Obituary, Seattle Times.
Police Officers From All Over State Pay Homage At Capt. Chaffee's Rites
Captain Arthur L. Chaffee, assistant chief of police, and one of the most respected
and loved of the Seattle Police Department's "gold braid," died Friday morning in
Doctors Hospital after a short illness. He had suffered a stroke less than two weeks
before, at his home.
His death came just two days before his 37th wedding anniversery; he and his wife,
Clara, having been married on St. Patrick's Day in 1919.
Several hundred police officers from various cities in the state, served as honor
guard at his funeral, Monday, and the procession to Holyrood, where he was buried,
included over 40 blocks of cars, packed bumper to bumper.
Officer Bill Miller, chief clerk at the Wallingford Police Station, a friend of Chaffee's since
childhood, paid high tribute in recalling their long acquaintanceship.
"We were kids together," Miller said, "we lived in the same block, played basketball
together, and attended Lincoln High. Chaffee especially starred in basketball, but was
an all-around athlete and played football and baseball too.
"In 1914, we both joined up with the National Guard, and in 1916 served on the Mexican
Border. During the first world war we were sent overseas, and Chaffee became a major.
Later he was given the rank of captain in the Army Reserve."
In 1925 Captain Chaffee joined the Seattle Police, being assigned to a downtown beat.
He was promoted to sergeant in 1931, serving at the Wallingford Police Station. He was
later transferred to the vice squad, and in 1939 attained the rank of Police Captain,
serving at headquarters. In January, 1943, he was made inspector of the patrol division
and became assistant chief in May 1943.
Chaffee returned to Wallingford Police Station, as captain, in 1946, and three years later
wasmade Supervising Captain. He was in charge of all police north of Lake Washington
Canal. In June 1953, he was transferred back to police headquarters as chief of the staff
division, and in January, 1954, was again appointed assistant chief of police. Captain
Walter Dench became supervising captain of Wallingford Police Station, when Chaffee
was transferred.
"As a police officer, then a sergeant, and finally a 'gold braid' Chaffee was always one of
the boys," Miller said. "He was a talentedmusian, too, and played trumpet in the police
band and piano for dances in the police orchestra. His hobby was photography and
motion pictures, and he loved flowers. He planned to raise a lot of them when he retired.
He was going to do just that during the coming year. He tild me only a few weeks ago that
he'd decided to take it easy, " Miller concluded.
Captain Chaffee was born in Waverly, New York, coming to Seattle as a child with his
parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Fred Arthur Chaffee. His father was a hardware merchant.
He lived at 6811 Fremont, and is survived by his wife, Clara M., and his son, Richard, both
of Seattle. He was Past Exalted Ruler of the Ballard Elks, Lodge No. 827; president of the
116th Field Signal Battalion Association of World War I Veterans; and was a member of
the Washington Association of Police Chiefs; of Seattle Post No. 1, American Legion; the
International Footprinters Association; the Police Relief Association and the Police Pension
Board.
Requiem High Mass was said for him Monday at St. Benedict's.