Chief John Polcyn began his career as a patrolman, training recruits in discipline and neatness and using his experience as an ex-Marine sergeant. He rose through the ranks and upon promotion to Chief, stepped up modernization of the Department. Some changes were heretofore unknown and even considered radical. He established the Youth Aid Bureau and also formed a Personnel Bureau. This was beneficial to the Department because over 1, 000 new officers were added during his term as Chief. He activated a narcotics squad and established a special intelligence squad to investigate and curb organized crime. He began one-man squad patrols, combination squad/ambulances, a 40 h our workweek and created the night parking fee system, the first of its kind in the United States.
The Police Aide Program was also established, along with a program promoting better race relations. He was honored by many civic, fraternal, religious and military organizations for his efforts to keep Milwaukee crime free with the best police protection possible, including national recognition by then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and U.S. Attorney General Clark.
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