John M. Glass

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John M. Glass
John M. Glass as Police Chief
Mayor of Jeffersonville
In office 1883 – 1885
Preceded by	Luther Warder
Succeeded by	Herman Preefer
Chief of LAPD
In office 1889 – 1900
Preceded by	James E. Burns
Succeeded by	Charles Elton
Died	1925 California
Political party	Republican

John M Glass (Died 1925) was a mayor of Jeffersonville, Indiana and Chief of Police of Los Angeles, California.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Jeffersonville

John Glass would serve as the marshal for Jeffersonville from 1879 to 1883 before becoming the mayor of Jeffersonville. He would defeat Luther Warder for the mayoral race and serve as mayor from 1883 to 1885.^[1] In 1884 as Mayor he would make an appeal to the Board of Trade Relief Committee to attempt to acquire several thousand pounds of meat, coffee, and bread to help stimulate the trade market in Jeffersonville.^[2] As mayor he would also attempt to acquire $50,000 from congress for the cities levee system. When the money wasn't received John Glass made claims that some residents of the town has paid $1,250 to officers of the house of the 48th Congress.^[3] By April of 1886 John Glass would resign from his position and then be subject to examination of the House Civil Service Committee of charges of bribery.^[4]

[edit] Los Angeles

Following the end of his political career in Jeffersonville John would move out west to Los Angeles. With his experience as a marshal in Jeffersonville he landed a job on the Los Angeles Police Department. On July 17, 1889 John would become the 17th Chief of Police for Los Angeles and be the first to exceed two years as Chief of Police. John would serve that position until January 1, 1900.^[5] Twenty five Chiefs later no one would serve longer than John Glass at that position until William H. Parker which would serve for 16 years. John Glass during his career as Chief of Police would set up the first police districts, substations, patrol wagon, entry level officer requirements, police matron, and California's first adoption of the Alphonse Bertillon identification system. He increase the man power of the police by 20%.^[6] In addition he made the police officer appear more military with the purchase of Winchester rifles and military style uniforms and drills conducted outside their central station.^[7] However like every city, problems occur and by 1900 John Glass was falling behind with only about 70 officer for the cities 100,000 population and with political pressure John Glass was replaced by Charles Elton.

[edit] See also

• List of mayors of Jeffersonville, Indiana
• List of Los Angeles Police Department Chiefs of Police

[edit] References