http://www.DaytonPoliceHistory.org/

Dayton Police History Foundation Inc. DBA: DPH Foundation, Dayton, OH (2026)

06/19/2026

Today's post pays homage to the Dayton Police “Central Police Station” that has a legacy in the annals of local police history… and to a BRICK. This iconic structure (large depiction left) was replaced in 1956 by the newly built Dayton Safety Building (Dayton’s CPS still today). The architectural firm of Schenck & Williams designed a new station house constructed by the Danis-Hunt company in 1920 (top right). The wording (encircled) is used as a location “marker” for the other three pictures.

Why was it Iconic? … because it held some of the most notorious prisoners in Dayton, and even national, history: The bank robbing Wesley Brothers (1929), the Bob Zwick gang (1930), the infamous bandit John Dillinger (1933), murderer Louis Parker (1934), cop killer Eugene Harris (1939), robber ‘Bus’ Epperson (1941), mob boss 'Bugs’ Moran and henchman 'Doc' Summers (1946), as well as local Public Enemy No. 1 Floyd Shawhan (1921-1935), local mobster Al Fouts (1921-1946), and cop killer Julius Emrick (1945).

The Central Police Station was located between Sears and Webster Streets, respectively to the west and east; and between East Second and East Third Streets to the north and south (see detailed street map inset top left). The building itself was flanked by North and South Ford Streets which were little more than brick alleys, previously named North and South New Market Streets. It was commonly called the “Ford Street Station” because of the location, 20 S. Ford Street.

It may have also been called the “Ford Street Station” by the press and public to distinguish it from the Market House Police Headquarters on South Main between… North and South Market Streets... but different Market Streets. Confusing? Why the two brick “alleys” were renamed Ford Streets beginning in 1918 may have also had something to do Henry Ford visiting Dayton that year with plans for new Ford tractor manufacturing.

In 1920, the City Auto Repair Shop was adjacent on the west, and a Fire Station extended on the east side (see enlarged, cropped inset bottom left). Across the "alley" to the south was the DP&L Steam Plant (later known as “The Merc"). Today it is “The Steam Plant” reception facility at 617 E. Third Street.

As can be seen, the landscape changed over time. The Ford Street Station was vacated in 1956 and all indications are that it was demolished by 1962, if not earlier. It was still an empty lot in 2011 (center right), but by 2018 with the opening of the reception facility, it became a completely paved parking lot (bottom right).

The “markers” are situated to show the same relative view from Webster Street looking west. The old “Police Station” neon sign that hung above the main door is gone (see link below). The jail cells are gone. The furnishings are gone. In 2011, the dirt and gravel lot was searched for any remnant of the iconic building. All that was spotted was a corner of a deeply buried brick. Dug from the packed dirt, a Hocking Valley Block brick is all that remains (the brick company closed in 1928). Now in the DPH collection, it is the lone relic from the building where Dillinger’s jail cell, and the gangster himself, once stood.

CPS Viewed from the Opposite Side – April 3, 2015 Post
facebook.com/DaytonPoliceHistory/photos/914341638627975

06/15/2026

Images that have never been posted (or rarely posted) from the DPHF collection are being randomly selected for depiction. Some images have stories… some may be images in search of a story. This post has a story….

What we know…

Recently two photographs were unexpectedly discovered in the DPH collection (top right and middle left). They were instantly recognized as being related to a another black and white picture depicted twice; in 2016 and 2018 posts (see original at link below). That particular picture was of high-speed pursuit and defensive driving training. Today, the same picture is being depicted larger, enhanced and in transition to color.

This is a 1968 Chevrolet Biscayne Dayton police cruiser. Thanks to input from retired Dayton Sgt. Terry Posey and the late retiree John Heck, we know that the driver is Ptl. ‘Red’ Ted Rayney and the instructor is either Ptl. Tom Mundy or Ptl. Art Quinn (who sadly passed away in late May). The online restoration application does not always accurately capture facial features or colors. The ’68 Biscayne was a different shade of blue. The top may also have been blue.

