A new book has been published that recounts the history of the Ceres Police Department, authored by one of its own.
Motorcycle patrol officer Jason Coley produced "Ceres Police Department History: 1918-2012" which became available on Oct. 26 in an 8 ½" by 11" soft cover format from the online publisher of niche publications, bookemon. com. The book includes a history of the department with a number of black and white and color photographs.
"I'm not making any money whatsoever on this," said Coley, the department's historian. "The cost covers what the company charges to make it. I simply did it for the department. This is and will most likely be the only book I ever write."
The book sells for $27 and will not be available at any retail outlets; only online. The book may be ordered as well as viewed online at www.bookemon.com/book-profile/ceres-police-department-history/221463.
Coley, 39, of Hughson, started on the work in April and worked feverishly to complete it.
"I just like history and the memorabilia the comes along with police department history," said Coley, who also assembled the collection on display in the police department lobby.
He pored through minutes of the first City Council meetings and learned that the first officer hired by the Ceres Police Department was T.F. Perrin in 1918. As a marshal, Perrin was paid $5 per month to collect taxes, checked to make sure business doors were locked during closing hours and picking up drunks in Ceres, which was then a dry town.
Ceres' first chief was Jack Dillon, hired in the 1940s.
Besides assembling facts, writing the verbiage and collecting and scanning images, Coley arranged the layout on the computer.
"It took me a long time but I am very happy with it," said Coley.
The book features early photos but also includes more modern-day color prints. He said some of the photos taken of officers on the job were shot by the late Virginia Hansen who was an ambulance paramedic. She would often bring along her camera on ride-alongs.
Motorcycle patrol officer Jason Coley produced "Ceres Police Department History: 1918-2012" which became available on Oct. 26 in an 8 ½" by 11" soft cover format from the online publisher of niche publications, bookemon. com. The book includes a history of the department with a number of black and white and color photographs.
"I'm not making any money whatsoever on this," said Coley, the department's historian. "The cost covers what the company charges to make it. I simply did it for the department. This is and will most likely be the only book I ever write."
The book sells for $27 and will not be available at any retail outlets; only online. The book may be ordered as well as viewed online at www.bookemon.com/book-profile/ceres-police-department-history/221463.
Coley, 39, of Hughson, started on the work in April and worked feverishly to complete it.
"I just like history and the memorabilia the comes along with police department history," said Coley, who also assembled the collection on display in the police department lobby.
He pored through minutes of the first City Council meetings and learned that the first officer hired by the Ceres Police Department was T.F. Perrin in 1918. As a marshal, Perrin was paid $5 per month to collect taxes, checked to make sure business doors were locked during closing hours and picking up drunks in Ceres, which was then a dry town.
Ceres' first chief was Jack Dillon, hired in the 1940s.
Besides assembling facts, writing the verbiage and collecting and scanning images, Coley arranged the layout on the computer.
"It took me a long time but I am very happy with it," said Coley.
The book features early photos but also includes more modern-day color prints. He said some of the photos taken of officers on the job were shot by the late Virginia Hansen who was an ambulance paramedic. She would often bring along her camera on ride-alongs.
