Category Archives: Police

Marion Police Department

1929, Chief Bailey to Quit Force

Posted on by May 26, 2014

Chief Bailey to Quit Force

Duties as State Oil Inspector in Williamson and Johnson Began Friday

Clyde Bailey 1929 Police Chief

Clyde Bailey 1929 Police Chief

Chief of Police Clyde Bailey was back in Marion Friday ready to render his resignation to the city commissioners following his assumption of duties as state oil inspector for Williamson and Johnson counties in Springfield Thursday.

Rev. Bailey was appointed to the post of oil inspector for the two counties by Governor L.L. Emmerson, and the appointment is recognition of Bailey’s own support of the governor’s candidacy during Bailey’s unsuccessful race for the legislature. As oil inspector, Rev. Bailey will work in the division of oil inspection of the Department of Trade and Commerce. His appointment became effective Friday.

At a special meeting of the city to be held sometime Friday or Friday evening, Chief Bailey expected to ask the city commissioners to accept his resignation as chief of the police department.

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(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican, September 1929)

1979, The Cold Case Murder of Regina Costellia

Posted on by March 5, 2014

Years ago, if you drove out of town on South Market road, you would have crossed a steel framework bridge where Crab Orchard Creek crosses the road just on the south outskirts of town. Early on Sunday morning , June 3rd, 1979, two Chicago area fishermen were looking for a place to fish so they stopped to peruse the creek as a possible fishing hole.

The men discovered the body of 19 year old Regina (Oliver) Costellia of Herrin. Her belongings were found to have been dumped just north of the bridge and the body had attempted to be dumped in the creek but appeared to have gotten lodged in the steel framework of the bridge which left the body dangling by one arm. Continue reading →

1960-62, Old Marion Armory

Posted on by February 13, 2014

In early 2014, the old Marion Armory building at Vicksburg and DeYoung is being remodeled for use as the new Marion Police Department. The armory itself was vacated many years ago, when the reserve unit built a new armory west of the city close to the county airport property. The following is a series of articles related to the old armory land and building. Continue reading →

1967, City Annexes Right of Way West of Marion

Posted on by July 27, 2024

City Annexes Right of Way West of Marion

State right of way along New Rt. 13 westward from Interstate 57 to Broeking Road was annexed this week to Marion by the City Council.

Robert Hall clothing store is included in the annexation.

This council action paves the way for businesses along the highway that want city service to petition for annexation into the city. Continue reading →

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

Posted on by September 25, 2024

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 →