Culver City police’s first chief

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The emergence of a city may make us think in terms of boundaries, streets and utilities, housing and commerce, but don’t forget the safety of its people. We know from a document, datelined “Venice, Cal – February 25, 1914,” of city founder Harry Culver’s concern for the policing of the city. The original letter announcing the city’s first chief was written after Culver’s 1913 announcement of his city but prior to Culver City’s 1917 incorporation.

In this letter addressed to “Mr. H. H. Culver, Los Angeles, Cal.,” from F. J. Barton, who is noted as constable of the Ballona Township in Los Angeles County, is the name of Culver City’s first chief of police. The body of the letter from the offices of Compton & Rialto, reads:

“ Dear Sir:

In response to your phone of the 24th Inst. Relative to the policing of Culver City, I beg to advise you that I have appointed Mr. F. C. Cole as your first [c]hief of [p]olice, and I can highly recommend him as a first class officer and above all a fine gentleman. I have instructed him to make reports to me, and I will in turn transmit the same to you after the matter has been given attention. Thanking you for past favors, and wishing you the success you deserve in your enterprising new city, I remain, Sincerely yours, FJB [hand written script], Constable Ballona Twp.

Below, in the same beautiful script is a note to Cole:

“Mr. Cole, please note and comply.  F. J. Barton.”

The document is clearly the carbon copy sent to Cole. It was passed along by the Cole family in 1957.

From the records furnished by the Culver City Police Department, Mr. Cole was followed by a series of five marshals, beginning with E. Mason in 1918. The top position became known as “chief” again with Walter Shaw in 1926.

I want to thank Culver City police Lt. Ron Iizuka for presenting an interesting program about the police department this week at the Culver City Historical Society meeting. Our city services and school district continue to make Culver City a fine place in which to live and work.