Hamtramck, City (Wayne, MI)

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History of the Hamtramck PD

History of the Hamtramck Police Department

The below will be expanded as more information is compiled and verified.  
On July 29, 1901, William Dickerson and a group of petitioners successfully gained approval from the Wayne County Board of Supervisors to incorporate the Village of Hamtramck, with a unanimous vote of 52 to 0.
 
The Village of Hamtramck established its first law enforcement agency on October 10, 1901, appointing Charles Johnson as Marshall. That same year, a police headquarters was constructed at the intersection of Denton and McDougall on the south side of the city. Marshall Johnson served as the sole law enforcement officer until 1913, when Marshall Bernard Whalen took over as Chief, supported by two deputies.
 
On November 14, 1914, the Hamtramck Village Police Force officially came into existence. That same day, at 1:40 P.M., Mrs. Singer, residing at 146 Denton, filed the department’s inaugural report. She informed Officer Daniel O’Brien that her son’s coat had been stolen while he was playing. Chief Whalen tasked Officer Harry Wurmuskerken with investigating the incident. In an interesting twist of fate, the young victim, Anthony Singer, later joined the Hamtramck Police Department and served until his retirement as a Detective.
 
After 1922, the police force underwent significant growth and restructuring, forming various specialized bureaus and departments, including a newly created detective bureau. At that time, the police station, located on the west side of Joseph Campau between Alice and Grayling streets, shared its premises with the Fire Department and City Hall.
 
The department embraced technological advancements starting in 1927 with the installation of a Dictaphone, an inter-departmental phone system costing $336. In 1928, a Teletype machine was acquired, enhancing communication with external police departments.  By 1930, the patrol cars’ poor condition prompted the Director of Public Safety to petition the City Council for 11 new scout cars and a patrol wagon. In 1931, six of these vehicles were equipped with radio communication.
 
In 1935, an underground police-fire signal system featuring “call boxes” was implemented throughout the city, providing the only means of field communication for officers on foot or bicycle. On January 13, 1937, the department introduced a Western Electric One-Way Radio System, which led to a 17% increase in arrests—from 2,167 to 2,538—in its first year. Over the next two years, crime decreased by 20%, dropping from 875 to 697 incidents.
 
As Hamtramck’s population exceeded 40,000 in the 1940s, the police department bolstered its ranks to combat rising crime, eventually reaching a peak of about 120 officers. 
 
In 1975, the police station was transferred to a new location at 3456 Evaline, a two-story building originally used as a convent by the Sisters of Saint Francis. This site stood across from the recently relocated City Hall, now housed in the former St. Francis Hospital building at 3401 Evaline. 
 
In 2003, the police department moved across the street into City Hall, which had surplus space available after Emergency Financial Manager Louis H. Schimmel Jr. eliminated, outsourced, or merged several municipal departments. The City of Hamtramck Law Enforcement Facility, now housed in about half of the City Hall building, was dedicated in memory of Jacob Dinkins to recognize the contributions of his father, James Dinkins, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at SAC Detroit, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. James Dinkins’ commitment and efforts to the City of Hamtramck were instrumental in making the facility’s completion a reality. 
 
In 2012, Maxwell Garbarino was appointed as Chief. Garbarino began his career in law enforcement with the Hamtramck Police Department in 2001, steadily advancing through the ranks until he was appointed Chief of Police. Max stepped down from his role as Chief in 2015 and now holds the position of Hamtramck City Manager. Also in 2012, the Hamtramck Police Department transitioned to employing civilians as dispatchers, departing from its earlier practice of assigning sworn officers to the role. 
 
In 2015, Anne Moise broke new ground as the first woman to serve as Chief of Police for the department. Her career with the City of Hamtramck began in January 1999 when she was hired and sponsored to attend the police academy. Over time, she climbed the ranks, achieving a landmark promotion to Sergeant in 2009—the first female command officer in the city’s history. Her ascent continued in 2011 when she became Lieutenant and took charge of the patrol division. She served as Chief until her retirement in 2024.
 
In February 2024, Jamiel Altaheri was named police chief, becoming the first Arab and Muslim American to hold the position in Hamtramck, and the first police chief of Yemeni descent in the United States. A 20-year veteran of the New York Police Department, where he rose to deputy inspector and led diversity and inclusion efforts, Altaheri succeeded Anne Moise following her retirement the prior month. Having co-founded the NYPD Muslim Officers Society and established the Yemeni American Law Enforcement Officers Association, Altaheri brought a wealth of experience to Hamtramck. He aimed to strengthen community policing in a city with a notable immigrant population, emphasizing trust and diversity within the department and the community—especially among Muslim residents—by addressing their cultural and religious needs.
 
In June 2024, Chief Jamiel Altaheri introduced CompStat to the department, drawing on his NYPD background. Andrew Robinson, the department’s crime analyst, a position created in 2020 based on recommendations from an external management group, was tasked with producing weekly reports for both internal use and public distribution.
 
