Wenham Police Department:

A brief History

Wenham has an interesting history of crime. Possibly the first murder in America of an immigrant by an immigrant occurred within the boundaries. The story is told in the book by Myron O. Allen, M.D. entitled “History of Wenham,” published in 1860. Allen wrote that the murder happened on the main road to Beverly, the location today would be known as Pond Hill, on Route #1A (Main Street).

Allen said the crime took place before the town was incorporated in 1643 and perhaps before it was settled in 1639, when the settlement was called Enon from John 111:23 in the Bible, “In Enon, near to Salim because there was much water there”.

John Hoddy was killed by John Williams, who thought he was carrying a lot of money with him. Hoddy’s dog restrained Williams until others, attracted by the noise, came upon the scene. Williams was taken into custody and transferred to Boston, where he was tried, sentenced to be hanged, and executed.

As the first murder among the European population in the colonies, it attracted considerable attention, Allen said. (Previously slayings had been whites by Indians and Indians by Whites)

The Wenham Police Department has enjoyed a proud tradition of service to the Community since the 1900’s. During the early years the part-time Officers were elected in Town elections as constables, the top vote recipient of the three would be the Police Chief. The police shared a small work area in the basement of the Town Hall. The old cell is still in the old library in the children’s room. The cell occasionally lodged an overnight guest, who would be taken to Salem District Court via train or street car.

 

In 1959, the Police Station was moved to the old Fire Station, known today as the business, Fire House Antiques. In 1961 the police moved to the recreation/legion building on School Street. In 1963, with two full-time Officers, the Department moved into the present Police Station at #140 Main Street

In 1965, the voters approved around the clock police coverage for the Town. Prior to 1965, Officers would        

take the cruiser home and respond to calls after 12:00 midnight from their homes.

In 1971, the voters approved a second Officer to patrol the Town from 12:00 midnight to 8:00A.M. At the same time part-time secretarial services were funded. Through the sixties and seventies the Officers strived for excellence and participated in State Police, F.B.I. and College Level Training Programs.

 

 

In the 1990’s the men and women of the Wenham Police Department were trained in such areas as Suicide Prevention, Police Officer Survival, Crime Scene Search, Crisis Intervention, First Aid, and Community Relations. In 1994, the Department experienced a devastating motor vehicle accident in which two teenagers were killed on Larch Row. In 1995, Chief Peter L. Carnes would leave the department to become Chief of the Yarmouth Police Department on Cape Cod. Chief Carnes served the town of Wenham for twenty years and was Chief for eleven years. The town would then appoint Police Chief William F. MacKenzie, who served for over 30 years, 10 of which he served as Police Chief before retiring in August 2005. At this time, the town appointed the current Police Chief, Kenneth M. Walsh, who has served the town since 1987.

  From the year 2000 to present, the Department experienced a tragic murder in the Richard Sharpe case in which Sharpe, a dermatologist, shot and killed his estranged wife, Karen, in the front foyer of her home while their two small children were in the house. The Department has also felt the effects of the 911 terrorist attack. The Law Enforcement profession in a post 911 world has drastically changed even in a small bedroom community such as Wenham.

This brief History is dedicated to our departed Officers:

"Their Patrol is done, Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them"

Joseph F. Carnes, Jr.

James L. Cole

Frank A. Corning

Frank A. Corning, Jr.

Howard A. Hagar

M. Edward Hall

Arthur S. Hayes

Donald J. Killam

Charles W. Pews

Frank R. Pews

David Reid III

George P. Sousa 

Fred R. Varney

Ralph E. York

Written by:  Former Chief Peter L. Carnes, Former Chief William MacKenzie Chief Kenneth M. Walsh

In 1936, Chief  M. Edward Hall was elected Chief and is still remembered as the local barber who would leave his customers with half a haircut to respond to a police call. The Officers prior to 1959 patrolled the Town in their private cars and each of them worked on a part-time, on call, basis. The Beverly Police would assist and respond to Wenham in emergencies.

In 1959, several changes were made to modernize the Wenham Police Department, the first being the appointment of the first fulltime Officer.  He was also appointed as Police Chief upon the retirement of Chief Hall, who ended his thirty six year tenure. The full time Chief, Edward A. Haraden, was recruited from the ranks of the Massachusetts State Police

Memorial Day 1940's

  The town also joined the Town of Hamilton in the development of the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center, which still serves today as a fine example of professional Public Safety dispatching. To complete this new program of law enforcement, the Town purchased its first cruiser ambulance. This innovation was welcomed by at least 46 members of the Community, who were transported to area hospitals in the first eight months of the new service.

Wenham Police Circa 1935

  In the 1980’s the Department continued to grow to meet the needs of a changing community. In 1984, Chief Haraden retired after serving the community for 25 years. The town then appointed Peter L. Carnes as the new Chief of Police at the age of thirty. In 1989, the department grew to ten full-time officers. The Officers spent a considerable amount of time on Safety Education, Drug Awareness and Crime Prevention Programs. The Auxiliary Force also grew, performing church traffic details and riding with regular patrols. In 1989, the town voted on a new police facility which was defeated at the polls by seven votes. The Department had clearly outgrown its current facility which was originally built for two part-time officers.

The first Wenham Police Vehicle

1959 Ford Cruiser/Ambulance

Wenham Police Department, 2007