Police & WWII Service

[Nathan Dodge]

I have many questions, so bear with me, folks! Something I've often wondered about but have had difficulty finding any information on would be how police officers were affected by the draft during WWII. Were they exempt because of their profession or could they resign their positions and merely enlist like everyone else? And if so, how did police forces across the U.S. deal with any decrease in able-bodied men (and women) who left police force ranks to join the military? Were there a lot of 'old" cops on the beat during 1941-45?

Oh drat! I meant to post this in the WWII forum...mods?

 

[Mr. 'H']

This was covered in Elroy's "The Black Dahlia" and also less so in "L.A. Confidential".

 

[Story]

I believe that at the beginning of the war those exempt from the draft and even prevented from volunteering were 'essential services': farmers, firemen, defense industry workers (like those in shipyards), and law enforcement. As the war progressed and the draft age rose, those exemptions and prohibitions were relaxed.

When I was a kid, the neighbor on one side was a sheriff's deputy in a major urban area and the other neighbor was drafted (at age 32) into the Military Police, to guard PWs stateside and then in the Pacific.

PS - the various State Guards were also exempt, as there was a very real threat of Fifth Column activity.
http://www.mddefenseforce.org/history/index.php

 

[Nathan Dodge]

This was covered in Elroy's "The Black Dahlia" and also less so in "L.A. Confidential".

I'm 70 pages into the latter. Ed Exley is a war "hero" (those that have read the book will understand the quotes) and that's what sparked my interest.

Story, thanks for your post as well.

 

[mwelch8404]

My grandfather worked for the UP Rail Road during WWII. He was, for all practical puropses "in for the duration."