HAPD > THE HAVERHILL CONSTABULARY

The Haverhill Constabulary

In the spring of 1940, the German Blitz rolled across Europe. Nations collapsed and toppled overnight. Airplanes dropped saboteurs far in the rear of the fighting lines. Confusion reigned supreme. Mayor Glynn, along with millions of others, read the news, and pondered it. Then he acted.

Calling together a group to representative citizens, most of whom had military experience in the First World War, he laid the problem of the defense of this city before them. A number of meetings followed, and out of the discussions came the Haverhill Constabulary. Douglas E. Mann, a veteran of World War I and the state police service, was named Chief Constable. William F. Herlihy was second in command.

Throughout the summer of 1940, the organization drilled constantly at the Stadium. In order that it might be more completely uniformed, a carnival to provide funds was held that summer; public subscriptions were taken up; and the City, through the police department, provided night sticks, twisters, flashlights. When the outfit turned out on Armistice Day, its ranks compared with the best in the parade, the irregular files of June had given way to the precise columns in November.

Throughout the winter, the group drilled at City Hall. Officers’ schools were held; first aid classes, as well. Training in riot work, and other civil emergencies was also included. 1941 was a repetition of 1940. The group further prepared itself for whatever might be ahead of it in what might be a very stormy future.

At this time, it was composed of three platoons of thirty-six men each. Each platoon was divided into squads of twelve men each. The City Council purchased revolvers and ammunition in order that the members might be armed if need befell. Also, there was a communications sections, composed of licensed radio operators, with equipment that they had developed themselves. In the event of severance of communications, Haverhill was not to be isolated. The members of the Constabulary were men above draft age—over thirty-five. This age requirement was to lessen the possibility of their being called into service, and to provide men of mature judgment. However, as the war progressed members were constantly leaving for defense jobs out of town, or entering the armed forces.

Haverhill was not alone in her desire to be able to defend herself and lessons were exchanged with units in other cities. Members spent a very profitable evening visiting the unit at Belmont. Local officers were sent to Reading to tell them what the Haverhill group was doing. Correspondence concerning details of constabulary work was carried on with numerous other cities.

On December 7, 1941, the war was here. December 9, the day of the false air raid, the Constabulary was ready.

Elsewhere, there was a frenzy of activity in preparing. But Haverhill’s Auxiliary Police were trained and ready. Throughout the period of alert, when blackouts and practice air raids were routine, the Constabulary, as did other Civilian Defense personnel, slept with one eye and one ear open.

During this period, there were other tasks in which the Constabulary proves its worth. When an aviator was forced down somewhere in the Middleton woods, a sizeable detachment of the unit joined the all-night hunt for him. That he was able to make his way out of the woods by his own efforts in no way detracts from the fact that the Haverhill unit was there, ready and alert: trained and capable.

Mention can be made of the day that Dorothy Lamour, bond saleslady extraordinary, visited Haverhill in the course of a selling tour. The police, reinforced by the Constabulary, made Haverhill the place the visitors remembered, because the crowds were so well handled. These two incidents were but highlights. There were others. And in all cases the Constabulary acquitted itself with credit.

The social side of the organization was not neglected either. There was an annual outing held in the summer, and a ball in the winter, there were invariably the chief social functions of each of the war years. Besides these events, there were a number of get-together affairs.

The war progressed and the might of America was turning the scales; finally, therefore, the Federal authorities decreed the dissolution of Civilian Defense activities, as the danger of invasion or attack was over. Inasmuch as the quarters for the organization has been provided under the City’s authority to provide for Civilian Defense, its support now became an illegal expenditure of funds. Hence, the Constabulary was dissolved, and its quarters closed. The members turned their equipment over to the City, and the organization became history. However, their existence will not soon be forgotten, for, upon dissolution, the treasury was divided between the Boys’ Club, for use at their camp, and the Y.M.C.A. Both of these organizations will make suitable recognition of the source of the money in the uses to which they out it.

Thus came, and thus passed from the scene, the Haverhill Constabulary. They did their work well, and the city is proud of them; all of them, from “Doug” Mann to the last member to join. They carried out their assignment, and when the job was done, laid down their tools and went about their normal tasks. It is the American Way.