This training took place in 1971 or 1972 at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (hangars seen and misspelled in the background). The entire department had to attend the training over a six-month period. The 1968 Biscayne patrol car was described as having a “396-cubic-inch engine (325 hp) and a Positraction rear-end differential giving preload for racing purposes.”

One objective was for officers to learn to regain complete control of an out of control cruiser while driving through cones at a high rate of speed. As can be seen, the patrolmen wore helmets in case the cruiser flipped during maneuvers. DPH Foundation welcomes any additional information that a follower might offer.

Dayton Police Training – April 16, 2018 Post
facebook.com/DaytonPoliceHistory/photos/1801186076610189/

06/12/2026

Images that have never been posted (or rarely posted) from the DPHF collection are being randomly selected for depiction. Some images have stories… some may be images in search of a story. This post is one of those images in search of more information….

What we know…

This photograph was posted one time previously, five years ago. At the time, the Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) emblem (inset) did not accompany the larger photograph.

This is a Dayton Police publicity photograph. It was taken in 2006 on Deeds Park Drive near the Mad River trail foot bridge. The photo is not quite as clear as we would like but it depicts many of the Department’s specialty units (clockwise from left):

The Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) mobile unit; the Bomb Squad truck; the Beat Auto Theft (BAT) car; the Hostage Negotiation Team mobile command center; members of a patrol car crew, motorcycle squad, K-9 unit, and bike squad; and Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) rescue vehicle.

What does not appear in the larger picture? The 1987 Dayton HNT Ford Econoline 250 extension van depicted on the emblem (and to the left). It would have been a 20-year old fleet vehicle at the time, too old to be displayed in a police department publicity picture of special-purpose vehicles.

Funny thing about the more modern vehicles shown in this 2006 photograph… most, if not all, are permanently out of service. Incredibly, the HNT Van is still in use today as a backup vehicle. It is the last white over blue DPD vehicle, and is the last with the double-bubble lights. It is the oldest vehicle in the City police fleet, now in its 40th year and with only 8,342.8 miles on its odometer. Yes, the comma and decimal are at the right places. This was the accurate reading a week ago on June 4.

This is the first actual police fleet vehicle obtained by the Hostage Negotiation Team. It is used only for hostage team call outs, so it has only averaged about 342 miles of travel per year.

It has come to symbolize the team itself in "winning arguments" and its longevity has brought it iconic status... thus the emblem produced recently and depicted today here and on team t-shirts.

06/08/2026

Images that have never been posted (or rarely posted) are being randomly selected from the DPH collection for depiction. Some images have stories… some may be images in search of a story. This post is one of those images in search of a story….

What we know…

This picture is believed to have been obtained at some point from an online site. There was no description of the incident. The Dayton police officer is seen crouched down behind his patrol car while holding a 12-gauge shotgun. This is clearly a critical incident of some kind in progress… but what is it? A hostage situation? Barricaded suspect? Shooting?

This likely took place between 1978 and 1981 based on the police cruiser. It is the old white over blue paint scheme marked with the gold “Dayton Police” and number. The patrol car has the old double-bubble lights and is a Chevrolet Impala, which was only purchased one year – 1978.

Gary Williams of City Fleet Managament described this car as the “square body Impala, downsized by GM” becasue it was a foot shorter and about 700 pounds lighter than previous versions of the model. This was the start of the City’s move from full size to compact police vehicles. The fleet purchases to follow over the next three years include the Chevy Nova, Dodge Aspen, and the Ford Fairmont.

The cruiser number is “419” or “479,” which offers a clue as to the location of this incident.

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Update: Two regular followers – police retirees Don Parker, an initial responder, and Dan Baker, the head police negotiator – recall this incident as being the one in which Sgt. Vernon Nolan was wounded by gunfire. It happened at 1417 Leonhard Street in the 1st District the day after Thanksgiving, November 23, 1979. This was domestic violence in which the wife was shot and stabbed, but escaped to a neighbor’s house. The arriving ambulance crew was pinned down by gunfire from the barricaded suspect on second floor.

