Peterborough Police History
George H. Johnston (1822-1885): Peterborough’s first police chief/chief constable.
- He became the town policeman in 1870, and served right up until his death in 1885.
- He was a heroic man and was the only policeman in the area for quite a while.
- During his 15-year police career he investigated several murders. Chief Johnston was known for bravely arresting a man who murdered his wife in the kitchen of a house on Simcoe St.
- Chief Johnston also investigated the murder of a man shot by a hotel owner in 1878.
- In September 1881 a man was stabbed on George and Charlotte. It was George Johnston who courageously stepped up to work yet another challenging case.
- George Johnston’s legacy lives on in Peterborough as he grew the community from a small, disjointed area to a place of wealth and justice.
