Casper Police Department Photograph

NCA 01.iii.2024..01_CasperPoliceDepartment_1932.jpg
NCA 01.iii.2024.01_1932PoliceDepartment_Desc.pdf

Item Metadata

Title

Casper Police Department Photograph

Subject

Alcohol trafficking; United States -- Social conditions -- 1918-1932;

Description

Photograph of the Casper Police Department taken in 1932 as per Joan Jonen Gilliam's memory. Gilliam goes on to recall,

"This picture of the City of Casper Police Department was taken in the early 1930s, possibly i n1932. The identifications are as I recall the individuals, and the spelling is also from memory."

"In the middle row I was unsure of the two standing fourth and fifth from the left. One is Tony Wroblesky, but I'm not sure which, and I could not come up with a name for the other."

"Shortly after the picture was taken, two of the men were brought before the Grand Jury on charges of allowing illegal trafficking of liquor to and from Casper in violation of the Volstead Act. Subsequently they were removed from their positions of authority. They were Mayor Earl Rowell and Police Chief Mike Quealey."

"Rowell left Casper soon after and Quealey was later employed by Sheriff Gilbert Housely after Housley had left office and purchased the Townsend Hotel and Natrona Motors. Housley also had been brought before the Grand Jury but I'm unsure of the dispositions of the charges against him."

"It's my recollection that all this toom place in 1933."

"Joseph Jonen was my father and John Mechaley was my uncle. They both, along with all my relatives in Casper and many of my frieds are now deceased."

"Perhaps I'll come up with more pictures of Casper and information because I still have an excellent memory." 

-Joen Jonen Gilliam

"Casper Police Department Date uncertain but likelt 1932."

"Back row from left Joseph P. Jonen, Charley Swingle, Jack Bordeaux, Belle Patton, jail matron"

"Middle row from left: Joseph Lindholm, Vincent Delaney, Ed Garrell, ?, Tony Woblesky, ?, John Mechaley"

"Front row from left: Judge John Casey, Bob Owens, Don Newlan, Mayor Earl Rowell, Chief Mike Quealey, WIlbur Clark, Otis Wade"

The man in the far left back row was unknown to Gilliam at the time of the above recollection.

Type

Image

Creator

City of Casper; Joan Jonen Gilliam

Identifier

NCA 01.iii.2024..01_CasperPoliceDepartment_1932

Format

JPG

Original Format

Photographic print

Citation

City of Casper; Joan Jonen Gilliam, “Casper Police Department Photograph,” Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center Digital Collections, accessed April 19, 2025, https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/items/show/6828.

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