James King was elected as Raleigh’s Chief of Police on May 22, 1872.  Under his leadership, Raleigh has three assistant Chiefs – B. H. Dunston was the first assistant, with Charles M. Farris and Alford Mitchell as second and third assistants, respectively.  (Another paper lists King as chief and Charles M. Farris as Captain of Police.)  It also gives a list of the policemen on the force – James Doyle, N. Upchurch, William Durham, Robert Wyche, J. M. Petross, Martin Thompson, and Howell Morse. During his first year in office, Chief King was involved in solving a case of robbery and attempted murder in August and in breaking up a ring of clothing thieves in December.

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