Historic Midland

ment of a larger, more efficient force, and, in
April of that year, the Midland Police
Department was created, with L.P. “Mac”
McCasland as the first chief of police.
The new Midland Police Department was
located on the southeast corner of Illinois and
Loraine streets, and had a jail capacity of eight
prisoners. The original department consisted of
seven officers–Franklin “Frank” W. Manning,
W.C. Durham, E.C. “Bill” Moreland, Jack
Merritt, Glen Hudson, Charlie Adams (also
Adkins), and McCasland.
By modern standards, department communications
were primitive. The communication system
consisted of one red light atop the
Petroleum Building located downtown. The dispatcher
turned on the red light when he
received a call. Upon seeing the red light, one of
the patrol cars would respond by contacting the
dispatcher for additional information.
Chief McCasland’s term lasted only six
months, at which time he resigned to rejoin the
Texas Highway Patrol. His expertise in firearms
was needed in their training program. During
McCasland’s service, a uniformed and trained
police department had been formed.
Captain Frank Manning served as acting
chief until former FBI agent L. Hollis Tyson took
over as chief of police. Tyson held that position
until 1943, and only one burglary was reported
during that entire period.
Early in 1943, Jack Ellington took command
of the department. During his tenure, the
Midland Police Department was commended by
the Army Air Force Bombardier School for its
cooperation and assistance in working with the
Military Police Force. Chief Ellington has been
credited with playing a major role in preventing
Midland from becoming a typical oil boomtown.
In 1944, Midland Army Air Field was given
to the City of Midland by the military to be used
as an airport. This land became the responsibility
of the Midland Police Department.
By 1947, the department consisted of three
patrol cars, 12 officers and Chief Ellington.
Midland’s population had reached 23,000.
To create a more efficient city government, in
October 1950, the Police and Fire Departments
were reorganized under the Department of
Public Safety, headed by Colonel Milan N.
Plavsic. Departmental friction and a slow-developing
personality clash between Ellington and
❖
When it was organized in 1941, the
Midland Police Department consisted
of (from left) Frank Manning, W.C.
Durham, Bill Moreland, “Mac”
McCasland, Glen Hudson, Jack
Merritt and Charlie Adams.
Early Midland: City of Windmills | 41