By Guy Coates
Prescott’s rich history of lawmen stretches back well over a century, but Ken Lindley is remembered for much more than upholding the law. He is considered by some to be one of Prescott’s most popular chiefs of police because of his love and dedication to children, sports and his community.
His tragic death on September 10, 1971 shocked the community. It occurred while Lindley and two D.P.S. officers were returning from a narcotics investigation at the Cottonwood Airport when the car in which he was a passenger collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Highway 279 and 89A. He was 46-years-old.
Kenneth D. Lindley, son of Furnice and Beryl Lindley, was born in Parker, Arizona on May 15, 1925. He came to the Prescott area at age 16 where he attended Mayer High School. He served as a U.S. Navy signalman during World War II and after the war worked as an automobile mechanic until October of 1951 when he joined the Prescott Police Department, first as a patrol officer then working his way through the ranks to detective before being appointed chief of police on March 15, 1961.
He was considered throughout Arizona as one of the best in his profession. His leadership and training programs helped mold the Prescott Police Department into one of the best in the state. Lindley fought against illegal drugs and became widely known throughout northern Arizona as a speaker on illicit drugs and its effects on youth, volunteering many hours of his own time at local schools.
Former Yavapai County Sheriff, Buck Buchanan began his law enforcement career on the Prescott police force when Lindley hired him in 1966. He recalls, "Lindley coordinated departmental in-service training through the F.B.I. Ken didn’t just sit behind a desk. In order to find out what is going on in the community you have to get out there. I learned this from Ken." Buchanan admired Lindley’s hands-on style of leadership. "He would drive around town every night until 1 a.m. to stay in touch with whatever was going on. In those days Prescott was a small town. Officers walked Whiskey Row and talked with bartenders and patrons. Every Friday or Saturday night Ken would be out there with the troops. If a situation developed, he was right in the thick of it."
"Ken was a unique person," said Max Merritt, a retired Prescott police chief. "It was his aim to help kids. He was very patient with kids and when there was a problem he would work with their parents." Because of his passion for baseball and softball, he spent many summers coaching and managing youth baseball, including American Legion, Pony, Babe Ruth and Little League teams. He was active in the community, serving as a member of the Prescott Kiwanis Club and as an advisory member of the Prescott Boys Club and the Salvation Army. He was a member of the National Association of Police Chiefs and its Arizona chapter.
Daiton Rutkowski, whose father had been killed in World War II, played on one of the Little League baseball teams that Lindley coached. "Ken Lindley watched over me as a kid," he recalled. "Ken was a joyous person, always smiling and a great guy with the kids. He was very instrumental in my growing up and he helped shape this community."
Only three days prior to the accident which took his life, Lindley and his Prescott Budweiser teammates competed at St. Louis in the Amateur Softball Association’s 16-Inch Tournament. This slow pitch game is played with a 16-inch softball, a game that originated in Chicago in 1887 and is still the game of choice. Because it takes less power and more skill to play, some serious competition results. Ken helped guide the team to a ninth place finish, making it one of the country’s top teams.
Next week in Part II, Ken is an inspiration to others and a ball field is named in his honor.
(Guy Coates is a researcher and author of many historical articles, most of which were published in the Sierra Sun of Truckee, NV.)
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(courtesy photo) Reuse only bypermission.
Former Prescott Chief of Police, Ken Lindley, c.1960s, served the citizens of Prescott unselfishly and contributed to the heritage of our city.
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(courtesy photo) Reuse only bypermission.
Police Chief Ken Lindley on the job.