Asylum Mobilitarium: January 2014

Monday, January 27, 2014

Dallas Police Shield February 2014

Just before Christmas in 1909 there was a small paragraph buried among other news of the day relating to the DPD. This piece told of a hearing of “charges of unbecoming conduct,” preferred against Patrolman T.A. Tedford by B.Frost. I assume B.Frost was a civilian and this was a typical complaint about the actions of a police officer. Of course what is different here is the fact that Officer Tedford was shot and killed about two and a half years later. By the way I couldn’t find what the complaint was or what happened to it.

T.A. Tedford was serving as a mounted unit officer in 1912. On July 26^th of that year, surely hot and sultry, especially wearing a heavy wool uniform while riding on an equally steaming, hot horse, a Captain Keehan received a call about two guys fighting in the alley near Ninth Street and West Jefferson.

Mounted officers Tedford and his partner J.V.Wright arrived at the scene of the fight about 3:30pm.

At this time the two officers decided to split up, Wright riding around the side of a building into the alley, Tedford riding straight down the alley. Tedford got to the two suspects, Leonard Potts and Roy Glascow before Wright. Tedford began to get off his horse to talk to the two guys. At this moment, Potts pulled out a pistol and shot Tedford. Tedford had probably not gotten off his horse or had just hit the ground when the shot was fired. The bullet went through his wrist and into his side. Tedford fell to the ground. Potts then walked over to the officer and shot Tedford in the chest as he lay there in the alley.

Officer Wright had taken the long way around in an attempt I’m sure to block the escape of the two guys who naturally (and usually) would start running the other way when an officer on a horse would be barreling down on them.

Now suspect Glascow, who probably thought fighting in an alley is one thing, but shooting an officer is another, pulled out a knife and slashed Potts right side. Potts then turned and shot the knife out of Glascow’s hand.

Officer Wright, finally reaching the scene and realizing what had happened and who was the shooter, shot at Potts. The suspect started running down Pecan Street and Wright lost sight of him. It’s not known whether Wright ordered Glascow to do so, but Glascow jumped on Tedford’s horse and rode to the police station to tell the desk sergeant and others what had happened.

In the meantime Tedford was taken to the hospital where he died two days later.

Several posses were formed up consisting of local people, officers and farmers. Officers took up a collection to create a reward for the capture of the killer of Officer Tedford. The trail was cold however after Officer Wright had lost Potts after the suspect started running and Wright lost sight of him in a nearby creek.

Later, there were sightings of the suspect Potts north of Dallas around Paris and Clarksville. There were also sightings of him in east Texas around Mt.Pleasant.

On July 30^th, four days after Potts killed Officer T.A.Tedford, the killer of the officer shot the Red River county Sheriff Stevens in the head. Another posse was formed this time with good results. Potts was chased to Detroit Texas and was killed by the posse.

Officer Tedford was buried at the Oak Cliff Cemetery after a funeral procession from his home at 208 E.10^th Street. He was 41 years old.