Distribution of medals to officers of the police force
On Friday last a number of silver medals were distributed to officers of the police force who have, during various periods of servitude, distinguished themselves by their ability and good conduct. Mr J. A. TOBIN, several members of the watch committee, besides many of the borough magistrates were present. The proceedings took place at St George's Hall, where a large body of the force, under the direction of Captain GREIG and his subordinate officers, was drawn up, the number of men assembled including those to whom medals had been awarded was about 550.
The medal which is exceedingly neat, and of sterling silver, bears on the obverse side the following inscription in the centre "Presented by the watch committee [name] as a reward for good conduct" Round the edge of the medal is inscribed, "Order of merit of the Liverpool Police Force" The reverse side bears the Liverpool arms, with the motto, "Deus nobis", etc October 9th 1852. Each has a blue ribbon attached to it with 1, 2, or 3 silver bars, showing the length of time the recipient has been in the force, each bar indicates 5 years servitude. The medal which is of excellent workmanship, was struck by Messers ALLAN and MOORE, of Great Hampton Rd, Birmingham
Before the medals were distributed Mr J. A. TOBIN addressed the men :-
"It is a source of very great pleasure to me to have to attend this day to present to a number of men of the police force some token of appreciation from the watch committee, not a reward for a single act of good conduct, of daring, or of skill, but for a steady continuance, during a lengthened period, of such qualities. I have carefully selected the qualifications of those men selected, and can truly say that each selection has been made without one particle of favouritism or partiality. By their own conduct the men must stand or fall. [He then explains the significance of the bars] Men who have passed such a test ought to be proud indeed, of the honour conferred upon them, they are entitled to be looked up to with respect by their brother officers. Let them, then, be careful to maintain such a good character, otherwise they would be deprived of this distinction. An act of misconduct on the part of any of you who have been selected would be lowering your brother officers in the estimation of the public, who would then say that this token of distinction was not necessarily a proof of good conduct. To those who have not received this award I would say, do not look with envy upon your brother officers who have been more fortunate, but let each one say to himself, "I will earn for myself this prize, my conduct henceforth shall be that, at the proper time, I shall merit a similar mark of approbation"
I cannot avoid this opportunity of stating the great pleasure I feel in having repeatedly noticed the very marked improved conduct on the part of the police force, especially in their forbearance. Acts of violence are now very rare indeed, and I trust will soon disappear altogether. Those who are guilty of such acts bring discredit on the whole force, and you must, therefore endeavour to shame such persons out of their unmanly ways by the calmness and good temper displayed, under all emergencies, by the great body of the men. Such an example on your part will do far more than the severest punishment we can inflict. At the same time I must state most positively that we shall punish with the greatest severity any such acts of violence, but I hail with pleasure this day, and I trust that the ceremony we have now met to perform may be received not only as a mark of approval, and reward for past good conduct, but that it may be one means of infusing a fresh spirit, and give a fresh incentive to the force, so that you may all hereafter perform your duties, in your several capacities, with even greater zeal, knowing that one hand we deal out severity on the bad, on the other hand we hold out honour, reward, and promotion to good deserving officers."
Captain GREIG, addressed the chairman, "Sir, I would take the blame to myself, and the whole force would blame me, were I not to thank you for what you have said and done this day. I am sure I express the wish of all the men that you may long preside over us as chairman of the watch committee, for I know no one who has shown so warm an interest in the force, and I hope, by good conduct, the men will continue to merit your approbation."
The distribution then took place Mr Superintendent RIDE reading over the names of the men, who advanced and received the medals one by one from the chairman. The list of the rewarded :-
Divisional Superintendent QUICK, Indoor Superintendent CLOUGH, Divisional Superintendent RIDE, governor of the main bridewell, PARKINSON, chief clerk William COWAN
Superintendents, MURPHY, WALKER, BURTON, BOYD and BRENAN
Fire Superintendent HEWITT
Inspectors BURRELL, MADDOCKS, FORSTALL, ATHERTON, CAMPBELL, CHEW, KENNEDY, MASSEY, John MOORE, RIMMER, WATMOUGH, BATES, BIBBY, MORROW, HEYDEN, BULLOCK, CROSTON, HASSALL, THOMPSON, HAINES, LOWCOCK, James MOORE, O'BRIEN, SMITH, WHITE, KEHOE, PARKINS, HAGARTY, WRIGHT, STEWART, BYERS, HOUGH.
Clerks, GALLIERS, CLARKE, FEATHERSTONE, DAWSON.
Bridewell keepers, HARTLEY, JONES, KELLEY, WILSON, BLAKE, HARPER, DEWES, PHILLIPS, BUTLER, M'INNES, LEGG, BLAGKETT, DAVIES, BATEMAN, PIERCE.
Constables, HALSALL, LLOYD, M'COURT, HOLDEN, LITTLE COTTIER, STEELE, NUTTER.
Police-constables, M'DONALD, 48, ALEXANDER, 77, CARROLL, 103, LEE, 139, SLACK, 176, THOMAS, 178, CLARKE, 181, TURNER, 200, BECK, 209, DINGWALL, 225, BELL, 232, LILLY, 289, HODGSON, 298, HILL, 328, FLYNN, 334, CROFT, 356, PARKINSON, 381, JONES, 391, KERMODE, 394, BREEN, 399, PEARSON, 410, WINSTANLEY, 428, PRICE, 356, HETHERINGTON, 457, DICKENSON, 462, ARROWSMITH, 479, M'KNEALE, 515, HUTCHINS, 592, SHAW, 562, MADDOCKS, 572, WALSH, 573, BIRNIE, 272, SCAIFE, 210, WILLIAMS, 680, ASTICK, 153, CAMPBELL, 218, THORNTON, 292, SWAINE, 633.
Mr TOBIN addressed kindly and suitable observations to many of the officers and on the conclusion of the presentation, Mr Superintendent RIDE thanked Mr TOBIN, on behalf of his fellow officers and men, for the ceremony of the day, and for the deep interest which the chairman had taken in the force, and he trusted that these proceedings would encourage them to still further exertions in the future.
Mr TOBIN, expressed his gratitude for the kind and friendly feeling manifested towards himself and the committee, the latter could do nothing without the co-operation of the officers, and he was sure that with Captain GREIG at its head, that the police would soon become one of the best in the kingdom.
The proceedings closed, and the police having been inspected by the committee, were soon afterwards marched away in divisions.
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