History of Scotts Hill Police Department (1917 - 2000)

Early in 1917 the people of the Scotts Hill area decided they wanted to become an incorporated town.  The  boundaries were laid out approximately a half mile each way.  The first city board consisted of I. W. Patterson, mayor and 10 aldermen.  These men served until the first election on the first Thursday in August 1917.  They nominated J. F. White as first marshal.  Then it was decided that it was the marshal's job to open the polls and hold the town election.  He had to notify the voters of the town ten days before the election.  To do this with no newspaper in town, he had to put up had bills in four "conspicuous" places, with one at the post office, the others most likely at Farmers state Bank, The Stock Store, and the telephone office.  With no jail and only a small salary with no vehicle or horse provided, the marshal had to provide his own for transportation to answer calls for assistance of disturbance.  Marshals changed throughout the years as people moved on to better things.  The town dropped its charter in 1939 under mayor Ialy Austin.  Later in 1947 the town reincorporated with Ellis Scott as mayor.  Jim Hayes was town marshal during the late 40's, it is interesting to note that Mr. Hayes was hired and fired three times.  It was in 1948 when the theater opened which brought many people to town and cafes opened as well as other businesses and the small town was really beginning to take shape.  In 1950 Ola Lee Duck was nominated Town Marshal at a time when downtown was a very wild place, mostly with drunken fights when they caused trouble.  The jail later had to close because of no sanitary facilities.  The town then contracted with the county to house those arrested.  With the strict enforcement of the law, Marshal Duck soon made Scotts Hill a safer place.  Ola served Scotts Hill until 1956 when he became Sheriff of Decatur Co. in which he served in that capacity until 1962.  Other Town marshals in the late fifties, sixties, and early seventies were John Stannet, Larry Johnson, Jute Tucker, Wardell Inman and others.  In 1956 the total town revenue was around $1500 for the year.  It wasn't until in 1970 when the town hired a professionally trained policeman furnished with uniforms, security equipment, and an automobile.  The first patrol cruiser was a new green 1969 Plymouth Fury.  The car was obtained through a state grant.  The town board nominated Jessie Powers in this capacity, which by this time is more commonly referred to a Police Chief.  He is always finding ways to improve the Police Department.  Through the seventies and eighties, Chief Powers has had assistants at one time or another.  Those that did were Dusty Starr, Jack Hubbard, Kenneth Hudson, Shelby Johnson, Jute Tucker and Robert Pitts.  By mid-1985 the Police Department obtained a new MPH brand moving radar for $1900.  By 1986 the department was using two patrol units and then three by 1995.  All with moving radar and light bars.  The Department continued to grow throughout the 90's with more officers added.  By the fall of 1999 the department outgrew the small office in city hall and moved into the vacated fire station building.  A dedication was held and was attended by both the Decatur and Henderson County Sheriffs, Mayor Gordon Scott, a couple aldermen, concerned citizens and Henderson County Chamber of Commerce reps.  Also during the open house Farmers State Bank was honored because of the donation of the Police Department sign on the newly renovated building.  The department currently has eight officers.