Gainsley Is Police Chief

Gainsley Is Police Chief

Appointment Approved Unanimously

Promotion Caps 25 Years’ Service To Ann Arbor Force

Deputy Police Chief Rolland J. (Barney) Gainsley, 51, last night was named the city’s new chief of police by the City Council.

The expected appointment marked another milestone for Gainsley who has risen steadily through the ranks as an Ann Arbor policeman for 25 years.

He will replace Chief Casper M. Enkemann on July 1. Enkemann is retiring on that date.

The council’s action came on the recommendation of City Administrator Guy C. Larcom, jr., and gained the quick endorsement of all 11 council members. Larcom said the city was indeed fortunate to be able to replace “a high-calibre man like Chief Enkemann with another high-calibre man in Gainsley."

Creal Praises Gainsley

Mayor Cecil O. Creal also praised Gainsley, who only recently was presented at the Police Department’s banquet with a gold badge and 25 silver dollars to commemorate his quarter-century of service to the city.

Gainsley said he was “very happy” to be chosen head of Ann Arbor’s 80-man police force and said he would do his best to uphold the law at all times. He said he was only “part of a team” and that he would work hard to carry his share but that to be successful, all members of the team had to fulfill their tasks. In this team work he included the City Council as the guiding hand of the city.

Albert E. Warnhoff, the city’s “Santa Claus,” presented Gainsley with a footstool but Chief Enkemann said laughingly that he could assure the city’s new chief that he would have little time to rest his feet on Warnhoff’s gift.

‘No Job Too Difficult’

Enkemann on numerous occasions has spoken highly of his deputy. At an April surprise party in recognition of Gainsley’s 25th year on the police force, Enkemann said “no job was too difficult for Barney to do” and if a task was given to him “you knew it would be done.”

Gainsley joined the police force in 1935 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1941. In 1944 he was made lieutenant and in 1946 captain of the uniform division.

Then in July of 1952 he was named head of both the uniform division and detective bureau. Last year he was appointed to a new department position, deputy chief of police.

In his new position Gainsley will receive a salary of $8,627 with additional longevity pay available. He has been working on a pay scale of $6,570-$7,602 over a three-year period, exclusive of longevity.

The post of deputy chief being vacated by Gainsley was not filled last night and there are no plans to do so for the present. The position of captain, held by Gainsley prior to his promotion to deputy chief last year, is also open.

Gainsley lives with his wife, Marcella, and their five children at 1400 Iroquois PI.