Sgt. Noland had been one of the first to arrive on the scene, He was struck by a bullet, grazing the side of his head and exiting his scalp. This was essentially one of the first incidents that led the formation of the Dayton Hostage Negotiation Team in early 1980. Baker was the trained police negotator who engaged this suspect face-to-face when he emerged onto the porch. The armed suspect reached for his gun but surrendered when grabbed by Baker and confronted by officers armed with shotguns.

Their comments below offer greater detail. Also, former officer Cris Cannon, stated that the 5th District had cruisers with 400 numbers. It would not be unusual for a response from across the river to a situation of this nature. Leonhard is less than two miles from Riverside and Helena Streets. Thanks to all three contributers.

06/05/2026

Images that have never been posted (or rarely posted) from the DPHF collection are being randomly selected for depiction. Some images have stories… some may be images in search of a story. This post has a story….

What we know…

This larger photo of a 1949 Police Academy Recruit Class in session, inside the old Market House Police HQ, was initially going to be posted as a stand-alone image. Very few pictures exist of early recruit classes in session. Then the official class picture was added above. In 1949 and earlier, there were no numbers assigned to the classes. This was actually the seventh consecutive class post-WWII, beginning January 1946. The numbering of classes began sometime around the 15th class in 1951; it and the others were retroactively numbered to include three pre-WWII recruit training classes.

Although this class included many that were war veterans – as had the previous six classes – it soon became clear that this 10th Academy Recruit Class in 1949 was unique in Dayton police history. Depicted are 14 rookie officers in dark uniforms, the training supervisor (suit), the class counselor (light uniform shirt)… and two sworn VETERAN law enforcement officers, both policewomen. This was the first Datyon Academy class to include women. And there was a reason.

Ever since the Dayton Bureau of Policewomen was formed in 1914, it had been under the Office of the Public Safety Director. It had never been within the Dayton Division of Police. But in 1949, Chief Rudy Wurstner retired after 24 years in command and was succeeded by Chief Matthew Kirkpatrick. He wanted the policewomen to become the juvenile squad, so women were officially transferred into the police force in 1950. Although they remained dressed in civilian attire, they were trained and armed with snubnosed revolvers.

The women’s badges remained unchanged since 1914; still a third smaller than a patrolman’s badge (see comparison). Oddly, the badge always said “Police Women” instead of "Policewoman." Depicted are the two veterans of this class, Plwn. Nancy Bohlander (career 1945-1955) and Plwn. Diana Robinson (1946-1962). The other officer pictured and noted in this post is Ptl. Harvey Guthridge. He is Dayton PD’s oldest retiree, now age 100, and the last living Dayton police officer to have been hired in the 1940s.

Fast forward 77 years and 111 recruit classes: Depicted for comparison is the class currently in session (lower right). The 121st Recruit Class started a little over two weeks ago. It is seen being addressed by Dayton's new police chief, Eric Henderson.

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Side Note on Official Class Photo:

The officers are left to right (top image): Plwn. Diana Robinson, Sgt. Dick Grundish (training supervisor), Patrolmen Gil Thurman, James Hartley (class counselor), Donald Halsey, Cliff Wilson, Vic Jones, Lowell Shafford, Ralph Howell, Peter Pequignot, Jr., Frank Raley, Robert Bundy, Jack Bettinger, Paul Mortimer, Jack Hahn, Russell Merritt, and Plwn. Nancy Bohlander and Ptl. Harvey Guthridge.

06/01/2026

What is Dayton Police History Foundation? How did it start? What has it done?

Today, DPHF is gratefully a new fund component of The Dayton Foundation (TDF)… but it took 18 years and many projects to reach this consequential position in pursuit of its goal [see previous post]. That objective is to establish a permanent Dayton Metropolitan Police Museum facility at Carillon Historical Park (CHP). This is a goal not yet achieved.

