Milford Connecticut - "The Cop in the Bucket" - 1950's 1960's and 1970's

This shore line community was the picture of a quaint New England town in the 1950's 1960's and 1970's. Milford Connecticut had many surprises, like our cop in the bucket in the center of town. He wasn't just a policeman standing in a bucket, he was part of the family, your first morning wave, and was better than any traffic light ever invented!

The center of town had the happiest animated policeman directing traffic out of a bucket. The bucket was set on a foundation, like a pedestal, which put him high above the cars as they made their way through town. Above him on his perch was an umbrella to keep him sheltered from the elements. He was the first wave good-morning for most of the citizens in town. His white gloves pointed, swiped, and halted the traffic, which ran like clockwork.

This "cop in the bucket" was the first introduction to the police department for most of the Milford kids during these decades. He was someone that was bigger than life when you looked up at him from the backseat of the car. If he would catch your eye and smile it would cause much excitement in the car amongst your siblings (He smiled at me, no- he smiled at me). Sometimes if the sun was shinning just right, it put a spotlight of the sun's rays all around him. The only other person you saw that was depicted in that way was Jesus from your Sunday school books, so you can understand why we grew up idolizing him.

Technology took over and the time came when the barrel was rolled out of the center of town and a traffic light put in its place. The center of town was never the same after that. It was called progress, but what I wouldn't give to take a ride through Milford Center and see the "cop in the bucket" one more time.

The 1950's 1960's and 1970's were the decades when the Milford Police Department was located at 14 River Street. This typical New England town police department was started in 1915 with a Chief and six police officers. It was the type of community that was full of commitment. Since its origin almost a century ago, Milford Police Department has had only nine Police Chiefs. Four of them remained in their position for over 15 years, with many rising up from the ranks after being on the force most of their adult lives. Starting in 1915 and ending with the present police chief, here is the list:

James Maher 1915 - 1931

Mortimer Fowler 1931-1948

Arthur Harris 1948 - 1964

Charles Polizzi 1964 - 1968

Robert Dixon 1968 - 1971

Charles McAfee 1971 - 1972

William W. Bull 1972 - 1985

Thomas E. Flaherty 1985 - 2003

Keith L. Mello 2004-Present

In the old Milford Police Station, they had no glass partitions or doors that you needed to be buzzed through. You walked in the door and the officer on the front desk was behind a counter, again another podium type situation. You would find the officers friendly, courteous, and with the genuine attitude that they were there to serve you, the citizens of Milford Connecticut. Yes, the 1950's 1960's and 1970's were wonderful years to live in Milford Connecticut, a quaint New England shoreline town.

*** If you can remember the policeman's name who was the "cop and the bucket", please leave it in the comment section at the top of this article. If there is any other interesting facts or stories about Milford Connecticut from days gone by, please write to me in the comment section and I will do a story on it. I loved growing up in Milford Connecticut and would like to preserve the memories of days gone by of any decade.