ORIGINS OF THE
JEFFERSONTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT Writer / Beth Wilder, Director, Jeffersontown Museum Photography Provided
Jeffersontown has an unparalleled police department that is highly respected nationwide, and its history dates back to the late 1700s. In 1799 the Jeffersontown board of trustees appointed a surveyor of Main and Market streets (now known as Watterson Trail and Taylorsville Road). The duties of this official included not only deterring crime, but inspecting the town’s streets, alleys and buildings for cleanliness and signs of deterioration. In 1815 the position became known as overseer of streets. The first semblance of an actual police force came about through an order of the Jefferson
County court on March 10, 1820, when George A. Frederick was appointed captain, and Philip Zillhart, Jr., Henry Herbold and Daniel Risinger were appointed assistant patrollers for Jeffersontown. On July 26, 1830, the town trustees appointed four men - John McPherson, Andrew F. Shafar, Hezekiah Read, and John Muster - as night watchmen. Their duties included patrolling the streets and alleys at night, and to raise an alarm in case of fire. The watch was divided into two shifts - 9 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., and 12:30 a.m. until 4 a.m. By the early 1900s, Jeffersontown had a town marshal, elected by the board of trustees and given authority to name any assistants desired. The marshal had to reside within Jeffersontown’s city limits, and
appeared to be answerable not only to local government, but Jefferson County squires and judges as well. In 1907, M.W. Agee had to resign as town marshal because he lived outside Jeffersontown, and John Hornbeck was elected to take his place. Frank Tyler, who had served as a county patrolman, was appointed town marshal in February of 1910. Articles from the time period indicate that town marshals and county patrolmen worked hand in hand on many cases. Tyler had to move into Jeffersontown before he could be sworn in and begin his duties as town marshal. In April of 1910, the trustees passed a resolution authorizing payment of $1 per month toward the salary of Jeffersontown’s town marshal.
8 / JEFFERSONTOWN MAGAZINE / APRIL 2020 / JeffersontownMag.com
