James H. Lappeus
(1829 – 1894)
Marshal - April 14, 1859 – April 11, 1861
Second term June 28, 1868 – June 23, 1869
Chief - November 1, 1870 – June 17, 1877
Second term October 30, 1879 – June 30, 1883
(1829 – 1894)
Marshal - April 14, 1859 – April 11, 1861
Second term June 28, 1868 – June 23, 1869
Chief - November 1, 1870 – June 17, 1877
Second term October 30, 1879 – June 30, 1883
James H. Lappeus was born in New York. At the age of 18 he joined a regiment of New York Volunteers assigned to occupation duty in newly conquered San Francisco. When the war with Mexico ended in 1848 he and the rest of his unit were demobilized in California. Gold had recently been discovered at Sutter Mill and Lappeus and most of his comrades went to the gold fields. Lappeus became well known as a saloon keeper in New Helvetia, Ca. and was most likely associated with the criminal gang The Hounds, made up of veterans from his unit. After a couple of Hounds were lynched by a Vigilance Committee and Lappeus was forced to defend his saloon from gunmen he moved to Portland in 1851.
Lappeus arrived in Portland with plenty of money and soon became part owner of the swankiest gambling parlor in the Pacific Northwest, The Oro Fino Theater and Gem Saloon. Portland was a wide open town and the Oro Fino was a Variety Theater that offered nude dancing and prostitution. The Theater was available for legitimate theater as well and until the Haymarket Theater opened in the 1870s the Oro Fino was the largest in town.
Lappeus served two terms as town marshal from 1859-1860 and then from 1868-1869. For a few months Joseph Saunders held the town marshal position while the Portland Police Bureau was organized and then Lappeus became the first Portland Police Chief in 1870. Lappeus established a stable police force and a mostly peaceful town, but charges of corruption and bribery made him a very controversial figure. He was removed as Police Chief in 1877 and his rival Lucerne Besser was appointed in his place. Lappeus regained the position of chief in 1879 and served until 1883, when again he was relieved of duty due to machinations on the part of Lucerne Besser. Lappeus retired in 1883 and lived the rest of his life in the old neighborhood of SW Stark where he had once owned a theater.
Lappeus arrived in Portland with plenty of money and soon became part owner of the swankiest gambling parlor in the Pacific Northwest, The Oro Fino Theater and Gem Saloon. Portland was a wide open town and the Oro Fino was a Variety Theater that offered nude dancing and prostitution. The Theater was available for legitimate theater as well and until the Haymarket Theater opened in the 1870s the Oro Fino was the largest in town.
Lappeus served two terms as town marshal from 1859-1860 and then from 1868-1869. For a few months Joseph Saunders held the town marshal position while the Portland Police Bureau was organized and then Lappeus became the first Portland Police Chief in 1870. Lappeus established a stable police force and a mostly peaceful town, but charges of corruption and bribery made him a very controversial figure. He was removed as Police Chief in 1877 and his rival Lucerne Besser was appointed in his place. Lappeus regained the position of chief in 1879 and served until 1883, when again he was relieved of duty due to machinations on the part of Lucerne Besser. Lappeus retired in 1883 and lived the rest of his life in the old neighborhood of SW Stark where he had once owned a theater.