Stephen Grismer is a retired Dayton police officer. His new book "The Dean, Dillinger, and Dayton, Ohio - Legend-Lore-Legacy" was published by Dayton Police History Foundation. Grismer is a founding member of that organization.
This book provides an historical overview of the roots of policing in Dayton and the historical arc of how the police force in that community developed from the earliest days when there were men with nightsticks walking around downtown patrolling the taverns to what it had become by the mid 20th Century. Grismer takes a long look at the leadership of one particular police chief who was instrumental in transforming the department into a highly professional organization. One highlight of his tenure took place during the early 1930's as the bank robber John Dillinger was engaging in a notorious crime spree. Grismer details how the Dayton Police were able to trap Dillinger and capture him. This little-known incident was a major coup. Dillinger was a dangerous guy and they caught him without firing a shot.
The Book Nook on WYSO is presented by the Greene County Public Library with additional support from Washington-Centerville Public Library, Clark County Public Library, Dayton Metro Library, and Wright Memorial Public Library.
