Yonkers Police Past Commander 1947-1952

Lt William Comey
1947-1952

APPOINTED: May 1, 1920
RETIRED: April 30, 1952

The law enforcement career of William J. Comey is one which most certainly can be categorized as a success story. However, it was also one of the most unusual rises to the leadership of the entire police department that was experienced to that date.

Bill Comey was born in the City of Yonkers on June 16, 1892. He attended and graduated from the St. Joseph's Catholic school system. Not much is known about his early life but it is known that he earned his living as a carpenter. It is fair to assume that like many men at the time, Comey was looking for a decent job that had some degree of security, not to mention a pension after 25 years service. He took the civil service test for police officer, passed and was hired in 1920 at the salary of $ 1500. per year. He was then sent for a short time to the NYC Police Department's School of Instruction on law enforcement subjects where he would hopefully learn the basics of police work. When he returned he was assigned to the 1st precinct on Wells Avenue.

His precinct stay would be short, for only a little more than two months from his appointment, and with his three month probation period not yet completed, rookie police officer Bill Comey was transferred to the Traffic Division on July 16, 1920. He was assigned to various intersections on foot to direct the flow of vehicular traffic. Like everyone else he worked six days a week, but in the Traffic Division you were only required to work the Day and Early Tour. You were not required to work any late tours. This working schedule by itself was a benefit most officers did not enjoy. However, on traffic detail you were required to spend nearly your entire tour standing in the street, regardless of weather conditions, directing traffic.
< Top Of Page>

Comey's first taste of notoriety came on January 9, 1922 when then Public Safety Commissioner Tobin publicly commended officer Comey for his heroic action in stopping a runaway horse. Commissioner Tobin had received a letter signed by several citizens relating that while PO Comey was on his traffic post at South Broadway and McLean Avenue, an unattended runaway horse pulling a milk wagon came racing southbound and right toward a trolley. The letter further related that Comey threw his arms around the horses head as it sped by him, and directed it away from the trolley car. However in doing so the horse dragged Comey from McLean Avenue to Ludlow Street before he succeeded in bringing the animal to a stop. Fortunately neither the officer nor any bystanders were injured during the episode.
< Top Of Page>

In 1924 PO Comey was working as a patrol officer in the 3rd precinct and at the time south Yonkers residents were praising the efficiency and dedication to duty of all the men assigned to that station house. In fact on January 16, 1925 it was reported that Comey was again commended, this time by Public Safety Commissioner Alfred Iles, for Comey's keen observation and participation in the arrest of a burglar that had been operating in that precinct.
< Top Of Page>

On January 16, 1926, PO Comey was elevated to the position of Detective in the Detective Bureau. One can only assume that this new assignment was due to the excellent police work performed by the officer. As time passed Det Comey arrested his share of criminals. However there are few things more satisfying to a police officer than when he arrests a person for a sexual assault on a child. And on August 29, 1927, following his investigation, Det Comey located and arrested a 22 year old male for sexually assaulting an 8 year old girl. The child picked the male out of a "line up" and later though "some questioning was necessary," the man confessed.
It was on September 6, 1930 that Det Bill Comey received his first promotion; that being to the position of Sergeant. As was customary he was required to relinquish his detective status and was reassigned to the 1st precinct on Wells Avenue as a patrol supervisor.
< Top Of Page>

It was in this same year that the economy of the country was such that unemployment was extremely high and people in need of basic necessities seemed to be everywhere. In an effort to help those Yonkers citizens who were in need, on November 19, 1930 the Police Association formed the "Relief Committee of the Yonkers Police Department" consisting of all volunteers. Its purpose was to collect donated items and distribute them to the needy. Sgt. Bill Comey was named Relief Committee Chairman. He was assisted by 34 other police officers on the committee. Following the Christmas holidays, on January 6, 1931 chairman Comey reported to the Police Association that more than two thousand Yonkers individuals who were in need were supplied with food and clothing donated by police officers and local businesses. The programs success was a tribute to Sgt Comey's hard work and organizational skills.
< Top Of Page>

Bill Comey's volunteer work never interfered with his police responsibilities though. In June of 1932 he was awarded a Certificate of Excellent Police Work for tracking a purse snatcher to the NY Central Railroad tracks and making the arrest. Still, new challenges were in store for Sgt Bill Comey.
< Top Of Page>

On October 10, 1934 the police department put in service a state of the art communications system which, for the first time, would allow headquarters to transmit a call from headquarters out to police cars on patrol with new "one way" radios. To organize and maintain this operation the "Radio Telegraph Division" (RTD) was established and Sgt Comey was one of the officers transferred to this new Division. Comey was designated an Acting Lieutenant and served as a radio dispatcher.
< Top Of Page>

