John W. Minto
(1849 – 1926)
Chief - August 1, 1894 – October 5, 1896
(1849 – 1926)
Chief - August 1, 1894 – October 5, 1896
John W. Minto was born in 1848 in Marion County, OR to a 26 year old farmer and his 17 year old wife, who had both come over the Oregon Trail. Minto went to school in Salem and graduated from Willamette University. He went into cattle-raising for a short time and then joined the Salem Police Force, becoming Salem Police Chief in 1876. He served two terms as Police Chief and then was elected Marion County Sheriff in 1881 and 1884. He moved to Portland in 1888; working as a travel agent, real estate agent and Weigher and Gauger at the Custom House.
Minto was an active Republican and good friends with George P. Frank who was elected Mayor in 1894. Although Minto had been a strong candidate for Police Chief in 1890 he didn’t achieve the position until October 1894, during Frank’s term as Mayor. The depression of 1893 combined with graft on construction projects severely limited the City’s funding and Minto was forced to deal with staff reductions on the Police force. He also had severe staffing problems when night shift officers had to appear in court during day time hours. Minto, who was the first native Oregonian to hold office as Portland Chief of Police, gained a good reputation as a fearless and aggressive law enforcement officer. During his term as Chief, Minto was faced with violence in the North End as Chinese Tongs and Sailor’s Boarding House organizer Larry Sullivan established organized crime rings.
Sylvester Pennoyer, a Democrat, was elected Mayor of Portland in 1896. Pennoyer, who gained a reputation for unpredictability and pugnacity, was at odds with Chief Minto from the start. In October, 1896 Pennoyer demanded that Minto support William Jennings Bryan’s campaign for President. Minto refused to support Bryan and resigned in protest. The 1896 election had brought a coalition of Democrats and Populists into the City Council and the Board of Police Commissioners. Minto was very popular among the members of the Police Force and they took up a collection to buy a parting gift for the Chief. The Police Commissioners opposed the gift and returned the collected money to the donors.
After serving as Chief, Minto went on to a variety of businesses in Portland. He ran a delivery business, a horse boarding service, served as Deputy IRS collector, U.S. Postmaster and a railroad contract agent. In 1915 Minto’s brother, Harry, Superintendent of the State Penitentiary, was killed in a shootout with escaping prisoners. John Minto returned to Salem and took over as Penitentiary Superintendent. In 1916 Minto resigned from the State Penitentiary after a scandal over the harsh treatment of prisoners. He relocated to Sunnyside, OR where he ran a nursery until his death in 1926 at the age of 77.
Minto was an active Republican and good friends with George P. Frank who was elected Mayor in 1894. Although Minto had been a strong candidate for Police Chief in 1890 he didn’t achieve the position until October 1894, during Frank’s term as Mayor. The depression of 1893 combined with graft on construction projects severely limited the City’s funding and Minto was forced to deal with staff reductions on the Police force. He also had severe staffing problems when night shift officers had to appear in court during day time hours. Minto, who was the first native Oregonian to hold office as Portland Chief of Police, gained a good reputation as a fearless and aggressive law enforcement officer. During his term as Chief, Minto was faced with violence in the North End as Chinese Tongs and Sailor’s Boarding House organizer Larry Sullivan established organized crime rings.
Sylvester Pennoyer, a Democrat, was elected Mayor of Portland in 1896. Pennoyer, who gained a reputation for unpredictability and pugnacity, was at odds with Chief Minto from the start. In October, 1896 Pennoyer demanded that Minto support William Jennings Bryan’s campaign for President. Minto refused to support Bryan and resigned in protest. The 1896 election had brought a coalition of Democrats and Populists into the City Council and the Board of Police Commissioners. Minto was very popular among the members of the Police Force and they took up a collection to buy a parting gift for the Chief. The Police Commissioners opposed the gift and returned the collected money to the donors.
After serving as Chief, Minto went on to a variety of businesses in Portland. He ran a delivery business, a horse boarding service, served as Deputy IRS collector, U.S. Postmaster and a railroad contract agent. In 1915 Minto’s brother, Harry, Superintendent of the State Penitentiary, was killed in a shootout with escaping prisoners. John Minto returned to Salem and took over as Penitentiary Superintendent. In 1916 Minto resigned from the State Penitentiary after a scandal over the harsh treatment of prisoners. He relocated to Sunnyside, OR where he ran a nursery until his death in 1926 at the age of 77.