Arthur W. Wallander

Arthur W. Wallander
Name	Arthur W. Wallander
Birth date	1892
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York City
Death date	1980
Death place	New York City
Occupation	Police officer, Commissioner
Known for	Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (1950–1951)

Arthur W. Wallander was an American law enforcement official who served as Commissioner of the New York City Police Department during the administration of Mayor Vincent R. Impellitteri. He had a long career in the New York City Police Department and was involved in administrative reforms and public safety initiatives during the post‑World War II era. Wallander's tenure intersected with municipal politics in New York City, labor movements, and federal interactions involving agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Justice.

Early life and education

Arthur W. Wallander was born in Brooklyn and raised amid the urban environments of New York City, with early experiences in neighborhoods such as Williamsburg and Flatbush. He attended public schools in Kings County, New York and pursued further instruction at institutions linked to municipal service, including training affiliated with the Police Department of the City of New York and professional programs that overlapped with curricula at New York University and the City College of New York. Wallander’s formative years coincided with major events including the Progressive Era and World War I, shaping his outlook on policing during periods seen also in the histories of figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Francis J. Heney, and contemporaries in urban administration such as Robert Moses and Fiorello H. La Guardia.

Career with the New York City Police Department

Wallander’s career in the New York City Police Department paralleled institutional developments that involved leaders such as Gerald O’Connell and commissioners who preceded him, and organizational changes influenced by municipal executives like John P. O’Brien and Jimmy Walker. He rose through ranks alongside officers who served during landmark episodes including the 1943 Brooklyn Dodgers strike era labor tensions and policing challenges related to incidents like the Beer Hall Putsch (as an international reference) and domestic security concerns addressed by the Office of Strategic Services veterans who entered civil service. Wallander worked in bureaus that coordinated with the New York State Police and interacted with legal authorities from the New York County District Attorney's office and the Manhattan District Attorney's purview, linking his career to prosecutors such as Thomas E. Dewey and Frank Hogan.

Throughout his service he engaged with policing practices contemporaneous with debates involving scholars and practitioners associated with Columbia University, Harvard University, and policy initiatives traced to commissions led by figures including W. W. Barron and August Vollmer. Wallander’s administrative associations placed him in networks that included municipal officials from Queens and Bronx borough presidencies, and his duties required coordination with emergency services like the New York City Fire Department and port authorities such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Commissioner of Police (1950–1951)

Appointed Commissioner by Mayor Vincent R. Impellitteri, Wallander succeeded predecessors whose tenures intersected with national personalities such as Harry S. Truman and state executives like Thomas E. Dewey. His term coincided with Cold War anxieties that involved federal entities such as the House Un-American Activities Committee and investigations linked to the Federal Bureau of Investigation under J. Edgar Hoover. Wallander administered the department during civic events featuring participation from institutions like Madison Square Garden, religious leaders from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and the United Hebrew Relief Society, and public figures including Walter Winchell and Ed Sullivan who shaped urban discourse.

As Commissioner he worked with municipal commissioners and boards including the New York City Board of Estimate and the New York City Transit Authority, and engaged in policy discussions with state officials such as Thomas Edmund Dewey and federal appointees tied to President Harry S. Truman’s administration. His leadership intersected with organized labor bodies like the American Federation of Labor and policing unions comparable to the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.

Major initiatives and reforms

Wallander pursued administrative reforms inspired by models promoted at academic centers such as Columbia University’s School of Public Affairs and public administration thought leaders like Herbert A. Simon and Frank J. Goodnow. He emphasized coordination with investigative agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, crime prevention collaborations with civic organizations like the New York City Chamber of Commerce, and public safety campaigns involving media outlets such as The New York Times, The New York Post, and New York Daily News. Policy measures during his tenure reflected national trends highlighted by commissions similar to the Wickersham Commission and contemporary recommendations coming from municipal reformers like Samuel Seabury.

Operational changes under Wallander addressed traffic control in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation and port security with the United States Coast Guard. He also supported training and professionalization initiatives referencing pedagogy from institutions such as the Police Executive Research Forum precursors and law curricula found at Fordham University School of Law and New York University School of Law.

Later life and legacy

After leaving office, Wallander remained engaged with civic institutions including the New York City Bar Association and participated in advisory roles with organizations like the National Municipal League and elder statesmen forums connected to The Century Association. His legacy is reflected in municipal archival collections alongside other commissioners and in historical treatments associated with chroniclers such as Maude B. Wood and journalists from outlets like Life (magazine) and Time (magazine). Wallander’s career is cited in scholarship at repositories including the New York Public Library, the Municipal Archives of the City of New York, and university special collections at Columbia University and New York University, where researchers examine mid‑20th century urban policing, administrative reform, and the relationship between municipal officials and federal agencies such as the United States Department of Justice.

Category:People from Brooklyn Category:New York City Police Commissioners Category:1892 births Category:1980 deaths