Walla Walla Elects a New Police Chief
Alvah Brown secures an overwhelming electoral victory after a long career as a patrolman and local business owner.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Alvah Brown, Walla Walla's newly elected chief of police, is receiving the congratulations of hundreds of friends today. When Mr. Brown announced his candidacy, the knowing ones predicted he was the strongest man in the city for the place, but even his staunchest admirers underestimated his popularity. Mr. Brown was born in Silverton, Oregon, in 1855, and moved to Walla Walla at age 28. After a stint as secretary of the Walla Walla Water Company and time in the cigar business, he served five years as a patrolman under Chief Robinson, where he was considered one of the bravest officers in the state. His public life has been above reproach and his home life has been ideal.
“When Mr. Brown announced himself as a candidate for the office, the knowing ones predicted that he was the strongest man in the city for the place.”
Local law enforcement in 1903 Walla Walla was a highly personal affair, with candidates often rising through the ranks of the force or local business circles rather than specialized bureaucracy. Today, municipal policing is significantly more complex, but the 'strong man' archetype for police leadership remains a recurring theme in local civic discourse.
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