Delano Police Force
Delano began electing or appointing constables or marshals since 1876, when the village was first incorporated. The first city hall was built in 1888, with two jail cells added to it in 1905. Joseph A. Merriman was first elected constable in 1899, a position he held for nearly 50 years. Cornelius “Corny” Stein became the Delano Police Chief in 1939 and remained there until he retired in 1968.
Delano Constables
The village officers were elected yearly; here is a list of the constables elected as reported in the History of Wright County, Vol II , 1915:
1876 - Frank Swart
Valentine Eppel
1877 – John Coolen
1878 - Austin Cooper
1879 – O. L. Billings
1883 – O. G. Swedeback
1885 – Charles Munding
1886 – S. S. Ball
1887 – W. F. Mann
1888 – William Eppel
1889 -Darwin Walker
1890 – William C. Eppel
1891 – C. O’Leary
1892 – J. W. Ball
Bartly Riley
1893 – J. D. Brandon
1894 – Charles L. Belt
1895 – J. P. Bernick
1897 – George E. Goodrich
1898 – Martin Nelson (marshal)
1899 – J. A. Merriman
1900 – J. A. Merriman (marshal and night watchman)
1901 – C. L. Belt
- J. A. Merriman (also marshal)
1902 – J. A. Merriman (marshal)
1903 – C. L. Belt
- J. A. Merriman
1904 – J. A. Merriman (marshal)
1905 – J. A. Merriman (also marshal)
- C. L. Belt
1906 – J. A. Merriman (marshal)
1907 – J. A. Merriman (also marshal)
- C. L. Belt
1909 – J. A. Merriman (also marshal)
Charles L. Belt
1910 – J. A. Merriman (marshal)
1911 – J. A. Merriman (also marshal)
- Christian Schneider
1912 – J. A. Merriman
- Christ. Scheider
- Charles Belt
- Charles H. McNaughton
1913 – J. A. Merriman
- Charles McNaughton
1914 – J. A. Merriman (marshal, night watchman, and janitor)
( from the Delano Eagle, January 22, 1942)
Joseph Merriman, Delano Constable for 50 Years
During his half a century in the service of the town, Mr. Merriman had many interesting and thrilling experiences. On May 14, 1902, at the request of the Maple Plain postmaster, Constable Merriman apprehended two U. S. army deserters who had previously broken into a Maple Plain store. After searching them, Mr. Merriman with Mr. Hillstsrom, whose store had been broken into, started back to Maple Plain with the culprits.
On the way one of the men stuck a gun into the constable’s back and ordered him to stop the car. Instead of complying, a fight ensued during which Mr. Merriman although severely clubbed over the head with the gun, managed to shoot and kill the robber as he attempted to make his getaway.
For most of his fifty years in Delano ‘Joe” Merriman acted as town marshal, a position which he vacated only after having suffered a heart attack two years ago.
Joe Merriman
The jail cells were in the back of City Hall, and Corny parked the police car under the arch on the east die of the building.
Corny Stein and first police car
(from the Delano Eagle, March 28, 1968)
Chief Corny Stein, 28 Year Veteran, Resigns From Delano Police Department
Corny Stein, veteran chief of police for the Village of Delano, has tendered his resignation.
Officer Ron Riebe was appointed as acting chief by the police commission at its meeting on Friday.
Stein advised the village council of his intentions at the last council meeting. He handed in his letter of resignation to the Police Commission last Wednesday.
The council and the commission members, Leonard Diem, Bill Wallisch and Jack Schumacher, were reluctant to accept Chief Stein’s resignation, but the 28 year officer would not change his mind.
Stein is an exceptionally well-known officer throughout the state. His police work in traffic, special investigation and criminal apprehension has been studied by law officers within the State of Minnesota and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this district and Washington, D.C.
His capture of a previously convicted robbery suspect just last February, before a robbery or break-in had occurred, has already been incorporated in county, state and national crime studies.
Chief Stein has manned a weather station for many years, keeping an exact record of rainfall, temperature and barometric readings which is used by the U. S. Weather Bureau. His detailed records and reports on flooding have been kept through the years and are on fil with the village council to be used in the event of future flooding in the area.
Stein was born on a farm between Delano and Watertown and has been a resident of the Delano vicinity all his life. He is a veteran of World War II where he served as a military policeman in the Seabees.
Chief Stein’s future plans are not known at this time.
Office Ron Riebe and Dick Rolf, who is part-time, are the other members of the Delano police department.