Best of the Best

Felmers Chaney
On patrol with the "Walnut Street cop"
Part Two

Felmers Chaney

by Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo
Sergeant Felmers  Chaney was called "the Walnut Street cop!" With his steady partner, Al Wright, in the area known as Bronzeville, of the '40s and '50s, they kept the area clean, the kids out of trouble and the mothers and fathers informed about every little infraction.

"I figured every child might not go to jail if I walked them home! And every drunk is not supposed to go to jail. Because if he was a drunk, there was something wrong with him. Especially if he was drunk all of the time!"

Continuing, "So I would make him get on the bus, or take him home, and tell ’em ‘don’t be back out there when I get back,’" the proactive patrolman shared. No doubt, those values of respect influenced his attitude about police service. For, he was always "in control," but control meant the "situation," not necessarily the person!

Al Wright was a partner that Chaney could love. He knew that Al always had his back, as he had Al’s back, as well. They took turns leading inspections and dealing with the resolution of problems. Black business owners, and finally the White owners, learned that if they were going to do business on Walnut Street, Wright and Chaney were the people to handle their concerns.

But, as in all things, Chaney wanted to grow in the MPD. The police academy gave annual examinations for officers, after five years of service, for various promotions and positions. "I took the Sergeant exam, and passed it. That created a real problem for the Captain. He told me he didn’t know what to do with me," Chaney laughed.

"They began to shuffle my points, so that I was still waiting for placement. Once I was number 12 on the list for appointment, then suddenly I was number 36 on the list. I remained patient. I continued to do my job," he shared.

"Later, the chief said he needed me in the Detective Squad. Of course, you are supposed to do what your chief tells you to do." On a roll, he said, "The jobs paid the same amount of money, but, the Sergeant gives orders! The detective takes orders! By this time, I was number three on the list to be Sergeant. I was determined!"

He said, "Tell the chief my Dad raised lots of children, but he didn’t raise no doufus, no dummies. I don’t want to be a detective! Tell him if he thinks he is going to get enough Blacks for me to supervise, he’s out of his damn mind!"

The Black community soon expressed concern about Chaney's failure to be appointed. And, there were people from the majority community who wondered how a Black sergeant would fare in the mixed communities. Chaney could have been moved from the number three position, consistent with the rules that permitted selection from the top three.

But the Chief remained afraid. "Then they fired three sergeants, all at once, so that took care of the three. And, I was made sergeant," he exclaimed.

From 1947 to 1954, Acting Detective Chaney worked along with pioneer, Vernice Gallimore, Social Worker, expert, in the Children’s Bureau, where she brilliantly performed her duties. But, this interim post was accepted simply to prove that he was willing to do his job. "I knew that I was continuously being tested. What they didn’t know was that I was determined to be fair, regardless of color. If I wanted justice, I certainly had to be willing to mete out justly," he continued.

Sarge’s plans for growth and utilization of the skills gained in various schools, tests and street cop experiences, never dissipated. Finally, in 1954, Sergeant Felmers Chaney was assigned to MPD District Number One. District One was downtown along Wisconsin Avenue. He was a part of the patrolmen who walked the beat. Of course, at that time there were no Black Americans in squad cars. That eventually changed. And the rest is history!

Later he was assigned to District Number Five. There he was most active, the most productive and part of one of the most respected districts, in the Police Department. "I worked under three different Police Chief’s, Mr. Chaney said, but I can tell you, Chief Arthur Jones was the best we had!" "Not because he was Black, but because he knew all of the ropes," he declared.

"I just did my job, he continued to say. "I treated people right. Like in the army, I did my job and I treated my men like I wanted to be treated. When I went to District 5 and there were no patrolmen there, I told the chief, we need some. I also told him, "you don’t treat your men right and you ’bout likely to try and not treat me right, but right is right and I’m going to be about right!" Chaney’s willingness to fight for what he believed, epitomized his years of service in the policemen department. He eventually left the department, his retirement year, 1983, with 36 years of service to Milwaukee’s finest.

In retirement, Mr. Chaney began a number of new projects. He was one of the principals in the 6th and Walnut Street Development Group, that created businesses, a bank and several other economic efforts. After a few years, that failed. But, he, along with Dr. William Finlayson and Dr. Randall Pollard and others began North Milwaukee State Bank, where he was the first president of the institution. He retains stock there.

He has money in Columbia Savings and Loan. And he and his wife, of almost 65 years, Jesse, also bank at Legacy Bank. He was a major player in the Garfield Avenue Housing Development group, along with Beechie Brooks, and others, and he continues to support community business, on a daily basis.

