Michael Riordan
Encyclopedia
Michael Riordan was an attorney and San Francisco police officer who served as chief until a new Mayor Elmer Robinson
administration was inaugurated.
, Ireland
and emigrated to San Francisco at the age of eighteen. His first job was cleaning up the rubble of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and railroad construction work in the Mojave desert
. He later worked for an uncle, Michael who ran a small grocery in the outer Mission District. He married Mollie Mahoney, a childhood friend from Kilorglin, County Kerry and they had four children.
He joined the San Francisco Police Department
in 1913 as a patrolman after ranking fifth on the department's entrance exam. Thereafter he placed first or second on every promotional list and was made captain in 1925. He had taken leave from the department during World War I
and become a sergeant major of the 55th Engineers.
Riordan earned a Master's Degree in law and became the department's legal advisor, drafting many sections of the Police Code. In 1940 he was appointed deputy chief and in September, 1947 he was appointed Chief. At the start of his tenure, he denounced conditions at the old Hall of Justice
on Kearney Street as, "...a monument to the last century's treatment of the accused."
Riordan organized the San Francisco Auxiliary Police of civilian defense in World War II
and established a program fostering closer ties between the San Francisco and Los Angeles Police Department
s.
His tenure lasted until a new mayor took office. After serving as chief, he became a lawyer with partner James C. Purcell and was appointed assistant attorney general for the State of California and supervised law enforcement for that office. He was president of the Federation of Municipal employees and the United Irish Societies, served on the national board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 1935 he was elected a director of the first San Francisco Bank, as well as the Dooks Country Club where he caddied as a lad.
Riordan died after a six-week stay at the French Hospital on December 4, 1967, and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery
in Colma, California
.
Elmer Robinson
Elmer Edwin Robinson was the 33rd mayor of San Francisco, California. A Republican, he served as San Francisco's mayor from January 1948 until January 1956....
administration was inaugurated.
History
Michael Riordan was born in Dooks, County KerryCounty Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and emigrated to San Francisco at the age of eighteen. His first job was cleaning up the rubble of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and railroad construction work in the Mojave desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. He later worked for an uncle, Michael who ran a small grocery in the outer Mission District. He married Mollie Mahoney, a childhood friend from Kilorglin, County Kerry and they had four children.
He joined the San Francisco Police Department
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
in 1913 as a patrolman after ranking fifth on the department's entrance exam. Thereafter he placed first or second on every promotional list and was made captain in 1925. He had taken leave from the department during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and become a sergeant major of the 55th Engineers.
Riordan earned a Master's Degree in law and became the department's legal advisor, drafting many sections of the Police Code. In 1940 he was appointed deputy chief and in September, 1947 he was appointed Chief. At the start of his tenure, he denounced conditions at the old Hall of Justice
Hall of Justice
A Hall of Justice is an occasional term for a city's police headquarters, and exists in cities across the United States. In some cases, the facility may also house courts as well as jails...
on Kearney Street as, "...a monument to the last century's treatment of the accused."
Riordan organized the San Francisco Auxiliary Police of civilian defense in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and established a program fostering closer ties between the San Francisco and Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
s.
His tenure lasted until a new mayor took office. After serving as chief, he became a lawyer with partner James C. Purcell and was appointed assistant attorney general for the State of California and supervised law enforcement for that office. He was president of the Federation of Municipal employees and the United Irish Societies, served on the national board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 1935 he was elected a director of the first San Francisco Bank, as well as the Dooks Country Club where he caddied as a lad.
Riordan died after a six-week stay at the French Hospital on December 4, 1967, and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery may refer to:*Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA*Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California, USA*Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, USA*Holy Cross Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan, USA...
in Colma, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.