A Tribute to the Brave Men and Women of the Pueblo Police Department

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Sgt. Joe Friday

Local History

Prior to his involvement in the crimes that would propel him to national attention, Charles ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd was a small time, petty criminal who hailed from Cookson Hills, Oklahoma. On May 29th, 1929, Floyd, was in Pueblo, Colorado along with another male and 3 female companions. The group was staying in a seedy rooming house at 322 North Union Avenue. Though it is unclear as to why they were in Pueblo, it is believed that Floyd and his male counterpart were pimping the 3 women, who were all known prostitutes.

The Kansas City Police Department requested the Pueblo Police Department to search for John ‘Red’ Sheehan (who was wanted for robbery in Missouri) at the rooming house. Pueblo Police Officers W.L. McDonald, Joe Zeller, John Hench, and John Hamrick went to the rooming house. Sheehan wasn't located, but Floyd and his companions were. They were arrested for vagrancy and spent 60 days in the Pueblo City Jail, then they were run out of town.

The photos of Floyd, taken by the Pueblo Police I.D. Section after his arrest, were eventually used on the national wanted poster issued by the federal government after the Kansas City Massacre.