Maurice Dorney
Maurice Dorney was a Chillicothe Hall of Fame winner in 2019.
Maurice Dorney, 1866 - 1948, grew up on a farm south of the Grand River as a young man but opted early to operate a barber shop in Chillicothe rather than take on an agrarian lifestyle. In 1898 Mayor Thomas Hoge asked Dorney, because of his gentle demeanor and his popularity around town, whether he might be interested in law enforcement. Two days later he laid down his shears to begin his life-long career as Chillicothe’s Police Chief that spanned nearly a half century.
Dorney carried into the office a rare combination of kindness and a belief in his fellow man, the reserved patience of a good investigator, and yet possessing the toughness required of a law enforcement officer. He attributed his successful accomplishments to good judgement, shrewdness, and acts of kindness towards the disadvantaged. He was told by many hardened criminals that because of his methods they chose not to give him trouble. Dorney came in direct contact with many well-known villains during his 48 years as Chief, including John Dillinger.
Dorney has arrested criminals of all kinds from those engaged in chicken thieving to bank robbers. Probably the most important arrest made by him occurred when he and two patrolmen arrested four bank robbers who dynamited the safe in the Iowa State Bank at Udell, escaping with several thousand dollars. The robbers were in a saloon on the South side of the Square when Chief Dorney and two of his men entered the saloon with drawn revolvers. Each of the robbers carried two guns but were not quick enough for the Chillicothe.
Chief Dorney married Miss Wilhelmina Schneider in 1915 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church and they had 5 children: Maurice Dorney, Jr., Helen Dorney Hecker, Mary Dorney Gatson, Elizabeth Dorney Venable and Gertrude Dorney.
Chief Dorney was the first and only police chief of Chillicothe until his death in 1948 at the age of 81. He was elected in 1900 and he was elected to office 24 times.
Source: Chillicothe Constitution/Constitution Tribune newspapers; Roof, Major A. J. Past and Present of Livingston County, Missouri, 1913; Seiberling, Ruth. Livingston County History Celebrating 150 Years 1821-1981 (volume 1), 1981.