DOWNTOWN OXFORD ? Folks strolling past the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum (1 N. Washington St.) are encouraged to pause a few moments to read a new plaque commemorating the only Oxford law enforcement officer to ever be killed in the line of duty.
Affixed to the side of the building facing M-24, the black marble marker tells the tale of John ‘Jay? Gould, the village nightwatchman whose life was abruptly and violently ended by unknown assailants in the wee hours of Feb. 13, 1925.
The plaque marks the spot where the 52-year-old Gould was ‘shot down in cold blood? at 3 a.m. outside the Oxford Savings Bank (now the museum), as reported in the Leader.
Though his killers were never identified and brought to justice, there are those who believe Gould was slain by Prohibition-era bootleggers, quite possibly members of Detroit’s infamous Purple Gang, which reportedly had a hangout by Stony Lake.
If not for the efforts of Oxford Village Police Sgt. Mike Solwold and retired Oxford Police Capt. Jim Malcolm, there would be no plaque commemorating Gould’s death. It was their hard work, commitment and sincere desire to ‘remember the sacrifice of a brother,? as Solwold put it, that made it a reality.
‘To me, it was just something that needed to be done,? Solwold said. ‘It’s a good feeling knowing that one of your own (has been) recognized for the sacrifice he made.?
‘People won’t forget this way,? Malcolm said. ‘They’ll remember him. That’s the main thing.?
Last year, Gould’s grave in the Oxford Township cemetery on the south side of W. Burdick St. finally received a headstone. His resting place had been unmarked for 90 years.
Again, it was the tireless efforts of Solwold and Malcolm that led to the headstone’s long-overdue placement.
‘I live and work in this community and its history as well as its future (are) extremely important to me,? Solwold noted.
Funds left over from the headstone project, combined with a donation from Malcolm, were used to purchase the museum plaque.
‘I wanted to get it done,? Malcolm said. ‘Jay was one of ours . . . I hope 90 years from now (people) still remember Jay because they’ll see the plaque. He gave it all for the community. That’s what counts.?
‘This was just kind of the icing on the cake (following the headstone),? Solwold said. ‘It was just something extra I thought was necessary.?
Solwold and Malcolm formulated the plaque’s wording.
‘I’m very pleased. It came out fantastic,? Solwold said. ‘It looks like it was made for the wall. It just looks great where it is.?
While on patrol, Solwold’s watched a few people take time to read it and that ‘put a smile on my face.?
The only thing that disappoints Solwold is the fruitless search to locate any of Gould’s living descendents.
‘We have gotten absolutely nowhere,? he said. ‘We’ve talked to Goulds from here to Arizona.?
‘I’ve come to the conclusion that maybe we actually did talk to some relatives, but they just don’t know the story because it was so long ago. That’s the only thing I can think of,? Solwold continued. ‘I’m kind of dumbfounded that we can’t locate anyone. I know there’s someone around ? probably closer than we think.?