Category Archives: Police Events

Marion Police Department Events in Time

Hunter, Lack B. “L.B.” 1930-2006, Marion Police Chief

Posted on by January 23, 2014

L.B. Hunter 1930-2006Lack Bradley “L.B.” Hunter, Marion Chief of Police from 1968 to 1985, was born June 21, 1930, in Marion to George Hunter and Lelle Bradley on N. Madison Street. Hunter attended Marion schools and graduated Marion Township High School. His father, George Hunter, was a full blooded Scotsman who came to America in 1902 to work the local coal mines.

When the 1930 census was taken, the Hunter family was living at 913 N. Madison Street which they owned and valued at $2,000. George and Lelle were both 33 and their only child, Lack, was an infant. George was working as a coal miner for the Wallace Coal Company. Continue reading →

Long, James D. 1875-1950, Marion’s First Fire Chief

Posted on by January 23, 2014

James D. Long was an early City Marshall, Marion Chief of Police and according his obituary, the first Fire Chief of Marion. He was born on June 17, 1875 in University City, Tennessee to Arthur R. Long and Louise E. Warren.

Five years after James’ birth, the 1880 census found the Long family living in Stewarts, Kentucky. His father, Arthur, was listed as a mechanic. The entire family was, oddly enough, only listed by initials Continue reading →

West, Jackie D. 1946-2013, Vietnam Veteran

Posted on by January 21, 2014

Jackie D West 1946-2013Jackie Dean West was born on October 23, 1946 in Herrin to Dean West and Vada Newton. Jack’s father, Dean West, served as Williamson County Sheriff from 1958-1962.

He was a graduate of Marion High School in the class of 1965 along with his sister, Judy, and was on the MHS football team all four years.

Jack was in the United States Navy and served two tours in Vietnam and was a lifetime member of the Marion VFW. Continue reading →

Edwards, Charles “Yobbie” 1915-1968

Posted on by January 19, 2014

Charles Edwards 1953
Charles Edwards ca 1955
Charles Edwards 1955-56
Charles Edwards 1950\'s
Charles Edwards May 1958

Charles “Yobbie” Edwards was a WWII veteran, deputy sheriff under two Sheriff terms and served as Marion Chief of Police from 1954 to 1967. He was born in Galatia on October 1, 1915, a son of Delmon Lee Edwards (1887-1923) and Myrtle Miller. Four years after Charles was born, his father, Delmon, filled out his WW I registration card and noted that he was 27, he was married, had four children and lived on E. DeYoung in Marion working as a self-employed teamster which probably meant he had his own truck. Continue reading →

1993, Marion’s First Female Police Officer

Posted on by January 18, 2014

Dawn Tondini 1993
Dawn Tondini 2013

Marion Woman Finally Working as Police Officer

Dawn Williams (now, Tondini) can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to be a police officer.

As a baby she loved to dress up in her father’s police hat, and his leather slapstick was her favorite teething ring. When she learned to read, she turned first to her dad’s police training books.

Her ambition became reality recently when the 27 year old was sworn in as the first female patrol officer in the Marion Police Department. She has worked as a dispatcher for the department since April 1992, and was a member of the police auxiliary for 1 ½ years before that. Continue reading →