On January 20, 1936, Bill Comey was officially promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with a salary of $ 4,000 per year, and he was transferred to the 1st precinct as a Desk Lieutenant. Lt. Comey continued his involvement in a variety of police programs. One example, on April 20, 1936, as the President of the Police Holy Name Society, he led more than 250 police officers and guests in a march into the society's church mass and breakfast. Upon the retirement of the 1st precinct captain, on September 1, 1936 Lt. Comey was designated Acting Captain and commanding officer of the 1st precinct.
< Top Of Page>

Following on going complaints about gambling operating openly in Yonkers, on October 20, 1944 Lt Comey was transferred to the Detective Bureau as it's commanding officer. Det Lt. Comey was not unfamiliar with the operations of the Detective Division since he had served as a detective for nearly five years earlier in his career. And he wasted no time in closing down several gambling operations in town, making Public Safety Commissioner Patrick O'Hara very pleased that he had chosen Comey to head the Bureau. On March 5, 1947, directly after Chief William Kruppenbacher retired, Comey was designated by Commissioner O'Hara in an order he issued as "his aide with full authority to represent him in the operations of all business in the police chief's office." Det Lt. Comey moved into the former chief's office to direct command of the department as he was ordered to do. All orders prepared by Comey were initially signed, "Officer in Charge - Chief's Office." Although almost everyone in the police department expected one of the departments captains to be named as the next Chief of Police, it was not to be. Commissioner O'Hara felt that Bill Comey was "preeminently qualified," as he put it, to run the department based on his past experience, even though he wasn't a captain. This was certainly not the opinion of some of the current police captains. But, in fact, had it not been for the "Veterans Preference Law" which went into effect in January of that same year, a bill whereby veterans had absolute preference in promotions and were hired ahead of non veterans regardless of position of the civil service list, Det Lt Comey, who was # 1 on the Police Captains promotion list, would have been promoted to captain. Instead he was repeatedly skipped over due to the new law and his non veteran status.
< Top Of Page>

Holding the rank of captain or not it was clear that Bill Comey was considered by Commissioner O'Hara as extremely trustworthy, competent, possessing integrity beyond reproach, and in his mind, the only man for the job. The commissioner's opinion was solidified by the Common Council when on July 1, 1947 they voted to create the new position of Deputy Public Safety Commissioner and officially designated Bill Comey to fill that position as the official leader of the police department with a salary of $ 6,000. per year. Comey was allowed to retain his civil service rank of Detective Lieutenant and was given an immediate leave of absence to begin his new assignment. Each year while he was on vacation an order was issued reverting Comey back to Detective Lieutenant. When his vacation ended, another order was issued granting Comey another leave of absence to fill the Deputy Commissioners job. This was done so that Bill Comey would not lose his civil service status. There were no plans at that time to fill the position of Chief of Police.
< Top Of Page>

Commissioner Comey's duties were outlined in writing as follows; "The Deputy Commissioner shall have the authority to take oaths and administer evidence, affidavits and acknowlegements in all matters and proceedings pertaining to the department. He shall have general supervision over the records of the department and it's officers, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Commissioner or by law, or by ordinance of the Common Council." It was further stated that until a Chief of Police was appointed, Comm. Comey would assume all those duties and responsibilities. Fortunately Comm. Comey's appointment was warmly received by the news media who had a great deal of respect for him.
< Top Of Page>

After taking the oath of office Commissioner Comey announced several recommended changes in the department. Two of many were, to establish a police Property Clerk Unit for the storage and cataloging of all evidence and property and, to have every police officer photographed for their personnel files. An old practice that for some reason had not been adhered to for some time.
< Top Of Page>

Bill Comey remained the Deputy Public Safety Commissioner under Commissioner Patrick O'Hara until January of 1952. It was then that a Democratic administration came into power and it was reported that Commissioner O'Hara would be replaced. Dep. Comm. Comey let it be known that when that happened he would submit his request for retirement.
< Top Of Page>

On April 30, 1952, Deputy Public Safety Commissioner William Comey, leader of the Police Department, retired from all police service. Following his retirement he held several jobs in private business including managing a Boy's Home and working for an advertising firm in New York City.
< Top Of Page>

After moving to New Jersey, William J. Comey died on May 28, 1976 in a Montvale N.J. nursing home. He was 83 years of age. Although he certainly would have been very proud, he would never know that in 2002, his son James Comey would be appointed the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
< Top Of Page >

Back to Past Commanders

Information and Photo provided by Deputy Chief George Rutledge (Ret.)
Founder of the George E. Rutledge Police Museum

Return to Previous Page