The Fifties were to see many changes taking place. Chief John Balthrop, Lt. W.T. Milling, A.D. Curtis, Robert I. Hall, B.A. Seay and Leslie Suiter would retire. The Police Department would rely on its younger officers to provide the strong leadership needed to move ahead with more modern equipment and new methods of policing.

In 1953, the purchase of an alcometer was approved at a cost not to exceed $845.00. The Mayor recommended adding a $2.00 cost to each case when it was used. The state, county and other officers were offered the alcometer’s use at the same cost. The Department was also looking at bids for a loud speaker or an amplifier to e used to control crowds at fire or accident sites. A woman was found to be working out successfully as a school patrol woman and the possibility of placing one at each school was being investigated.

Fort Campbell officials invited the Police Department to use their target range free of charge. The City Council was considering furnishing officers with ammunition instead of requiring they purchase their own.

During 1954, Officer James Davis was accepted at the F.B.I. School and before the year was out, he would be promoted to Sergeant.

Four additional women were hired to work school patrol. During the summer months, they were assigned to the City’s recreation areas at their normal salary of $50 a month.

Charlie Vaden returned to the Police Department in 1954, leaving his job in security with the B.F. Goodrich plant.

By 1955, another woman would be hired and the women’s salaries increased to $75 a month. Also, four more patrolmen were to be hired for extra duties as traffic officers on Saturdays and other busy days when needed.

The position of Lieutenant within the Police Department was created by city ordinance at a salary of $280.00 a month. James Rinehart was promoted to fill this spot.

The salary list for the Police Department in 1956 was as follows: (on a monthly basis)

Chief of Police: $400.00

Captain: $330.00

Lieutenant: $308.00

Sergeant: $286.00

Patrolman: $264.00

Patrolman (first three months): $225.00

Bookkeeper: $240.00

Workhouse Keeper: $165.00

Chain Gang Boss: $264.00

Patrol woman: $82.50

The bookkeeper position was held by Mr. James Lane, a job that was later reclassified as Administrative Assistant.

On February 1, 1957, Chief John P. Balthrop retired with a pension of $200 per month. James O. Davis was elected the new Chief with Louis Kirby as his Assistant Chief. Charlie Vaden was promoted to Sergeant and promoted again to Lieutenant within seven months.

In 1957, Henry Newell and Euless R. Pettus were hired. They were the first black officers hired within the Clarksville Police Department.

Mayor Crow made the recommendation to the Police Department in 1957 that all police guns be of the same caliber, if at all possible.

In the early part of 1959, James O. Davis submitted his resignation as Chief and Louis Kirby was named to replace him.

The Police Department employee roster for 1959 consisted of:

Chief: Louis Kirby

Assistant Chief: Charlie Vaden

Captain: James Rinehart

Lieutenant: Joe Smith

Sergeants: Vester Emmett, Ed Groves, Calvin Louie, Lonnie Perigo, Gracey Farmer, George Blanton and E.T. Rinehart

Workhouse Keeper: Melvin Winters

Patrolmen:

Kenneth Albright, Carney Baggett, Staton Black, Russell Davidson, Sidney W. Davis, Andrew R. Earl, Luther Ellison, Jesse S. Evans, Wesley W. Haddock, Robert E. Haynes, Russell M. Herndon, Wesley A. Jacobs, Joe D. Kennedy, Robert W. Lucas, Henry Newell, Euless R. Pettus, Herschel Phillips, Sterling Pursell, Otis Rose, Theodore Seay, Allen Skaggs, Billy Ray South, Benton T. Swaffer, Niles H. Townsend and Henry B. Wall.

Patrol women:

Annie S. Allen, Eura Fletcher, Buena Lee Mills, Evelyn S. Richardson, Dorothy E. Smith and Lucille N. Smith.

The following men were approved for selection and hired to the Police Department in the late 1950’s:

Ovelle Blackwell, Bernie D. Campbell, P.H. Gupton, James C. Hinton, Winston R. Howell, Willie James, John Lee, Robert W. Minnick and George Morrow.

The Sixties were a time of progress, but also a time of turmoil as social problems began to surface that would eventually change the way police work was performed across the nation.

The City Council authorized the hiring of two meter maids at $225.00 a month. Chosen were two police women with the most seniority: Evelyn S. Richardson and Dorothy E. Smith. Mrs. Norman Young and Mrs. Hiram K. Winningham were then hired as new school patrol women.

More and more emphasis was being placed on investigators who were trained in various areas of expertise, such as; fingerprinting, crime scene techniques, footprints, tracks and other specialized fields.

In July of 1961, it was the written recommendation of the City Council that:

All present members of the Police Department be re-elected for a term of two years.

Chief Louis Kirby retired and Chief Salerno took over. Salerno suggested reorganization of the entire Department, alternation of police officers and the repair of the floor of the workhouse quarters as a start. His pay was increased to $500 a month.

In September of 1961, it was decided that police members would receive a raise of $9.60 per month. This raise was in lieu of a uniform allowance. The one exception would be the first year’s complete uniform be issued to each employee at city expense. Also, the Department secretary would receive a salary increase from $160 to $200 a month.

