Wilmington Police Department: 150 Years Of Stories. The Auxiliary Police

Press release from Wilmington Police Department:

Almost immediately following the attack, the Wilmington Police sprang into action, the defense of vital services and industries being of the utmost importance. Despite Pearl Harbor being 5000 miles away, the United States had been in a de facto war with Germany since April of 1941.

Engaged in convoy escort duties, several US Navy ships had been attacked by German U-Boats with the destroyer USS Reuben James being sunk in October, two months before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

By 1942 the threat to the East Coast of the United States from attack, infiltration or outright invasion was a real possibility. U-Boats carried out unrestricted warfare within sight of land and German saboteurs were secretly landed along the coast to wreak havoc on the country’s transportation and war materials infrastructure.

Wilmington’s most vital aspect of the country’s war footing was its rail lines and rail maintenance facilities. The police department needed be on a war footing as well. However, five full-time officers were hardly suitable to the task given the new responsibilities of the war and their everyday responsibilities to the citizenry. Furthermore, Deputy Chief Hoban would soon leave for service in the US Navy while Officer Waters would leave for duty in the US Secret Service.

As the regular force suffered these absences, the special officers moved up to fill in. In the case of Officer Waters, Special Officer George Fuller was sworn into the regular force. However, war duties for those men similarly depleted their ranks.

In March of 1942 Chief Harry Ainsworth formed an auxiliary police force. With regard to the new organization, Chief Ainsworth’s report of the activities for the year 1942 reads as follows.

“The Police Department is doing its utmost to cooperate with the various defense organizations of the Town. Because of the needs that are created by this war we are doing our best to keep up a high standard of service. Early in this year when various organizations were being formed for the defense of our community I formed what is known as the Auxiliary Police Force. For three months we met at the High School each Thursday evening for a period of initial training. This consisted of lectures on the duties of a police officer, the prevention and prosecution of crime, first aid, gasses and bombs. These lectures were supplemented by motion pictures provided by various firms and defense units to whom we express our appreciation.

The officers took such an interest in this work that we have kept up our meetings on Thursday evenings. These later sessions have been held at the police station. Due to this extra training I have at various times, other than during blackouts, assigned these men to perform various police duties throughout the Town.

For the Auxiliary Police Force the Town has purchased badges and nightsticks. In order that these men could be uniformly dressed, they have purchased out of their own finances, police hats, hat badges, jackets and arm insignia.

Since the new dim-out regulations have gone into effect the men of the Auxiliary Force have been assigned to various parts of the Town for a few hours a week to see that these orders are complied with. As these men give of their time, I wish to express my thanks to them for responding as they have”.

The Annual Town Report for 1942 within which is Chief Ainsworth’s account lists the names of thirty-nine men serving on the Auxiliary Force.

This press release was produced by Wilmington Police Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.