Officer Joe Preston, Corner of Main and Mechanic (Princess) Streets, 1926
Description:
"Patrolman Joseph Preston was a member of the permanent force of the Wakefield Police Department for 37 years. Although he was first appointed as a permanent officer by the Board of Selectmen on June 12, 1913, Patrolman Preston had been a member of the force for many years prior to that. He had the distinction of being Wakefield's first motorcycle officer in 1914, driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle rented from Albion Street dealer Charles Martin. Joe Preston was one of 12 children. In 1921, his brother James, also a member of the Wakefield Police Department, was the first Wakefield officer killed in the line of duty. His brother, John Preston, served as Town Counsel and was one of the town officials who attended Joe's retirement party at the Town Lyne House in November 1943. In a letter to Joe upon his retirement, the Selectmen noted: 'No black marks are on your record in all the years of your service, and your fairness and impartiality towards all whom you came in contact with speaks for itself.'" - Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Donofrio. Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2008 Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.