In November 2007, DPHF’s first attempt at a large-scale police exhibit happened with the planning of “Patrolling the Streets of Dayton” (center two images) at CHP inside the Dicke Family Transportation Center. It was supposed to last one month but ran from May to November of 2008. It turned out to be the largest temporary exhibit ever held at CHP at the time. When it was over, the artifacts and photographs were returned to the owners, but there was a desire to keep the history alive.

And so, on January 1, 2010, Dayton Police History Foundation, Inc. (DPHF) was chartered by the State of Ohio. The success at CHP inspired the creation of early temporary police exhibits in smaller venues such as the Dayton Safety Building lobby (2009-2010), and the Presidential Banquet Center in Kettering for the 2010 Policemen’s Ball. It was not long before temporary exhibits in larger venues were produced.

In 2013, DPHF opened an exhibit at the Schuster Performing Arts Center in tribute to Dayton Police Mounted Patrol (top left). It was in conjunction with the Victoria Theatre Association production of the WWI-era performance of “War Horse.” In 2017, DPHF created a temporary police exhibit at the Centerville Art Gallery as a tribute to the Dayton Police Department’s 150th Anniversary (center left). And then in 2019, DPHF proposed and invested $60,000 in its most ambitious project to date, the "Bootleggers, Bandits, and Badges" exhibit (top right). It turned out to be the longest-running temporary exhibit ever held at Carillon Historical Park. It closed on December 31, 2023.

During a 15-year span, fundraising has been pursued in many ways to support the police museum initiative and other related projects. Three books have been published by DPHF (lower left) with all net proceeds going to Dayton Police History Foundation (see below). The history of local law enforcement has been recounted in PowerPoint presentations (lower right) give over 85 times throughout the Greater Dayton community and a bit beyond in places such as New Lebanon, New Carlisle, Hilliard. And, of course, DPH Facebook posts, such as this one, have been regularly featured since 2014.

Recently, CHP officials asked DPHF to participate in the design plans for a new exhibit building with criminal justice as one of the themes. This is a well-funded major project. An announcement is forthcoming soon. This will be the fourth time DPHF has worked on exhibits at CHP (2008, 2013, 2019-2023, 2026).

One day, with the generous support of donors and grants through The Dayton Foundation, a permanent Dayton Metropolitan Police exhibit facility on the grounds of Carillon Historical Park will become a reality. How followers can help is a post for another day.

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You can support DPH Foundation through the purchase of its books at Amazon:

The Dean, Dillinger, and Dayton, Ohio
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989530248/

The Christmas Killings (color edition)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989530221/

The Christmas Killings (black/white edition)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/098953023X/

Drenched Uniforms and Battered Badges (color edition)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989530205/

Drenched Uniforms and Battered Badges (black/white edition)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989530213/

05/29/2026

Today, the main image posted is a slightly modified and definitely colorized version of a postcard (inset and donated by retired USAF Master Sgt. Gary Siler) that is well-known by those familiar with the history of 1913 Great Dayton Flood.

The policeman is Ptl. Charles Wilkens, Dayton PD’s longest-serving officer with 47 full years of service (1903-1950). The motorcar is a 1912-13 Oakland (identified by Ken Koontz). The patrolman is holding a large sign advising panicked residents in a city under as much as 20 feet of water that a north Miami Valley dam “did not break.” On the 100th anniversary and thereafter, this image was humorously used for a series of DPH PowerPoint presentations given throughout the local community about the police role during the Great Flood of 1913… but with a different message.

In 2013, Dayton Police History Foundation (DPHF) donated for permanent exhibit to Carillon Historical Park (CHP) a 1913 Dayton police “deputy” badge issued to the ONG aide-de-camp to General George Wood; a 1913 police hat; and a 1913 panoramic photograph of the Dayton motorcycle squad. This was a start… however, the real, long-sought GOAL of DPHF was, and still is, to establish a permanent Dayton Metropolitan Police Museum facility at CHP [mentioned in previous post]. And with that purpose in mind, an important and consequential change is currently unfolding.

