November 14, 1936
Members To Study Police Methods as Well as Have Good Time
First definite step toward organization of the proposed Sheriff Department Posse was taken Friday night at a meeting of more than 30 prospective possemen at the courthouse.
Temporary officers were elected and a committee for preparing a constitution and by-laws for the organization was named. Capt. John R. Hughes, retired Texas Ranger, was elected honorary president of the group for life.
Leonard Butchofsky was elected “ranch boss”, an office corresponding to president; Wyndam White will be “ranch foreman”; Dick Crawford, sheriff ‘s department legal staff will be “wagon boss” and W. J. Myres was elected “country banker”, corresponding to treasurer of the group.Sheriff Gives Ideas
Sheriff Chris P. Fox, addressing the group after plans for organization had been discussed, stressed the importance of the posse in perpetuating the spirit of cattle county, its importance as a law enforcing agency, and its possibilities as a social and recreational center.
“The idea of a sheriff’s posse is not a new one,” Fox said. “Los Angeles has one that has been doing some fine work for the past ten years. We can’t have the fancy trappings, the silver-decked saddles and fine uniforms that they have- but we can revive the spirit of our western country and, at the same time, do some admirable work.”The group plans to avoid the “drug store cowboy” variety of clothing and, instead, wear the same worn chaps, boots, spurs, and ten gallon hats that are familiar to every hard-working cowhand. They will actively participate in community undertakings such as parades, the Sun Carnival, horse shows, and in times of emergency aid regular city and county officials.
Sheriff Police Methods
Besides presenting the more picturesque side of El Paso’s life, the possemen will study police methods and practice with fire-arms for times when their duties will be of a sterner nature.
Attending the meeting Friday night were: Dr. Hugh Shannon, Capt. J. R. Hughes, C. M. Newman, J. Dawson , Sam Cleavenger, Percy Sanderson, J. S. Dugan, Ed Ardoin, Leonard Butchofsky, J. R. Padgett, Detective Charles Mathews, W. J. Myres, R. G. Kelly, J. A. Hitchens, O. B. Hocker, Jack Bell, George Mansfield, S. W. Cooper, H. C. Norman, A. L. Rains, Lee Saunders, Wyndam White, Gammon Guinn, Louis Scott, Henry Wooldridge, Barry Hagedon, Ralph Homan, Dick Crawford, Vernus M. Carey, Detective Bennett Wilson, F. P. McDonald. Prospective members unable to attend at the meeting were Charles N. Basset, Detective Capt. W. C. Woolverton, Col. W. C. Strickland, Dr. Bill Mutlhauf, Dr. Frank Goodwin, and Joe Kennedy.
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