Cavan man was Denver’s best ever Chief Of Police – Part I
This week's instalment of Times Past the first of two parts on Police Chief John F. Farley from Killeshandra.
Mr. John F. Farley (1849-1940) was described as Denver’s ‘best ever’ Chief Of Police. The current President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump could not have described it better than the marvellous circular put out in support of Farley’s re-appointment as Denver’s Chief of Police back in November 1897. Due to his popularity and success in the role, the Denver public learned of the Fire and Police Board’s decision to bring back Mr. Farley who previously served from 1889 to 1893. A letter handed directly to him, read: ‘Dear Sir, The Fire and Police board have this day unanimously elected you chief of Police of the City of Denver, I am requested, as the head of the bureau, to communicate the same to you. Trusting you may see your way clear to accept the appointment, I am, Yours very truly, R.W. Speer, Police Commissioner.’ The circular announced that John F. Farley, whom they called ‘the best chief of police Denver ever had’ was back. Today, Farley’s name remains synonymous with the role he played ‘fighting Indians’ and ‘capturing criminals.’
His reply to the bureau’s request came one hour later. What he said at first appeared to be a rejection in which he outlines his reasons for not seeking re-election to the job sooner. He feared the position being aligned too closely to the political parties and admitted, ‘I have never been a politician myself beyond the casting of my own vote’ and he feared he might receive rough housing from the different politicians. Secondly, the funding layout for maintenance of the department was too small and he wanted to do justice to enforcement operations. During his previous term, funding layout came to $150,000, whereas by 1897 it was reduced to $120,000 and not to forget a sizeable territory had since been added to the City of Denver. Thirdly, adding, how he was deeply moved by the board’s selection of him once more to the role and in consideration of this, he remarked: ‘And as I reflect on this, I feel that I therefore have the honour to inform you that I accept from your honourable board the kind offer of this appointment.’ I imagine the board must have breathed in relief.
From Killeshandra to the U.S. Cavalry
American Irishman, John Francis Farley was born in 1849 in Killeshandra, Co Cavan, the son of Peter and Anne Farley (Farrelly). In 1852, at the latter end of the Great Hunger in Ireland, Peter and his family set sail for America and settled in Norwich, Connecticut. John’s schooling took place there until he reached eighteen years old and on leaving behind his days as a scholar, he headed off to enlist in the military, signing up for five years as a ‘trooper in the Third Cavalry of the regular army.’ In 1867, Trooper Farley was assigned to duty in ‘K Company’ then under the captaincy of Major Gerald Russell of Denver. Farley encountered the Indian nation when sent with his company to give protection to settlers living in Arizona and New Mexico who were under attack from the Apaches. In an interview with a Pueblo newspaper from 1939, Farley recounted those times and spoke of the Apache’s theft of livestock and the way they were ambushed near Fort Bowie, Arizona. It was not long till he went up against them in battle when the regiment ‘routed them from the Guadulupe mountains in Western New Mexico.’
Three years later, the army elevated Farley to ‘first sergeant’ of his company. Another fight ensued that year with the ‘Indians in Apache pass’ during which he got ‘dangerously wounded’ by a ball (bullet) fired which on impact lodged ‘in the left hip.’ His luck did not improve in his regiment’s next ‘big fight’ over by Fort Seldon, New Mexico. In his 1939 interview, Farley spoke of being shot through the leg on another occasion. Unable to climb on to his horse, Farley was exposed to the enemy and to save himself he managed to make it to a dried out riverbed where he lay till late at night. Thankfully, troopers reached the riverbed and saved him. Afterwards, it was reported that ‘he was mustered out of the service as a first sergeant’ in 1872 ‘having made a splendid record as an obedient and capable soldier in company duty … a daring and resourceful scout and an Indian fighter to whom a skirmish or a desperate battle with the Apache was a matter of course.’ In time to come, it was said of Farley, that his resolute discipline in the management of the ‘men in police, detective and military work’ seemed to be second nature to him.
Ridding of corruption
Following his stint in the cavalry he joined the firm of Tulley, Oacha and De Long as the superintendent of one of their stores ‘at Apache pass.’ In 1878, he moved to St. Louis where he joined the newly formed Thiel Detective Service Company. His capability in this sphere of duty saw him rise through the ranks until he became manager of the company’s New York and St. Paul’s operations. In 1885, Farley arrived in Denver to establish a new branch for Thiel’s Agency. Eleven years later he became the City’s Police Chief. In 1886, Pinkerton’s Detective Agency formed a branch in Denver in competition to Thiel’s agency.
Serving as Police Chief of Denver City from 1 May 1889 to 17 March 1893, Farley had considered his role as ‘a bit tame’ to the old days at the detective agency, but his rigorous control over the city’s police force having established a ‘code of discipline’ and his excellent crime control record was legendary with one policeman’s pronouncement at the time, that ‘he is the only real chief of police we ever had.’ Within a few months of his appointment in 1889, Police Chief Farley received a golden badge from the citizens of Denver for having cleaned up the force and gotten rid of corruption. Donald Fletcher who presented the award, said ‘sometime ago we had to … blush for shame when asked about police protection … as villainous lot of men as the scum of creation could produce were in charge of the Police Department of this city. They were in league with thieves, prostitutes, and gamblers, and bled them for large moneys to secure immunity from arrest. It was not safe to walk the streets. Hundreds of ladies were insulted by roughs; little girls were assaulted on their way to school and every man felt insecure.’ Next week, we continue with more on the life and career of John F. Farley.
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