The Bristol Police Department was born in November 1893 when Howard Arms was appointed Chief of Police. Before the end of the year, Irving Shubert, T.J. Miller, and George Oviatt were confirmed as policemen.
The department’s early days saw officers tracking down horse thieves and vagrants while shutting down illegal cock fights.
Before the establishment of the police department, Bristol relied on constables, the Society for the Prevention of Thieving, and The Mutual Protective Association.
Wednesday night, an act of senseless violence was perpetrated against The Bristol Police Department and it has shaken the community. Unfortunately, in the course of 129 years, this is not the first time Bristol has lost those charged with protecting the community.
Three heroic police officers died in the line of duty prior to Wednesday night’s unspeakable tragedy.
Here are their stories:
Officer James McNamee
On Thursday, Jan. 16, 1930, Officer James McNamee, 39, was walking his beat in Forestville and came upon a suspicious-looking car at the gas station of Oscar Ebb on the corner of Washington Street and Stafford Avenue (where Ivy’s and Steve’s Package once stood).
While questioning the driver, he was shot in the back by a passenger in the back seat. He died at Bristol Hospital.
It would take three years to locate all those responsible for Officer McNamee’s murder. Four were put on trial. The shooter got life in prison while his accomplices received between six and 15 years.
Officer McNamee joined the force on May 16, 1920. He was born in Ireland and served in World War I in the U.S. Army.
Police Chief Ernest T. Belden said, “He was a quiet fellow but one who did not know fear. Whenever he saw anything, he never went by it without first investigating. He was an officer in whom all his superiors had great confidence. His death is certainly a great loss to the department.”
He was laid to rest in Westfield, Mass.
Chief Belden traveled to Westfield each Memorial Day and placed a wreath at the grave of Officer McNamee.
Officer James W. Burns
Responding to a complaint at the home of his sister and brother-in-law on Union Street on May 19, 1941, Policeman James W. Burns was fatally shot by his brother-in-law.
When they arrived at the house, Officer Burns heard his sister yell, “Look out, Jimmy. He’s got a gun.” While running for cover, Officer Burns was struck five times by fire from the porch.
Edward O’Connor, who rolled up on the scene with Officer Burns, was wounded in the leg.
Officer Burns was 48 and a veteran of World War I and the Mexican Border Campaign with Company D of the National Guard. He belonged to the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
As a former army bugler, he played taps at cemeteries every Memorial Day for fallen soldiers.
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, five brothers, three sisters and mother.
His final resting place is St. Joseph Cemetery.
Officer Ernest Schilke
Officer Ernest Schilke’s end of watch was May 17, 1944.
Following a gas explosion at Wallace Barnes, Officer Schilke and Deputy fire Chief Orrin Porter attempted to rescue a Wallace Barnes employee. Unable to stop the gas leak, the 23-year-old succumbed to the fumes. The Wallace Barnes employee also perished, while three other men were injured.
Officer Schilke was only on the police force for three months at the time of the accident.
A graduate of Bristol High School in 1939, he was a U.S. Army veteran serving two years with the 43rd Division with the U.S. Army in Guadalcanal.
Besides his father and stepmother, he was survived by three brothers and five step-sisters.
The funeral was held Friday, May 19, under cool and fair conditions.
Immanuel Lutheran Church held the services. At the close of the service, the Immanuel Lutheran School children sang “Asleep in Jesus.”
An honor guard of 40 patrolmen headed by Chief Edmund S. Crowley lined the sidewalk before and after the service.
At the committal service, Scott Sidney Goldman sounded Taps.
Burial was the family plot in West Cemetery.
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