Thomas J. Cahill
Encyclopedia
Thomas J. Cahill was chief of police in San Francisco, California
from 1958–70. People called him Tom. He was born June 8, 1910. His family repatriated to County Kilkenny
, Ireland
when he was a child and Cahill returned to San Francisco in 1930.
An aspiring teacher, Cahill studied to become a teacher at Ring College in Dungarvan
, Ireland
and received the school's Gold Ring Award, granted only to student who could speak, read and write Gaelic
. But, after returning to San Francisco at the age of nineteen, Cahill, as a red-headed Irishman, could find little work and drove for the City Ice company. He then chose the profession of law enforcement and entered the police department as a recruit, graduating from the San Francisco police academy in July 1942.
His first assignment was as a beat patrolman attached to the Potrero
station. Later, he worked in the accident investigation unit and in 1946 he joined the bureau of inspectors. A year later he was assigned to the Homicide
Detail. His partner during his assignment to Homicide was Frank Ahern. When Inspector
Ahern, whose permanent civil service rank was "patrolman," was unexpectedly appointed to the position of Chief
of the SFPD, over the heads of every captain
, lieutenant
, and sergeant
in the Department, Inspector Cahill was appointed as Ahern's Deputy Chief. Cahill was elevated to Chief in September 1958, upon Ahern's unexpected death from a heart attack at a baseball game. As had been the case with Ahern, Cahill's permanent civil service rank was still only "patrolman." Cahill's first statement after assuming the office of Chief was that Ahern's policies would continue in force; this meant "strict departmental discipline, heads up efficiency and a "closed town". Colleagues remarked that Cahill "enjoyed every detail in police problems and the pursuit of justice".
Chief Cahill was hailed at the time of his appointment as SFPD chief by Mayor George Christopher. Tom Cahill in an interview with local San Francisco media shortly before his death, claimed his relationship with Mayor John F. Shelley was broken by the Summer of Love
in 1967. Cahill said, "Jack Shelley, (a former congressman and labor leader), did not want to show a heavy hand toward the Hippie
& Flower Children element." When the Hippie's flooded Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury district, Cahill contacted the new California governor Ronald Reagan
for the California Highway Patrol
and the California National Guard
to enter San Francisco and sweep the Hippie's from the city. By law, Reagan needed a request from Mayor Shelley. With Governor Reagan and Chief Cahill pleading for his signature, Mayor Shelley refused.
Chief Cahill was one of the finest police chiefs that San Francisco and indeed the State of California has ever had. He was on his honeymoon in 1970, when he was unexpectedly terminated by Mayor Joseph Alioto
who appointed Alfred Nelder as San Francisco Police Chief. Chief Cahill was totally blindsided by Mayor Alioto's move. Alioto felt Cahill was too "rigid" and "old fashioned" for law enforcement in 1970s San Francisco. This was indeed a shame, as Cahill loved, lived, and breathed the SFPD. While Al Nelder was a good chief and an honorable man, he was not the iconic figure that Tom Cahill was. After Chief Cahill's termination he became Chief of Security for Pac Bell in San Francisco and eventually retired. He died October 12, 2002 in Lake County
at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Clearlake Park, California. He was survived by four children and many grandchildren. His favorite grandchild was Shannon, his Munecita Linda.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
from 1958–70. People called him Tom. He was born June 8, 1910. His family repatriated to County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, 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...
when he was a child and Cahill returned to San Francisco in 1930.
An aspiring teacher, Cahill studied to become a teacher at Ring College in Dungarvan
Dungarvan
Dungarvan is a town and harbour on the south coast of Ireland in the province of Munster. Dungarvan is the county town and administrative centre of County Waterford. The town's Irish name means "Garbhan's fort", referring to Saint Garbhan who founded a church there in the seventh century...
, 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 received the school's Gold Ring Award, granted only to student who could speak, read and write Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. But, after returning to San Francisco at the age of nineteen, Cahill, as a red-headed Irishman, could find little work and drove for the City Ice company. He then chose the profession of law enforcement and entered the police department as a recruit, graduating from the San Francisco police academy in July 1942.
His first assignment was as a beat patrolman attached to the Potrero
Potrero Hill, San Francisco, California
Potrero Hill is a hilly neighborhood in San Francisco, California.-Location:Potrero Hill is located on the eastern side of the city, east of the Mission District and south of SOMA and the newly designated district . It is roughly bordered by 16th Street to the north, Potrero Avenue and U.S...
station. Later, he worked in the accident investigation unit and in 1946 he joined the bureau of inspectors. A year later he was assigned to the Homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
Detail. His partner during his assignment to Homicide was Frank Ahern. When Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
Ahern, whose permanent civil service rank was "patrolman," was unexpectedly appointed to the position of Chief
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
of the SFPD, over the heads of every captain
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
, lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, and sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in the Department, Inspector Cahill was appointed as Ahern's Deputy Chief. Cahill was elevated to Chief in September 1958, upon Ahern's unexpected death from a heart attack at a baseball game. As had been the case with Ahern, Cahill's permanent civil service rank was still only "patrolman." Cahill's first statement after assuming the office of Chief was that Ahern's policies would continue in force; this meant "strict departmental discipline, heads up efficiency and a "closed town". Colleagues remarked that Cahill "enjoyed every detail in police problems and the pursuit of justice".
Chief Cahill was hailed at the time of his appointment as SFPD chief by Mayor George Christopher. Tom Cahill in an interview with local San Francisco media shortly before his death, claimed his relationship with Mayor John F. Shelley was broken by the Summer of Love
Summer of Love
The Summer of Love was a social phenomenon that occurred during the summer of 1967, when as many as 100,000 people converged on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, creating a cultural and political rebellion...
in 1967. Cahill said, "Jack Shelley, (a former congressman and labor leader), did not want to show a heavy hand toward the Hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
& Flower Children element." When the Hippie's flooded Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury district, Cahill contacted the new California governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
for the California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
and the California National Guard
California National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
to enter San Francisco and sweep the Hippie's from the city. By law, Reagan needed a request from Mayor Shelley. With Governor Reagan and Chief Cahill pleading for his signature, Mayor Shelley refused.
Chief Cahill was one of the finest police chiefs that San Francisco and indeed the State of California has ever had. He was on his honeymoon in 1970, when he was unexpectedly terminated by Mayor Joseph Alioto
Joseph Alioto
Joseph Lawrence Alioto was the 36th mayor of San Francisco, California, from 1968 to 1976.-Biography:...
who appointed Alfred Nelder as San Francisco Police Chief. Chief Cahill was totally blindsided by Mayor Alioto's move. Alioto felt Cahill was too "rigid" and "old fashioned" for law enforcement in 1970s San Francisco. This was indeed a shame, as Cahill loved, lived, and breathed the SFPD. While Al Nelder was a good chief and an honorable man, he was not the iconic figure that Tom Cahill was. After Chief Cahill's termination he became Chief of Security for Pac Bell in San Francisco and eventually retired. He died October 12, 2002 in Lake County
Lake County, California
Lake County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of California, north of the San Francisco Bay Area. It takes its name from Clear Lake, the dominant geographic feature in the county and the largest natural lake wholly within California...
at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Clearlake Park, California. He was survived by four children and many grandchildren. His favorite grandchild was Shannon, his Munecita Linda.