Humble Police Department: History of the Police Department

September 15, 1933: The City Council enacted the first ordinance relating to law enforcement which was ordinance #18 requiring business places selling beer to obtain a beer license.

December 24, 1933: Ordinance #6 was passed authorizing the election of a judge. The Mayor continued to preside, until an election for a judge could be held.

December 29, 1933: Three ordinances were passed #8, #9, and #10. Ordinance #8 contained information for traffic enforcement. Ordinance #9 covered "vagrancy" so defined as tramps, wanderers, people able to work and living immoral lives, persons trading and battering in stolen property, gamblers, clairvoyants, gypsies, beggars, and fortune tellers. These people were charged a minimum of $1 and a maximum of $100 fines. Ordinance #10 covered several items such as affray, disturbing the peace, drunk in public, abusive language and gaming. Fines for these offenses ranged from $1 to $100.

January 17, 1935: The Mayor issued the following proclamation "By order of the Mayor- a series of bad, vicious if not mad dogs have caused the people of Humble considerable worry during the past 30 days; no dogs shall be allowed to roam the streets of Humble, Texas, for the next 60 days. It is so ordered that all dogs found loose on the streets shall be taken up and destroyed."

February 4, 1941: The above Mayor's Order was again issued and ordinance #23 was enacted and declared: No dog would be allowed to run at large and if allowed to do so, the fine would be $1 to $25.

Effective March 4, 1941: Covered by ordinance #44, the City Council took action to provide for a deputy and peace officer of Humble.

Effective April 7, 1941: T.E. Sammons was appointed deputy and peace officer (the first named by the City Council on record). Since the City Council had already passed numerous law enforcement ordinances, Mr. Sammons had a very good guideline to use. Mr. Sammons served under the option, direction and discretion of the City Council, until such time as his services would no longer be needed or required.

March 1, 1945: Mr. M.H.Coker was hired as night watchman of Humble serving until his retirement on December 1, 1957. He was followed as night watchman by Mr. Ashbury who then worked in that capacity for many years.

August 2, 1965: City Council accepted an application for Chief from Clark J. Mugrage, he was sworn in as First Chief of Police on August 20, 1965.

September 16, 1965: The City Council passed an ordinance proudly creating: The Police Department for the City of Humble.

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