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Police Chiefs

On September 6, 1946, at the second Council Meeting of the City of Galt, Athos Loll was appointed to “serve without pay” as the City’s first Chief of Police.  Following Chief Loll was Edgar Charles McCarthy who was appointed December 3, 1947.  Chief McCarthy resigned after serving only eleven months.  Tom Skinner served as Interim Chief until October 16, 1948, when the City Council appointed Walter E. Froehlich, from Isleton California, as the new Chief of Police.  Chief Froehlich served the City for the next thirty years.  In June of 1978, Chief Froehlich retired and was replaced by Robert S. Fuller, a Police Lieutenant from the City of Pacific Grove, California.  Chief Fuller served for five years and left in July 1983, to accept a position with the California Commission on Peace Officer’s Standards and Training.  Galt Police Sergeant, Douglas M. Matthews served for the next six months as the Interim Police Chief until a Manteca Police Captain, Willie W. Weatherford was hired as the new Police Chief.  Chief Weatherford served nine months before accepting the position as Galt City Manager.  During the nine months that Weatherford was Police Chief he promoted Matthews to Lieutenant.  When Weatherford moved into the City Manager’s Office, Lieutenant Matthews was appointed Interim Police Chief.  At the end of eighteen months, Weatherford exercised his prearranged option to leave his City Manager position and return to his duties as Police Chief.  In August of 1987, Chief Weatherford resigned to accept a position as Chief of Police in the City of Manteca, California.  That same month, the City Council promoted Lt. Douglas M. Matthews to Chief of Police.  Chief Matthews continues to serve as Police Chief with the City.

For more information on the history of Galt, please visit the Galt Area Historical Society's web page.

Chief Athos Loll,
1946-47

Very little is known about Galt’s first Police Chief Athos Loll.  City Council Meeting Minutes (12-30-46) indicate that after three months, a committee of one person was appointed to ask for Chief Loll’s resignation.  The same notation is found in the minutes of the January 6, 1947, meeting along with the fact they were accepting applications for the position of Chief of Police.  Apparently, the City Council was unhappy Chief Loll would not take action on illegal slot machines in two local bars.  On November 25, 1947, a committee was formed by the City Council to ask Tom Skinner to be the Chief of Police.  However, Mr. Skinner was not appointed to the position.

Chief Edgar McCarthy,
1947-48

On December 3, 1947, Edgar Charles McCarthy was appointed by the City Council to the position of Chief of Police.  At the January 14, 1948, City Council Meeting, Mayor Glenn McFarland and Councilman Larry Littleton exchanged words about Chief McCarthy.  Chief McCarthy began . . .

“. . .he had heard some complaints on his methods of enforcing the law; he also stated he would resign before he would allow the law to be broken in his presence and not be able to do anything about it.”  

Mayor Glenn McFarland criticized the Chief of Police for not taking the City Council into his confidence before conducting a raid on the slot machines in the City.  Councilman Larry Littleton took exception to the Mayor’s comments and stated “...there is nothing in the law that states the Chief must consult the City Council...”  He continued,  “...the Chief of Police should be complimented on his work  instead of being criticized by the Mayor.”  

Mayor McFarland, obviously on a roll, continued and criticized the City Clerk “for being overly ambitious in regards to City affairs” and told him to “stick to his books in the future.”

During this same City Council meeting, Chief McCarthy was authorized to appoint Thomas Skinner as his assistant and when working, Mr. Skinner was paid $2.00 an hour.

On October 5, 1948, Chief McCarthy resigned his position.

Chief Walter E. Froehlich,   1948-78


Chief Walter E. Froehlich

On October 16, 1948, Walter E. Froehlich (pronounced Frolick) was appointed to replace McCarthy.  Chief Froehlich served for the next thirty years.  During his employment, Chief Froehlich also served as the City’s public works director.

After six months of using his personal car for patrol and being reimbursed, first $30 and later $50 a month, the City authorized Chief Froehlich to purchase the City’s first police car from Galt Motors at a cost of $1,677.21.  The following year, Chief Froehlich was responsible for the installation of the City’s first police radio system.

During the early years of Chief Froehlich’s career, his wife, Merle, would take telephone calls at their home and then relay the information to the Chief.  

In the spring of 1978, Chief Froehlich retired, but continues to live in the City he so faithfully protected for three decades.

Chief Robert S. Fuller,
1978-83


Chief Robert S. Fuller

In the spring of 1978, a Pacific Grove Police Lieutenant, Robert S. Fuller, was appointed as the City’s new Police Chief.  Chief Fuller coordinated the final plans for a new City Hall that would also serve as the new police station.  Chief Fuller’s primary focus during his tenure was  training.  Chief Fuller was responsible for the City’s first police canine program.  After five years, Chief Fuller resigned to accept a position with the California Commission on Peace Officer’s Standards and Training.

Chief Willie W. Weatherford, 1983-87


Chief Willie W. Weatherford

A Galt High School graduate, Willie W. Weatherford, started his career with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office then moved to the City of Manteca Police Department where he rose to the rank of Captain.  Chief Weatherford was appointed as Galt's top law enforcement officer in the fall of 1983.  During Chief Weatherford’s career with Galt, he coordinated a very popular police K-9 trial that continued for more that a decade.  After a few months as the Chief of Police, the Galt City Council appointed him as their new City Manager.   For two years, Weatherford headed the City with an Interim Police Chief.  At the end of two years, Weatherford exercised his previously agreed upon option to return to his position as Police Chief.  The City Council reluctantly agreed and Chief Weatherford returned and served until the summer of 1987, when he returned to the Manteca Police Department as their new Police Chief.  He is currently retired from law enforcement, but serves on the Manteca City Council as Mayor.

Chief Douglas M. Matthews, 1987- 2006


Chief Douglas M. Matthews

A 1973, Galt High Graduate, Douglas M. Matthews, was hired by Chief Froehlich as a part-time dispatcher the day after he turned eighteen.  After seven months, he was hired to fill a vacancy as a full-time graveyard dispatcher at the rate of $474 a month.  In June of 1975, he was hired to fill one of two vacancies as a police officer at the rate of $650 a month.
In August of 1987, he was appointed as the Chief of Police.  For the next three years, he continued as the State of California’s youngest Police Chief.  During his career with the department, Chief Matthews has held the ranks of sergeant and lieutenant.  He was also appointed twice to serve as the interim police chief.  While Chief of Police, Matthews implemented many new programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Community Service Officer Program, the senior volunteer program (CAPS), Special Team Enforcement Program (STEP), traffic program, etc.
Chief Matthews completed his career with the Galt Police Department after 31 years of service when retiring in October 2006.