From late January to March 2025, the Hamtramck Police Department hosted its inaugural Citizen’s Academy, designed to give residents a hands-on understanding of the department’s personnel and operations.
A heartfelt thank you to Retired Detective Lieutenant David Cornwell, Retired Detective Sergeant Aaron Brown, Retired Officer William Robinson, along with numerous other active and retired officers who contributed their efforts to assembling this history.

Line of Duty Deaths

 
Patrolman Herman C. Schmidt, aged 30, was fatally shot in the chest while pursuing two suspects involved in a shooting. Despite his efforts, he passed away from his injuries hours later, after serving two years with the Hamtramck Police Department. Though initially overlooked for inclusion on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC, Schmidt’s name will be added during National Police Week 2025, a recognition made possible through the diligent research of Chief Altaheri, Detective Lieutenant David Cornwell, and Retired Detective Sergeant Aaron Brown.
 
On March 4, 1924, Sergeant Frank Boza made the ultimate sacrifice while serving with the Hamtramck Police Department. Stationed at the front desk of the police headquarters on Jos. Campau and Grayling, Sgt. Boza sprang into action when a hold-up alarm sounded from the People’s National Bank at Jos. Campau and Council. Four armed robbers had stormed the bank, holding it at gunpoint. In a cunning diversion, the gang triggered a false fire alarm at Sobieski and Commor on the north side of town, drawing most of the city’s police force away from the scene.
Inside the bank, a quick-thinking teller managed to activate the alarm as one of the robbers vaulted over the counter. Hearing the alert, Sgt. Boza, alongside Detective Sergeant John Sikorski, led a group of officers charging across Jos. Campau street toward the bank. As they approached, a gunman posted as a lookout at the bank’s entrance opened fire on the responders. Sgt. Boza fearlessly returned fire but was hit in the neck by a bullet. Det. Sgt. Sikorski responded swiftly, fatally shooting the lookout.
Despite his injury, Sgt. Boza staggered back into the police station before collapsing. He was rushed to Grace Hospital, where he succumbed to the gunshot wound two hours later. A dedicated officer with years of service, Frank Boza left behind his wife, Sofia, and three children. His bravery and commitment to protecting his community remain a testament to his sacrifice.
 
 
On November 3, 1926, Officer John Goralczyk tragically lost his life while serving the Hamtramck Police Department. While riding his police motorcycle westbound on Evaline Street, he was struck by a car traveling north on Charest. Officer Goralczyk was rushed to St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Detroit, but despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. Having joined the force on November 28, 1923, he had dedicated three years to protecting his community before his untimely death. 
 
 
On the morning of Saturday, July 5, 1930, around 8:00 a.m., Officer Bernard Roth was fatally gunned down in his own home while serving as a Hamtramck Police Officer. Two unidentified assailants slipped into his residence at 12128 Mitchell through the back door. As Officer Roth sat eating breakfast, the intruders opened fire, ending his life. Assigned to uphold Prohibition laws, Roth had repeatedly rebuffed offers from bootleggers seeking his protection for their illicit alcohol operations. His steadfast refusal made him a target, and he was ultimately killed by the same gangsters he opposed. Bernard J. Roth had joined the Hamtramck Police Department on February 1, 1924, serving honorably for six years before his murder.
 
 
On September 1, 1930, at around 10:30 p.m., Detective Sergeant John Mickley met a tragic end while on duty with the Hamtramck Police Department. Alongside Detective Lieutenant Joseph Rustoni, he was patrolling Jos. Campau at Caniff when they spotted a robbery unfolding. John Witkowski was holding up Frank Strukel, who was depositing the night’s earnings from the Martha Washington Theater into the Bank of Hamtramck’s night deposit box. As the officers approached, Witkowski fired at their vehicle and bolted into the Jos. Campau/Mitchell alley, prompting Det. Sgt. Mickley to pursue him on foot.
The chase led to Mitchell and Casmere, where, according to Witkowski, Mickley overtook him and a struggle ensued. Witkowski managed to wrest Mickley’s gun away momentarily, but Mickley quickly regained control and began escorting the suspect back to the patrol car. Suddenly, Witkowski broke free, and Mickley fired, striking him in the hip. Undeterred, Witkowski lunged for Mickley’s weapon, sparking a fierce tussle. Gripping Mickley’s wrist, Witkowski forced the gun upward as they grappled, causing six shots to discharge harmlessly into the air. In a desperate twist, Witkowski broke loose, seized the firearm, and fired twice, both bullets striking Mickley in the neck.
Mickley collapsed as Witkowski fled across the street and vanished down another alley. Hearing the gunfire, Det. Lt. Rustoni raced to the scene, arriving just as Mickley lay dying. Despite efforts to save him, Det. Sgt. Mickley passed away en route to Hamtramck Municipal Hospital. Six days later, Witkowski was apprehended, later convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in solitary confinement at Marquette Prison, where he remained until his death on December 15, 1963.