 Maple St, Center Sandwich, NH 03227
Mailing: PO Box 194, Center Sandwich, NH 03227
Phone:  603-284-7701

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