Hingham Police Celebrate 106th Birthday

The Hingham Police Department celebrated its 106th birthday on Monday, August 12.  

The Department was first organized on this date in 1907 and its headquarters was located at 70 North Street after there was much concern over the safety issues.  It took years to start a police department because the town was not ready to pay policemen for ensuring peace and tranquility, according to HPD.org.

During the late 1800’s there were incidents such as loafing at Broad Bridge, nude bathing at Mill Pond, vandalism in the North Ward, consisting of unhinging and destroying gates, trampling gardens, throwing stones at the windows of houses, storefronts, and factories, damaging street signs and lanterns, stealing fruit and hens, burglarizing homes and stores, according to offenses which were logged.

In 1880, there were two night "policemen" on duty and their salary was $2.50 per night, according to the Hingham Police Department website.

In 1886, the town was persuaded to spend $26 on a budget for "policemen", and the following year in 1887, the selectmen were authorized to hire four "policemen". During the 1890s the town saw fit to have eight "policemen" on the payroll, one of them being Washington I. James, who would later become the first police chief.

Today the Hingham Police is led by Chief Michael Peraino, who became the town’s ninth police chief in 2011. The Deputy Chief is Glenn Olsson and the there are five Lieutenants, seven Sergeants,  three Detectives, and over 30 patrolman.

Today the department is located on Central Street and is attached to the Town Hall building.

Hingham Police Chiefs:

Chief Washington I James

Chief Harold A. Macfarlane

Chief Oscar P. Beck

Chief Raymond C. Campbell

Chief William T. Cushing

Chief Joachim-Ingo Borowski

Steven D. Carlson

Taylor Mills

Michael Peraino