Item #1379 [Archive of a Police Patrolman's Logs from WWII-Era Cincinnati, Ohio]. Elmer W. Eubanks.
[Archive of a Police Patrolman's Logs from WWII-Era Cincinnati, Ohio]
[Archive of a Police Patrolman's Logs from WWII-Era Cincinnati, Ohio]

[Archive of a Police Patrolman's Logs from WWII-Era Cincinnati, Ohio]

Cincinnati: 1943-1946. Twelve notebooks, [358]pp. total. 12mo. Stapled sheets, stapled at top edge. No covers. Some light wear and soiling, but generally clean and in a legible hand. Very good. Item #1379

World War II-era manuscript log books kept by Cincinnati, Ohio police officer Elmer Winder Eubanks (1913-2012). Eubanks began his career in law enforcement as a recruit in 1942 when he was issued badge number 325. He then walked the beat and rode in a patrol car in the city of Cincinnati until he was promoted to sergeant. The archive consists of twelve manuscript notebooks, each covering a single month of time during 1943 to 1946, in which patrolman Eubanks chronicles his daily activities early in his law enforcement career. Herein he investigates crimes and complaints, serves warrants and subpoenas, apprehends suspects, makes arrests and court appearances, transports suspects and property, monitors traffic, interacts with businesses and citizens, etc. Numerous local businesses and Cincinnati landmarks can be found throughout. A number of his entries reflect the wartime period, as he encounters falsified draft cards, servicemen in legal scrapes, and other similar matters. The racial overtones present during that period are embodied within some of author's entries, adding period context.

Some of the many entries include: "Meade Ave. [gas] station attendant wanted us to give our permission for him to sell gas to two negros"; "Drunken negro causing trouble...G[one] O[n] A[rrival]"; "Met bus no 3813 at bus station driven by Art Broughton negros causing trouble on way into town here"; "454 Commercial Square negro acting sus[picious] arrested Winfield Marion"; "Mrs. Humphries sent to Gen[eral] Hos[pital] in patrol 1 with her son Arthur Humphries 3 mo. she had attempted to jump from 3rd floor window with her baby when Mrs. R. Stiens grabbed child away from her. She jumped alone"; "Confiscated 32 Smith & Wesson from Father Charles Lees"; "Arrested Wm. Kartke...escaped from Gen[eral Hospital] under indictment for auto theft was being held by Ham[ilton] Co[unty] police"; "Mr. George Cobble...complained of a Peeping Tom in alley"; "Investigated 2 juveniles in pool room...had war bonds on his person from Canton Ohio"; "Had suspect one Tillman Rogers nitwit sent on his way"; "Gano alley & Walnut...found a drunken soldier in basement"; "Leona Sloan complained of 3 white boys taking her purse she was too drunk to take a report"; "Injured on duty"; "Commercial Square a fight warrant advised"; and so forth.

Altogether an interesting archival record of policing from one officer's perspective, of particular historical note in today's fluctuating and charged political climate regarding that subject.

Price: $975.00