CHIEF HARRY SCOTT

SDPD 08/26/1931 - 06/12/1932

04/12/1888 - 02/27/1942

Harry Scott was a retired US Navy gunner and had joined the Fort Worth Texas Police Department in 1921.  He was still with them when he was the choice to be San Diego's police chief on August 26, 1931.

Chief Scott lasted only 10 months after he too discovered the cliques within the department had essentially paralyzed it.  It would be several years before a strong chief would be able to come in, break the back of the cliques and retake control.

Scott’s resignation caught the city managers office a bit off guard so on June 12, 1932, Detective Lieutenant John Peterson was appointed as temporary chief while a search was conducted for a replacement.

THE THIN BLUE LINE