Milwaukee’s NAACP was Sergeant Chaney’s final avocation. He was elected to the office of first vice president with Chris Belnavis, president and wife of Sam Belnavis of Miller Brewing Company. The two were very visible leaders of the local chapter during the ’80s. Ministers had insisted that the chapter began an active campaign to encourage business development and take positions on matters such as the rapid changes within the schools. When Chris left the city, in 1986, due to Sam’s relocation, Sarge ascended to the presidency and led the organization for twelve years.

Felmers Chaney was a vocal leader! "I raised cane about everything," he laughed. The local chapter was involved in the Redlining lawsuit associated with alleged differences in pricing for insurance rates, policies and geographic areas, principally in the African American community.

Some will remember the IHOP Oakland Avenue matter, where several Black students were refused service at night, They contacted the NAACP and described what had happened.

"After that action was validated, IHOP settled with the students. Most of the kids gave the money to the NAACP Scholarship Fund. We never kept any money, but a lot of kids benefited from the original students’ injustice," he continued.

"Harley Davidson had some complaints but they worked out their problems right away and Harley is a great corporate citizen. The NAACP had the support systems available to examine injustices and the staff to work with the corporations in resolving the problems," he shared.

Continuing, with pride, he said, "American Family, once a subject of the NAACP’s investigations, is now a major player in recruiting and developing quality leaders today!"

Another one of the major cases involved the Internal Revenue Service where over 1,000 employees had informed the NAACP that they were being mistreated. A series of employees were fired after the investigation. "Betty Loving was one of the employees who testified and continues to be concerned about being fired," Chaney explained.

"I told the director, ‘We cannot permit any employee to be unfairly targeted. We will continue to monitor you!" And, he does! But, he cannot understand why no lawyer will take up Ms. Loving’s case. He feels that his work is not finished yet.

When Mr. Chaney was asked to isolate the common denominators in his life, he quickly responded. "Well, the one thing is, ‘I believe that right is right, I don’t care. And, that’s what I always said when I dealt with everybody. Don’t mistreat anybody. I won’t tell a lie but I will tell on you if you are not doing right. If you want to be right in my book, do right,’" he exclaimed.

"Now, Milwaukee is in a mess," he sidestepped. "I really don’t like Milwaukee anymore but I stay because this is my home. I was born in Wisconsin!"

The Sergeant Felmers Chaney Center, recently named, was a proud moment. But there is still some unfinished business, in his opinion.

He told the governor, "there needs to be some high ranking Black males over the prison-system." At 88 years of age, he has now been blessed to see that appointment at the center, bearing his name. "And, I understand they are supposed to be looking for one for the prisons," Mr. Chaney beamed.

"But, the governor has got to place a Black man, someone who looks like me, over that prison. Black males are the majority of the prisons. They make up that whole industry. They have got to place someone that looks like them in that position of leading the prison system. The time is now," he reminded!

Sarge has a lot of opinions on the violence and the unprecedented crime wave in Milwaukee. He volunteered, "Chief Nannette is doing her job. But, I believe I could have shared an experience or two.

"Of course, the things we are seeing now did not just start. I am like that guy, Donald Trump, he says: ‘you’re fired’ and he means just that!"

"Whatever is right is right, and if they were following my rules and regulations, there would be no question about police actions, nor community reactions," he believes. "I encouraged every officer to give their best, and I gave them my best. Those who were unwilling to follow the rules were fired!" he continued.

Second Lieutenant Felmers Chaney, veteran of World War II, officer of soldiers who loved their country and fought to protect it, we Thank you!

Sergeant Felmers Chaney, exemplary veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department, we Salute you! president of Milwaukee’s local NAACP, we Commend you!

Your family, transplants from Iowa, in 1912, pioneered Wisconsin. You are the son of a builder of log cabins, from virgin forests, near the St. Croix Indian Reservation. You Felmers Chaney are the first Black high school graduate of Spooner High School. All are major accomplishments for the State of Wisconsin and certainly Milwaukee’s Black heritage.

You, Sarge, are an example of committed family values, academic achievement, honesty and committed service. And, you continue to be a mirror of our past and the light bearer of our present! We are forever grateful and acknowledge you as the "Best of the Best!"

May your health, and that of your beloved Jesse, continue to be sustained. And, may we always be led by the reflection, in our mirrors, as yours has cast an undeniable path for us!

Recent sojourners to West Africa, with the Community Baptist Church, may your experiences forever enrich you. And may the prayers of the ancestors and the "vision" of their Passage always strengthen you!