Town Marshalls / Chiefs
The Hendersonville Police Department was formed in 1880; 33 years after the City's incorporation in 1847. The first law enforcement officers were known as "Town Marshalls" and mostly they served the town alone. Starting in 1900, the City changed the title to Chief of Police. This person also usually served as the Fire Chief and the Public Works administrator until the late fifties when those branches were separated. Below is a complete list of those who have served in either capacity: | |
Town Marshalls | Chiefs of Police |
| • T.F. Freeman 1880-81 • S.M. King 1881 • W.F. Byers 1881 • T.C. Israel 1881-84 • D.P. Kelly 1884-85 • M.M.P Arlidge 1886 • J.F. Orr 1887 • B.B. Jackson 1888-1890 • E.W. Wex Israel 1891-92 • J. A. Bryson 1893 • T.C. Israel 1894-96 • C.E. Brooks 1896 • J.A. Bryson 1897 • W.F. Dotson 1898 • J.A. Bryson 1899 | • J.E. Dotson 1900-01 • P.P. Garren 1902 • Brownlow Jackson 1902-1907 • E.W. Israel 1905 • W.M. Hill 1905 • Jessie "Det" Reese 1907-09 • J.W. McCarson 1909-10 • W. A. Garren 1911 • J.W. McCarson 1912-15 • Otis Powers 1915-40 • Clarence Edney 1941-45 • E. C. Orr 1945-55 • W. S. "Bill" Keeling 1955-56 • W.V. "Bill" Powers 1956-78 • De Bois Edmundson 1978-79 • Larry M. Hesser 1979-87 • Donnie R. Parks 1987-2007 • John Nicholson 2007 • Herbert Blake 2008 - present |
The department has preserved all photos found of our previous Chiefs. They are:
E.W. Wex Israel 1891-92
| |
B.B. Jackson, 1888-1890 |
Brownlow Jackson, 1902-1907 |
Jessie "Det" Reese, 1907-1909 | J.W. McCarson, 1909-1910 |
W.A. Garren, 1911 |
Otis V. Powers, 1915-1940 |
Clarence Edney, 1941-1945 |
E.C. Orr, 1945-1955 |
W.S. "Bill" Keeling, 1955-1956 |
W.V. "Bill" Powers, 1956-1978 |
DeBois Edmundson, 1978-1979 |
Larry Hesser, 1979-1987 |
Donnie R. Parks, 1987-2007 |
John Nicholson, 2007 |
Chief Herbert Blake, 2008 - Present | |