On May 19, 2026 – after six months of planning, and the signing of several legal agreements – DPHF has become a “Committee Advised Fund” component of The Dayton Foundation (TDF). This consequential arrangement allows DPHF to focus, undistracted, on its mission to recount and preserve local law enforcement history. At the same time, it can pursue its stated GOAL while TDF deals with DPHF administrative and operational matters.

More importantly, this significant new affiliation secures DPHF’s current funds as well as future donations in perpetuity for achieving its principal goal of a permanent police museum; and to that end, it will raise the profile of DPHF and open networking avenues to attract greater financial support. The Dayton Foundation logo will soon appear with the Dayton Police History Foundation logo (top right) on its website, letterhead, etc. as well as the QR code of TDF for ease in making credit card donations.

DPHF has a long and cooperative history with Carillon Historical Park even before the 2013 Great Flood exhibit [see next post] and that cooperation will continue this year on a large, permanent exhibit now in the planning stages with a criminal justice component. More will be related on that exhibit and DPHF’s future affiliation with The Dayton Foundation as both evolve over the summer.

What is Dayton Police History Foundation? To be continued….

______________________
You can support DPH Foundation through the purchase of its books at Amazon:

Drenched Uniforms and Battered Badges (color edition)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989530205/

Drenched Uniforms and Battered Badges (black/white edition)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989530213/

05/25/2026

Having dedicated the first 3 weeks of this month to police memorial tributes and other remembrances, it is time to dovetail with a post having to do with local military combat veterans who sacrificed to keep American safe. Today is National Memorial Day. Although it was observed as Decoration Day in 1866, it was officially dedicated 60 years ago in 1966.

Depicted today is a rendering provided by Wright-Dunbar, Inc. This seems the perfect day to post it. Construction is underway for a $1.5 million Medal of Honor Memorial and Honor Park. It will pay tribute to our 40 Miami Valley recipients of the U.S. Medal of Honor – such as USMC Corporal Tony Stein (Dayton) and USAF Staff Sergeant William Pitsenbarger (Piqua) who heroically sacrificed their lives – and other military combat veterans.

The Medal of Honor Memorial is tentatively scheduled to be dedicated in September this year. It will be located on grounds at the north corner of the West Third Street Bridge on Edwin C. Moses Boulevard. This is on the same roadway strip between two bridges and crossing another of the newest site. The Medal of Honor Memorial is just one-half mile west of the $1.5 million Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial (lower left) that was dedicated on May 15. This is located at 601 W. Riverview Avenue directly across from the Dayton View Bridge.

National Armed Forces Day was little over a week ago on May 16. This is an occasion to honor members in active service to our nation. Depicted are active-duty Dayton Police Sergeant Gordon Cairns (appointed in 2002) and Officer Johnathan ‘Jack’ Miniard (app’t 1999). Both are veterans of the Ohio Army National Guard, respectively as a staff sergeant cavalry scout and staff sergeant combat medic. Sgt. Cairns is now in his 29th active year in the OANG; Off. Miniard retired after 20+ years.

Back in 2009 they were assigned to 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment preparing for a convoy security mission at Taji, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (lower right). During this deployment both were assigned to the Dayton Police Central Business District as motorcycle officers. They continue riding together today in Uncle Sam's Avengers Motorcycle Club. On May 17, 2022 at the Dayton FOP Lodge, on behalf of the USA Motorcycle Club, Gordon and Jack presented a sizeable donation of $5,000 to Dayton Police History Foundation, Inc. This supports the ongoing goal of establishing a Dayton Metropolitan Police Museum at Carillon Historical Park [see next post].

There is an undeniable connection between the military service, police service, and sacrifice. The stories run throughout our local law enforcement history from the Civil War to present.

05/22/2026

Today, another remembrance of an individual kind. The Xarhoulacos brothers opened their bar and restaurant to those who frequented the downtown scene [see previous post]. All were welcomed to join together to unburden themselves from the stresses of daily work. One of those visitors was Dayton Det. “Red” Ted Rayney (career 1966-1989). He liked what he found. He decided to bring Det. Terry Pearson with him, and before long, history was being made.

