Pictured: The state capitol building in Benicia was originally built to be Benicia's city hall. However, with all the chaos surrounding finding a suitable location for the state legislators to meet, city leaders offered the building to them. Between February 9, 1853 and February 25, 1854, 90 lawmakers held part of California’s fourth and fifth legislative sessions in the new building and several significant laws were passed during their stay in Benicia.
William Townsend Stanford (1867-1964) was named Vallejo's first Chief of Police on April 4th, 1900. He was a Mare Island Naval Shipyard mechanic with no prior law enforcement experience. He continued to serve as Chief of Police until his retirement in 1936. Photo courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.