For the first time the Police Department presented a formal budget to the City Council for consideration.

Chief Salerno elected to leave his support officers in their current roles and even more officers were hired.

The roster for 1961 was as follows:

Sam Salerno, Carney Baggett, Staton Black, George Blanton, Russell Davidson, Sidney Davis, Andrew Earl, Paul Edwards, Vester Emmett, Jesse Evans, Gracey Farmer, James Gaxiola, Ed Groves, Robert Haynes, Albert Hilderband, Willie James, James Jacobs, Joe Kennedy, Eugene Lewis, Calvin Louie, Elmer McGavic, George Morrow, Henry Newell, Lonnie Perigo, Sterling Pursell, Evelyn Richardson, Ervine Rinehart, James Rinehart, Otis Rose, Theodore Seay, Allen Skaggs, Dorothy Smith, Joe Smith, Benton Swaffer, Niles Townsend and Charlie Vaden.

School Patrol: Annie Allen, Eura Fletcher, Perline Mills, Dorothy Smith, H.K. Winningham and Fanny Mae Young.

In the early part of 1962 Charlie Vaden took over the job as Chief of Police from Sam Salerno. Carney Baggett chose to retire and two new black officers were hired, Bennie Woodson and Robert Riggins.

In 1962, Barksdale School received electrical timing devices which acted as extra protection to slow motorists.

Andrew Earl was selected as one of 75 candidates nationwide to attend the F.B.I. School in April 1963. John Lee and James Davis, two earlier graduates from this course, were no longer with the force. There had been several previous efforts to enroll a Clarksville officer in the course but without success. Andrew Earl did attend and successfully graduated from the 12 week course.

1963 was to see the reduction of money for the Police Department, this lead to the ordered termination of five officers due to the cuts. However, before all five could be terminated, personnel shortages due to illness and other reasons required that two of the men be retained in order to fill the vacancies.

Even with the budget crunch, the Department was able to purchase a good radar set for $1000. The radar set was ordered to be kept in use at all times.

Police officers were requested by the City Council to take their vacations during the summer months rather than the busy fall and winter months. It was also decided to dismiss the patrol women during the summer season, thus saving the City approximately $2000.

Gracey Farmer became Assistant Chief in December of 1963 and was also placed in charge of the Investigations Department.

By September of 1964, Ira Calvin Nunley, a retired US Army serviceman, who had been with the Department approximately two years, was being considered as the new Chief of Police as Charlie Vaden was retiring.

In October of 1965, Ordinance 10-1965-66 which created a Detective Division was discussed. Detectives were to make a salary of $345.00 a month, with the Detective Sergeants making $372.00 a month.

By 1966, it was decided that the Police Department would continue their in-service training program as a permanent procedure.

In addition, City Judge Collier Goodlett requested through the Police Committee that the City purchase a new alcometer for the Department. Judge Goodlett verified that the present machine could be inaccurate. Therefore, it was approved that a new alcometer be purchased in the amount of $1000, including installation. Additional component parts were to be purchased extra at an approximate cost of $2000.

Resolution 12-1966-97 was passed, creating the new position and appointment of a Juvenile Crime Prevention Officer. This position would be under the direct supervision of Assistant Chief Gracey Farmer. Officer Charles Binkley who had been hired earlier in 1966, was appointed to this position.

1966 also saw the request to the City Council for Police Officers to receive holidays or time off. They were the only employees in the city who did not receive this benefit.

In 1967, due to the annexation of New Providence, six new patrolmen were hired and assigned to the northern area. Captain Theodore “Ted” Seay was placed in charge of the three shifts in New Providence, as well as traffic control. E.T. Rinehart was in charge of the other three shifts in the City of Clarksville.

Blue dome lights were installed for the first time on patrol cars in 1967. At the same time, Sgt. Jesse Dyce was recommended to assist James Lane, the Administrative Clerk due to the increasing number of court cases being presented by members of the police force.

The salaries for 1969 were as follows: (on monthly basis)

Chief of Police: $600.00

Assistant Chief: $550.00

Captain: $480.00

Lieutenant: $455.00

Sergeant: $430.00

Desk Sergeant: $445.00

Detective: $415.00

School Patrol: $135.00

Meter Maids: $395.00

Clerk: $550.00

Assistant Clerk: $455.00

Patrolmen (1 st three months): $375.00

Patrolmen (up to 2 years): $390.00

Patrolmen (2 years and merit): $400.00

During 1968, the first paddy wagon was purchased after an incident at a local high school football game.

In 1969, walkie talkie radios, the same as those used by the Fire Department, were requested to be purchased. The City Council approved buying two portables, minus the charger and carrying case.

Under Title 1 of Anonymous Crime Control, the Police Department made application for and received two grants for personnel training. All schools were to be held in Donaldson, Tennessee. By the end of 1969, 11 men were scheduled for three different classes.

The era of trained police officers had officially begun.