Baltimore Police History

Historical Events Calendar

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01 Nov

Fallen Officer - Chief Engineer Joseph Edward Keene
On this day in Baltimore Police History 1 November 1938, we lost our Brother Chief Engineer Joseph Edward Keene to a work-related illness based on the following: https://baltimorepolicemuseum.com/index.php/en/component/k2/item/950-chief-engineer-joseph-edward-keene ‪#‎BPDNeverForget‬
01 Nov

Fallen P/O Leroy Mitchell
On this day in Baltimore Police History 1 Nov 1925, we lost our Brother Motorcycle Patrolman Leroy Mitchell to an auto accident based on the following: https://baltimorepolicemuseum.com/index.php/en/component/k2/item/971-patrolman-leroy-mitchell ‪ #‎BPDNeverForget‬
17 Nov

1937 - On 17 November, 1937, we lost our Brother, Capt. Charles A. Kahler.
17 November 1937: Capt. CHARLES A. Kahler, Commander of the Western District, died suddenly of a heart ailment in a red brick station house on pine Street last night, November 17, 1937 The captain was 61 years old and was working half an hour before the end of a task He always approached with zest the questioning of a suspect in an effort to gain a confession The Capt. complained of dizziness shortly before 8 o'clock, and the prisoner suspected of robbery was taken into the Capt.’s office and questioned by Capt. Kahler. A few minutes after 8 o'clock, the Capt. came out into the main room of the station house, complained of feeling dizzy, and walked several times around the room. Then he went to the back of the station house, evidently for a drink of water, but slumped into a chair before he reached the water cooler. The doctor, Lieut. Joseph Nelligan, and Sgt. Charles Ruffling, who were on duty in the station house at the time, carried the captain, who was semiconscious, to a bench in the courtroom, and a call was put into Dr. William Gilroy, 622 West North Ave., the captain's personal doctor. Doctor Gilroy Dr. Gilroy was not reached immediately at the request of Capt. Kahler Dr. Helm, a city quarter, summoned Dr. Howells and Capt. Kahler when he died at 8:30 o’clock. Dr. Gilroy said the captain suffered from a chronic heart condition, but he had not complained of difficulty since three months ago. Capt. Kahler’s health had not been the best in recent years. He talks enthusiastically about how the Capt. made his home at 906 Patterson Park Ave. Mr. Kahler said her husband had dinner at home last night, and we talked over his impending questioning of the suspect. He told her he feared he would not be able to break the man’s alibi. Besides his wife, Capt. Kahler is survived by his sister, two brothers, John Kahler and patrolman Frederick Kahler of the Eastern District. https://baltimorepolicemuseum.com/en/component/content/article/307-captain-charles-a-kahle
28 Nov

History Polygraph
Today in Baltimore Police History 28 Nov 1955 - Baltimore begins use of the State's first polygraph, It was approved by Commissioner Hepbron, and first used by Lieutenant Frank W Grunder, based on the following;

From the Baltimore Sun 29 Nov 1955

Lie Detector Is Unveiled.

Installation Of Cities First Such Device Begins Today.

November 29, 1955

On 28 November 1955, Commissioner James Hepbron unveils the city’s first Lie-Detector (Polygraph Machine). His idea was to use it in the department’s increased program of scientific crime detection.

Installation of the instrument went into effect today (29 Nov 1955) under the direct supervision of Lieutenant Frank W Grunder, Grunder returned to the department yesterday (28 Nov 1955) with the machine after a six-week training course in Chicago.

A special examination room is under preparation by the Rackets Division to house the “lie box” in the enforcement section’s sixth-floor offices of the police headquarters building.

To Train Assistants

Lieutenant Grunder, a former instructor at the police academy is now assigned to the Rackets Division and will train five or six assistants to operate the polygraph.

Results of the lie-detector examination, voluntarily given, cannot be admitted in court, but police claim they are a useful adjunct in the interrogation process.

Commissioner Hepbron, who approved the purchase of the machine, and the training of Lieutenant Grunder is familiar with the development of the lie detector technique and strongly supported its use by the department.

“Aids The Innocent”

In the past, out-of-state experts have been called in by Maryland police authorities to conduct polygraph tests in such major criminal investigations as the Carolyn Wasilewski and John Adams murder cases.

“The Only thing we want to establish with the machine is the truth,” Lieutenant Grunder said, “and this machine aids the innocent as well as weeding out the guilty.”

“A polygraph operates on the theory that when you tell a lie you think the truth,” the lieutenant explained. “The subconscious knowledge of this fact causes physiological changes in the body which can be measured and interpreted by the operator.” he continued.

Three measuring devises are attached to the subject to record reactions. One about the chest for breathing; another around the upper arm for blood pressure, and a third around the palm of the hand to note changes in perspiration.

“Subdued Colors” Needed

In conducting the examination, Lt Grunder said, the examiner must gain the subject’s confidence and impart an “impartial” attitude in his role. The person to be examined is also explained the operation of the machine.

Questions requiring only yes or no answers are posed by the interrogator. A complete examination includes an unspecified amount of tests each containing eight or twelve questions.

A series of questions, in which the answers are known, such as name, age, address, sex, etc. are asked to establish a truth pattern. Pertinent questions relative to the investigation at hand are interjected to ascertain any change in the recorded patterns.

The examining room should be free of distracting influence, the lieutenant recommended. He said, “The colors of the room should be subdued. The furnishing plain and everyday noises evident to a slight degree.”

Only the subject and the examiner are together in the room. But most police agencies construct a one-way mirror and connect a microphone to allow other interested parties to view and hear the proceedings.

“Key to the effectiveness of the test is an interpretation of the results.” The lieutenant declared.

“There can be only three results,” he said, “Indications of Deception, of the truth, or that it is inconclusive.”

During the demonstration yesterday (28 Nov 1955) in the commissioner’s office for high ranking police officials. Police Commissioner Hepbron remarked that many subjects confess to crimes before an actual test is begun.

Only one in the State

“This reflects on the fine reputation accorded the machine by the public.” He commented. He said one police agency reported that ten percent of the total volunteers for examination confessed before the test could be completed.

Lieutenant Grunder, who is also a lawyer and a graduate of the National Police Academy is enthusiastic about the possibilities of the polygraph. “It’s practically foolproof: he exclaimed. “Even if someone attempts to alter the results by moving yawning, we can detect it”, he said.

The Lie Detector, the only one in the state, will be made available to other police departments, Lieutenant Grunder said, it is portable, he concluded and weighs approximately 46 pounds.

Lieutenant Grunder would be the first police officer to operate a Polygraph in the state of Maryland.

Sadly Lieutenant Frank W. Grunder's Son, Sgt Frank W. Grunder Jr was killed in the line of duty on 1 August 1974 while in the process of apprehending a bank robbery suspect

It was approved by Commissioner Hepbron, and first used by Lieutenant Frank W Grunder -

https://history23.bcpserver.com/index.php/component/content/article/472-polygraph

Baltimore Police History

Fallen Officer - Chief Engineer Joseph Edward Keene

Fallen P/O Leroy Mitchell

1937 - On 17 November, 1937, we lost our Brother, Capt. Charles A. Kahler.

History Polygraph