Town Marshall Tom Edison circa 1930's patrolling downtown

Fulton Police Department 1943 Left to Right: Woody Lewis, Herb Lee, Tom Edison, Novie Lawrence, Kermit Truitt and Bates Huddleston

Fulton Police Department 1956 Pictured left to right: Woodrow Lewis,Jerry Giboney, Earl Branch, Larry McCray,Russell Maddox, Paul (Sarge) Hilt, Novy Lawrence, James (Bo) Wills.

Fulton Police Department 1963 Front Row, Left to Right: Majorie Blackburn, May Branch, Hazel Harris Second Row, Left to Right: Gene Wolfmeier, Bo Bo Wells, Jimmy Means, Reed Wright, Woody Lewis Third Row, Left to Right: Bill Reifsteck, Bill Hockemeyer, Bill Meyers, Earl Branch, Ollie Shaon, Russell Maddox

A Brief History of the Fulton Police Department

In the 1930's law enforcement in the City of Fulton consisted of a Town Marshall. The last town Marshal was Tom Edison. Tom Edison is pictured, to the right, circa 1930 walking his downtown beat as Fulton's Town Marshall. Note the uniform of that day. The city only issued a gun belt, hat, and badge. The rest of the uniform was your own.

1940's
By the 1940's the city had adopted an official police department. The photo on the right shows the original police department, consisting of 6 officers including the first Police Chief, Tom Edison.

The photo shows a 1940's Chevrolet Business Coupe, which was the only car they had. The night shift consisted of two officers. Most of the time one of the officers was on foot in the downtown area. Before the use of two way radios, the city used a light signaling system. The dispatcher would take a call from a citizen. If the dispatcher, usually a police officer, could not handle the call by phone, they would push a button which activated small red lights on poles in the downtown area.

The officer on foot would respond to the station, take the car, and handle the call. He would then return the car to the police department and continue his downtown patrols. The officer on patrol was responsible for checking doors on the shops downtown as well as turning on and off the window display lights.

The day shift also consisted of 2 officers. One of the duties of the day shift officers, including the Chief, was school crossing duties. The photo (next page) shows Chief Edison walking students across St. Louis Ave from the old East School. (St. Louis and Bluff Streets) Note the change in uniform.

1950's
This department photo (right) was taken in 1956. The department had grown to 8 officers, including the Chief. Pictured on the far left, was our second Police Chief, Woodrow Lewis.

1960's
The next photo was taken in 1963 in front of the old police station, which was in the old city hall building, located at 4th and Market Streets. At one time police, fire, and city hall were all located together in this building. (See photo next page) By 1963 the fire department had already moved out. The police department had grown to 11 officers and 3 civilian staff. The police department moved out of the old station circa 1968 to the present location at 510 Market Street.

Present Days
Today the Fulton Police Department has 27 sworn officers, 6 reserve officers and 7 civilian personnel. We have 7 marked black and white patrol units, 2 K-9 units, 2 unmarked detective units, one STAT vehicle, and one meter enforcement vehicle. Be sure to see the photo of our present staff on the next page. 

The Fulton Police Department is a progressive department. which is involved in Community Policing Efforts with two officers assigned to the Fulton Housing Authority, 2 DARE officers, and one School Resource Officer. The department has 4 full time detectives, 2 assigned to the MUSTANG drug task force and 2 assigned to do follow up on cases.
We also have a Special Tactics and Training (STAT) Team, whose duties include doing high risk search warrants and arrests.

The Fulton Police Department handled 14,760 calls for service, made over 4,000 traffic stops, and over 1,000 arrests in 2005.