The Moraine Embassy became a cop’s hangout and the X brothers enjoyed their newest customers and the wild (often true) stories they told. Red, Terry, and soon others in blue joined in. When the Embassy closed in 2013, a portion of the actual bar was gifted to the Dayton FOP Lodge where is remains today… and that includes one section of the bar rail that has an imbedded brass plate “In Memory of Terry Pearson.” Depicted in this post with scotch tape over the screw heads so as not to snag clothing, it is dedicated to a “Long Time Customer; Life Time Friend.”

Raised in West Virginia, Terry entered the Police Academy in September 1968 and became a larger-than life figure on the Dayton police force, retiring in October 1997. As a uniform officer he patrolled east and west Dayton. By 1973, he was assigned to the Detective Bureau. He worked Fugitive-Pawn Shop, undercover on the Anti-Fencing Unit, Robbery, and Homicide, investigating many high-profile cases. Despite a plainclothes assignment, he was often in uniform working overtime. He was the long-time vice president of the Dayton Fraternal Order of Police who represented fellow officers with resolve.

His burly, rough appearance, and gruff voice belied a keen mind and a persuasive manner, both forceful and smooth. He would get under the skin of members of the command, but would also draw their paise for his skills. He loved “the challenge and outright joy of the job.” Most importantly, he was a loyal friend to the men and women in blue and many others. He could not fully leave after a 29-year career; he became an investigator for the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office next door to the Safety Building.

After just six months, on April 14, 1998, Det. Pearson died unexpectedly from a brain aneurism, shocking everyone. He had turned 50 only two months earlier. His fellow officers so respected him, they dedicated a marker in his honor on the southwest grounds of the Safety Building on West Third Street. No one else has been so honored. As noted, a brass plate “In Memory of Terry Pearson” was also inset on the bar rail at the Moraine Embassy. No one else has been so honored. The bar rail today is at the Dayton FOP Lodge where it is frequently touched by his friends.

05/19/2026

The first two weeks of this month featured posts “In Remembrance.” Today is no different, but it is one of a different kind. Today we remember the Moraine Embassy Bar & Grill located at 25 S. Ludlow Street in Downtown Dayton. If this posts looks a little busy, it is intended.

The Moraine Embassy was "taken over" by three Greek brothers from the old country on August 13, 1969. The Embassy was the watering hole for downtown Dayton workers, newspaper reporters, court employees… and cops.

After two decades, at the end of February in 1990, the old sign was removed by three workers. "The Embassy" new neon sign appeared in the window next to the door. The late Kevin Harrrington designed a caricature of the bar’s co-owners, left to right: Jimmy, Bill, and Tommy Xarhoulacos (aka Tommy X). It became the center piece in the renovated interior.

The Cheers theme song asks, “Wouldn't you like to get away?” The Embassy was certainly “the place” to do just that by members of Dayton law enforcement. It was where police officers could share lively memories, ponder sobering experiences, but mostly have fun. They could tell war stories, maybe fib a little (or a lot), laugh, consume adult beverages, and be among friends. Here there were no worries for the men and women in blue for a few hours (or more) in the evening.

Many antics and good times from “Wild Turkey Night” the evening before Thanksgiving, the annual Christmas party, pre-Policemen's Ball dinners, retirement parties, birthday parties and other events [for which no excuse was needed] remain in the hearts those Dayton police officers who served and were served for decades until its final "last call" on June 14, 2013.

Then, on August 17, the entire Schwind Building in which the saloon and restaurant resided was imploded by a series of timed explosions. The building was physically obliterated, but the memories live on.

“You wanna be where everybody knows your name….” It was at the Moraine Embassy. Cheers!

Our thanks to Tommy X’s better half, retired DPD Detective Donna Pack – called “mama” by the bar staff – for the photos and the memories.

Dayton Police History Foundation Inc. DBA: DPH Foundation

06/19/2026

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