Joseph F. Timilty (police commissioner)

Joseph F. Timilty was an American law enforcement officer and politician who served as Boston Police Commissioner from 1936 to 1943.

Timilty was appointed police commissioner by Governor James Michael Curley on November 25, 1936. Prior to accepting the position, Timilty was a member of the Governor's military staff.[1]

He was police commissioner during the Cocoanut Grove fire.[2]

On March 27, 1943, Timilty and six of his subordinates were indicted on charges of conspiracy to permit the operation of gambling houses and the registration of bets.[3] Immediately after the indictment he was placed on leave by Governor Leverett Saltonstall.[4] The indictment was quashed and on June 5 Timilty returned to duty.[5] He was re-indicted on June 25.[6] On July 2, Judge Frank J. Donahue quashed the second indictment.[7] Governor Saltonstall chose not to re-appoint Timilty and on November 25, 1943, Timilty's tenure as Police Commissioner ended.

Timilty was a candidate for Mayor of Boston in 1951. He finished a distant third in the primary behind Mayor John Hynes and former Mayor James Michael Curley.[8]

Timilty died on October 2, 1980 in Bal Harbour, Florida.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Timilty New Police Head". Daily Boston Globe. November 26, 1936. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "Night Club Fire Costs 479 Lives". Associated Press. November 30, 1942. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "Heads of Boston Police Indicted In Plot to Permit Gaming Houses". The New York Times. March 28, 1943. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "7 Police Heads Indicted". Daily Boston Globe. March 28, 1943. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "Timilty Back On Job Freed Of Indictment". The Christian Science Monitor. June 5, 1943. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  6. ↑ "Jury Reindicts Timilty and Six Other Officials". Christian Science Monitor. June 25, 1943. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "Timilty Freed Of Indictment A Second Time". The Christian Science Monitor. July 2, 1943. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  8. ↑ Annual Report of the Election Department. 1952. p. 44.
  9. ↑ "Joseph F. Timilty, Boston Police Commissioner during the administration of Mayor James Michael Curley". Boston Globe. October 3, 1980.
Police appointments
Preceded by
Eugene M. McSweeney		 Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
November 25, 1936-March 27, 1943 		Succeeded by
Thomas S. J. Kavanagh
Preceded by
Thomas S. J. Kavanagh		 Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
June 5, 1943-November 25, 1943 		Succeeded by
Thomas F. Sullivan