"Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is"
San Rafael Police Chief Sabin Kane served as San Rafael’s Chief from 1934 to 1939. If there were two words that could be used to describe him, it would most likely be, “No Nonsense.” Kane had previously served with the San Francisco Fire Department and he had been a Bandmaster at the San Rafael Military Academy. His grandfather and father were both San Rafael Police Officers. When Kane became Chief, he told the City Council that his motto was, “Be gentle with the gentle folks and rough with the roughnecks.”
In November of 1934, Chief Kane heard some nonsense that disturbed him greatly. Apparently a young man was going around town bragging that he had given Kane two black eyes during a fight that they had. When Kane got wind of this, he went out searching for the young man and when he found him on the street, he confronted the kid and warned him about making up false stories.
The conversation did not go well, when the kid said, “You can't lick me nor take me to jail.” That said, Kane challenged the kid to a two round boxing match to be held in the basement of City Hall. On November 21, 1934, with a San Rafael Police Officer acting as the referee, Kane and the kid went two rounds in the basement.
Kane was a clear winner and his first act as champ was to place the kid under arrest and book him at Marin County Jail for obstructing an officer. The next day the kid appeared before Judge Lowell and the Judge, who probably felt that the kid had suffered enough, released him on a 60 day suspended jail sentence.
Attached is a photo of San Rafael Police Chief Sabin Kane taken in 1935. Note the pearl handled grips on his revolver and the cigar in his hand. What a guy!
Copyright 2014 Harry Barbier –All Rights Reserved
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