History
In 1817 Monroe County was set off from Wayne County by a proclamation of General Lewis Cass, Governor of the Michigan Territory. The Village of Monroe was incorporated on September 3, 1817, and became the City of Monroe on March 22, 1837.
Town Marshals were responsible for maintaining law and order in the city of Monroe beginning in 1837. The Town Marshals served from 1837 through 1878. An Ordinance was passed on February 13, 1878 to provide for City Police. This ordinance established the Monroe Police Department. The title of Town Marshal was changed at that time to City Marshal.
In 1913 a new city charter ended the reference to City Marshals and began the title of the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police position existed before 1913, but it was not an official title according to the city charter.
Below is a list of Monroe Town and City Marshals. There is a gap in the years surrounding the U.S. Civil War, and the names are not known at this time.
Town Marshals
- Jacob W. Alexander – 1837
- Benjamin W. Latham – 1838
- Theron Taylor – 1839
- John Anderson – 1840
- Jacob W. Alexander – 1841
- D H Carpenter – 1841
- Timothy Hawley – 1842 to 1843
- Jarvis Eldred – 1844 to 1852
- Eldridge Brigham – 1853
- Frederick Godfroy – 1854
- John Molhollen – 1855
- Sam Duvall – 1860 to 1861
- John Duco – 1870
- Thomas Strong – 1871
- John Duco – 1874
- Jarvis Eldred – 1875 to 1878
City Marshals
- Erastus Hubble – 1879 – 1881
- Jarvis Eldred – 1882
- Frank Bendereiter – 1883
- Christian Fay – 1885
- George Ellis – 1886 to 1887
- Frank Lemerand – 1888 to 1889
- Jarvis Eldred – 1895 -1896
- Joseph Anteau – 1901 – 1906
- Sidney Eaton – 1906
- Columbus Navarre – 1907
- Columbus C. Dulco – 1908
- Frank J. Forner – 1909 to 1917