The Pensacola Police Historic Society

By Mike Simmons

The nation was in the middle of the largest war the planet has ever seen – World War II. Many Pensacola Police Officers who had been serving their city were drafted and were serving their country. The department had to work short. But they didn’t expect what was to come in the middle of the war.

Arrie C. Godwin was the Assistant Chief of Police. He was a quiet guy, but very smart and well-respected. In August 1943, Godwin, who was 49 years old, suffered a stroke. Of course, he spent the next few weeks recovering at home. Just when he was beginning to feel better, he suddenly died at his home on September 2, 1943. His brother, Robert, his son, Alvin, and his Grandson, A.O. Godwin soon took up the mantle and became Pensacola Police Officers. Chief Godwin was buried in St. John’s Cemetery.

Twenty-five days later, on September 27, 20-year veteran PPD Officer William King Chestnut died suddenly at his home. He was also buried in St. John’s Cemetery

On February 1, 1944, Captain William Donaldson died in Pensacola Hospital after a long illness. He was 58 years old and a 21-year veteran of the PPD. He was buried in Roberts Cemetery in Gull Point.

Four months later, on June 2, 1944, Officer William Campbell died at his home. He was a six year veteran of the department. He was also buried at St. John’s Cemetery.

Edward Purcell joined the Pensacola Police Officer in 1943. On August 9, 1944, he and Officer Buddy Peake witnessed a traffic violation and pulled over the driver, a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. The driver began to be verbally abusive to the officers. After repeated attempts to calm him, Purcell and Peake placed him under arrest. That is when the fight came. Suddenly, Purcell grabbed his chest and collapsed. Three days later, he was dead. The driver filed a complaint on Purcell for clubbing him.

William Connors had been a Pensacola Police Officer since 1921, but he wasn’t known as William. He was Bobo, just like his father, who was also a PPD officer. Bobo, 61, was a favorite officer, often assigned to direct traffic at the Palafox and Garden intersection. He also drove the paddy wagon. On the night of September 16, 1944, he was heading to a hot call in the wagon. When he got to Zarragossa and Baylen Streets, he slumped over from a heart attack. He died at 8 PM. He was buried at St. John’s Cemetery.

Wiley Crain, who was only 29 years old, had been a member of the police department for six years. His brother, George Crain, served with him. He died on November 1, 1944, at the Touro Infirmary in New Orleans. His body was shipped back to Pensacola, where he was buried at St. John’s Cemetery.

Two weeks later, on November 15, Desk sergeant Arthur Bobe, who was 49 years old, had a massive heart attack at his home. He was taken to Pensacola Hospital, but died on the way. Bobe had been a member of the PPD for eight years. He was buried in St. John’s Cemetery.

It was a costly 440 days for the PPD!

Mike