The early history of the Jaffrey Police Department is very vague for many reasons.  Minimal exposure to crime and poor record keeping are just two.

In 1836 the town purchased a farm on Old Peterborough Road.  This "town farm" is of significance to the police department because of the purpose it served.  The town farm was a refuge for poor, homeless individuals.  In exchange for their labor, they were provided food and shelter.  Two cages were placed on the town farm property to confine "lawbreakers" and "disorderly tramps".  Thus, the first lockup facilities were born.

In 1869 the state provided a county farm/jail in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, a concept that survives to this day.  Jaffrey's prisoners were sent to Westmoreland or, in some cases, to the lockup in Keene.  The town sold the town farm.  The cages were retained and placed in what was known at the time as the "tramp house" at the end of Blake Street.  This structure, located behind the railroad depot, was utilized as a temporary holding facility for Jaffrey prisoners.

The earliest record of a Jaffrey Chief of Police was Nahum Washington Mower in 1884.  It is interesting to note that Chief Mower received an annual salary of $5.00 as police chief and $20.00 annually for ringing the town bell!!

In 1890 the first Jaffrey Police Department was recorded.  Chief Harlan Franklin Hodge had two part-time officers, W.W. Heath and W.A. Lakin, under his command.

Little is known about our police history and chiefs of police until 1909.  In that year Chief P.N. Proctor was replaced by Chief C. L. Stratton.  Chief Stratton was succeeded by Chief Edward Leighton in 1911.  In 1913 George I. Nute was elected as the first full-time chief of police.  Chief Nute produced the first Report of the Chief of Police that same year.  The total police operating budget was $740.77.

In 1917 Chief Nute set up the first Jaffrey Police Department lockup and courtroom in the basement of the Duncan Block, located at the corner of Main and River streets.  He was also responsible for initiating the first Jaffrey police communications center.  In 1916, after considerable time and persuasion, Chief Nute convinced the town to provide the police department with a telephone.  In 1919 Chief Nute was replaced by Chief J.J. Mahoney.

In 1922 the tenure of Chief Hubert F. O'Neil began.  Chief O'Neil remained chief until 1954.  His 32 years at the helm is a record not seen before or since.  Jaffrey bought its first police cruiser, a 1946 Ford, that was given to Chief O'Neil on his retirement in 1954.

In August 1923 Jaffrey celebrated its sesquicentennial.  Thousands of people flocked to Jaffrey for a weeklong celebration and events.  Chief O'Neil received the assistance of several part-time officers to assure things went smoothly.  The extra protection cost the town $118.50, a considerable sum of money in 1923.

With increased mobility, crime was on the upswing, and Chief O'Neil's work load grew, requiring the addition of night officers, Arthur Baldwin and Joseph Lemire.  Chief O'Neil's daughter, Katherine Christian, recalled a night when he came home, face bloodied, glasses broken, shaking his head and simply asking, "Why?"  His question is just as poignant today.  This solid, always giving member of the community was succeeded by the first appointed chief of police.

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