ANTON TROCHLELL (d. 1942)

Former Police Chief Anton Trochlell Dies
Anton Trochlell, 82 (photo), who retired as head of the Manitowoc Police
Department in 1938 after 43 years of continuous service, 19 years as chief,
died late Friday afternoon at the residence, 715 South 23rd street. He had
been in failing health 11 months.
Joining the department as a patrolman in 1895 he advanced to sergeant, then
to assistant chief and finally head of the department in 1919, after serving
under four chiefs. He saw the transition of the department from 10 men to a
force of nearly 30 officers.
Funeral Monday
Funeral services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. from the St. Paul's Catholic
church. Honorary pallbearers will be chiefs from Wisconsin cities, members of
the Wisconsin Police Chiefs Association. Active pallbears will be six officers
from the present department, all of whom served under him. They are Captains
William Christiansen and Frank Tomchek, Lieutenants William Lasch and Walter
Herman, and Sergeants William McConnell and George Tulach.
Two uniformed police officers will stand guard at the casket when the body is
lying in state at the funeral home. When final rites are held Monday there will
be an honor guard consisting of uniformed members of the local and visiting
departments who will form in parallel lines when the casket is moved from the
home to the church.
Interment will be in Evergreen cemetery.
Mr. Trochlell was born in this city in 1860. He attended Manitowoc schools and
when a young man learned the coopersmith trade which he followed for a number
of years and later was employed by a coal company here.
Joined Force in 1895
In August, 1895, he was named a member of the police department, which at that
time was headed by the late Frank Stirn. He served under Chief Jerome Pierce
from 1897 to 1908.
Trochlell was promoted to sergeant in 1908 and assistant chief on April 1, 1916.
When Chief Groffman resigned from the force April 1, 1918 to take charge of the
special guard force at the Manitowoc Ship Building Company during World War I,
Mr. Trochlell was made acting chief of the Police and Fire Commission. On
March 1, 1919 he was named chief and served as head of the department until he
voluntarily retired September 30, 1938. He was succeeded by the present chief,
J.J. Kuplic.
In his 43 years on the force Chief Trochlell saw the department grow from the
stage when officers served afoot, to the horse era and finally to the motorcycle
and motor equipment.
When Chief Trochlell traveled a beat in the downtown district in the late nineties,
there was not much detail about reporting in. Sometimes when the men went out in
the early evening they were not heard from again until they checked in early the
next morning.
Covered Harbor Area
The chief's beat included the harbor and dock areas. Many times he was forced to
move inebriated persons to the police lockup with the
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aid of a wheelbarrow. Not until 1905 did the police have the facility of a horse
and wagon to bring in offenders. The City Council provided for rental of a horse
from a livery stable adjoining the police station on Franklin street.
Later the Council provided a horse, stabled at the station. With the coming of the
motor car the department acquired a police car, later an ambulance, then motorcycles,
and finally regular squad cars.
One of the highlights of Chief Trochlell's long career occurred in 1935, when he
was presented with a gold medal by the police force, the occasion of his 40th
anniversary of enrollment in the department. His greatest ambition-to head the
department when it moved to the present quarters in the Safety building-was
realized in 1938.
In the 43 years Chief Trochlell served, only one member of the department lost his
life in the line of duty. He was Fred Mueller, shot by the Walters brothers on a
north side street June 12, 1932. Another unique feature of the chief's record is
that in the 19 years he was head of the department only one murder occurred in
Manitowoc, besides the slaying of Officer Mueller. That was on Sept. 18, 1931, when
Del Buettner, Milwaukee alcohol cooker, was slain by his partner, Frank Mesaros, in
a Commercial street warehouse. Later Mesaros gave himself up and was sent to Waupun.
When the Wisconsin Police Chiefs Association was organized Chief Trochlell was one
of the charter members, and remained active in the association until his retirement
four years ago. He was also a member of the Manitowoc lodge of Elks.
Widow Survives
Mr. Trochlell married Miss Anna Zahorik in this city 50 years ago. She died in 1910.
In 1923 he married Mrs. Hiram Smith.
Survivors are the widow; two sons, Edward J., and Anton Jr., both of this city;
daughter, Mrs. Ray Krysan of this city; two step sons, Vincent Smith of Chicago,
Henry Smith of Wausau; step-daughter, Mrs. Oscar Anderson of this city; and 22
grandchildren.
The body will lie in state at the Wattawa, Urbanek and Schlei funeral home and may
be viewed there tonight and Sunday. It will be moved to the Trochlell home Sunday
evening at 9:30.
The rosary will be recited at the funeral home Sunday evening at eight o'clock.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. December 12, 1942 P. 3
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Receives Card From Crippled Pencil Seller
Chief of Police Anton Trochlell this morning received a card of greeting
from "Dad"-C.M. Hoon-crippled pencil salesman who makes Manitowoc one of
his stops every years.
"This is from old Dad," the card read, "the cripple that you let sell
pencils last May 1. There is no state like old Wisconsin. Hope you are in
the best of health. May God bless you."
"Dad's" card came from Washington, Pennsylvania.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. Saturday, July 31, 1937 P. 4
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[Anton Trochlell/d. 12-11-1942/age 82 yrs./cause: cardiac degeneration/
bur. on Anton Trochlell lot]