Mr Alexander Weir was, in the management of the force under him, always judicious, always careful to promote merit when deserved, and always careful to see that the men under him were discharging their duties well. Mr Weir was the first Chief Constable of Kincardineshire Constabulary and held the office for forty-four years, retiring 28 November 1885. Upon his retirement, he was presented with a purse of sovereigns and an easy chair.
Mr Weir was born in the parish of Boharm, Banffshire, where his parents occupied a farm. In early life Mr Weir spent six years in the army, in which he gained the rank of Sergeant. He afterwards joined the Dundee Police Force, where he served with distinction for several years. Leaving that force with the rank of Sergeant, he was appointed to a like position in the Aberdeen Police Force, then commanded by Captain Barclay, who was styled Superintendent, the present arrangements and ranks of the police being unknown till 1857 when the General Police Act for Scotland was passed. Mr Weir, with the rank of Sergeant, occupied the second post, which was equivalent to that of Deputy Chief Constable today, and at that time crime was far worse in Aberdeen than after he retired. In 1841 Mr Weir was appointed by the Police Committee of Kincardineshire as Chief Constable of that county - an office he held with great acceptance and ability until 1885, when he retired on account of old age, a sum of £800 having been presented him by the county authorities in recognition of his valuable services.
Besides being Chief Constable, Mr Weir prosecuted offenders before the JP Courts under the Public Houses Acts and the Roads Acts, and was always held as a careful and painstaking official. During the formation of the Caledonian Railway through the county, necessitating a corresponding increase to the strength of the Police Force, Mr Weir's administrative abilities were well taxed.
Succeeding Mr Weir as Chief Constable was Mr Charles George KPM. A native of Morayshire, after several years in agricultural work, Mr George joined the Elginshire Constabulary 8 November 1869, and served for 16 years, rising to the rank of Sergeant in 1880 at Headquarters and Assistant Chief Constable. In 1885 he went to Kincardineshire as Chief Constable and remained at the head of the police there for almost forty years, until he retired in 1924, after completing 54 years service with the police.
Mr George was held in high esteem. In 1919, on completion of 50 years service, he was presented with a silver tea and coffee service in recognition of his service to the Chief Constable's Club, of which he was honorary secretary for 13 years, from 1906 to 1919, and in the following year he received an illuminated address from the Club. One of his most cherished possessions was his King's Police Medal. The Standing Joint Committee of Kincardineshire had recommended him for the King's Police Medal. His eldest son, Mr John George MBE, followed in his father's footsteps, and was appointed Chief Constable of Berwickshire. One of his other sons, Mr William George, served in Kincardineshire Constabulary from 1902 to 1924 and earned the King's Medal for Bravery in 1912 as well as, in 1914, the first bar ever granted for the medal.
Mr Charles George received a telegram from the King and Queen at Cowes conveying "sincere congratulations and best wishes for a very happy anniversary", on the occasion of his diamond wedding anniversary, 6 August 1933. Mr George had the distinction before retiring of holding the record for length of continuous service not only in Scotland, but, it was believed, in Great Britain.
Ex-Inspector Gibson Inspector Tait Mr Robert Mitchell Chief Constable Mr Charles George Dr M'Naughton Mr M A Hamilton Procurator-Fiscal
PS Farquharson PS Napier PS Barnett PS George PC A Mackenzie PC Buick PC Cowie PC Jamie
PC Thom PC Brown PC Mutch PC Clarke PC Scott PC Balneaves PC Smith PC Davidson PC J M'Kenzie
Kincardineshire Chief Constable, Robert Mitchell
Inspector Robert Mitchell, Ayr Burgh Police, was appointed as the new Chief Constable of Kincardineshire in March 1924. He was 41 years of age and had twenty-one years general police service.
The Standing Joint Committee of Kincardineshire County Council interviewed six candidates for the Chief Constableship of the County, rendered vacant by the resignation of Chief Constable Charles George, with thirty-eight and one-half years as Chief Constable.
Mr Mitchell joined the Aberdeenshire Constabulary in July 1902 under Major DF Gordon and was latterly clerk at headquarters in Aberdeen. He was promoted as clerk to Ayr Burgh Police in open competition in 1907, and three months later he was Sergeant and court officer, and then Chief Clerk and Confidential Clerk to the Chief Constable. He was promoted Inspector in February 1923 when his Superintendent left to become the Chief Constable of Paisley. Mr Mitchell took over the Superintendent's duties. Chief Constable Lowdon, Ayr, writing in support of Mr Mitchell's canditature, testified to his high qualifications for such a post, to his full and varied experience and training, and to his administrative capacity and ability to take charge of men.
The appointment carried with it a commencing salary of £400 rising to £500. Under Chief Constable Mitchell, the Kincardineshire Constabulary was in the forefront of policing with their own patrol cars and radio communication when other forces had been equipped with bicycles. Mr Mitchell continued as Chief Constable of Kincardineshire until it became part of Scottish North-Eastern Counties on 16 May 1949.
Sources
- Dundee Evening Telegraph, 30 November 1885, 14 March 1924, 21 March 1927 *
- Dundee Courier, 19 September 1919, 14 March 1924, 06 July 1894, 23 June 1950 *
- Aberdeen Press and Journal, 20 September 1886, 17 May 1924, 02 July 1928, 04 June 1931, 10 April 1933, 05 August 1933 *
- The Scotsman, 13 September 1937 *
- Lincolnshire Echo, 07 August 1933 *
- Brechin Advertiser, 17 March 1936 *
- * The British Newspaper Archive