I am looking for the records of Alexander John Johnston. He became Police Chief of North Battleford after WWII. A witness to this incident repeated the story to me a few years ago. It seems that the current mayor of the town (name unknown) asked AJ Johnston to 'look the other way' when he caught certain people doing certain things. AJ said that he would gladly do so if the mayor would put the request in writing on his letterhead. Of course the mayor wouldn't and made a few threats, which continued until AJ picked him up and literally threw him out of the police station... which at the time shared a location with the fire station. With in a few months after this incident, AJ was looking for a new job. I am curious as to how this incident was reported on AJ's police records. Before WWI he was a fingerprint pioneer with the SPP and then became a respected Police Chief in Assiniboia (as reported by his records from the Sask Archives). All of his sons chose law enforcement as career choices ..so did a grandson and now a great grand daughter. I am looking for where I can find his police service records with North Battleford. Thanks ~Marlene~

hi Marlene , audie , my dad was police chief in Battleford not north battleford

Hi,
I have a few alexanders and johns in my family who lived around North Battleford from 1907 until the 1950's. All came from Ireland by way of Ontario

Would be happy to exchange notes with you.

Brad Johnston
Saskatchewan

Hi Bradley...I hope this message finds you as I never recieved yours until I read it tonight. I mistakeningly said that my grandfather lived in North Battleford but its actually Battleford. I was there a year ago, and found out that I had the wrong town.

My Johnston's are from Saskatchewan too...but...I don't believe that they hook up with your Johnstons as mine were from Scotland. They came to Canada in 1820 to Chatham NB. My Johnston's did not really settle in Saskatchewan. They never homesteaded or owned a home there. (my other grandparents did!!) After WWI my grandfather moved to Sask and became a Sask Provincial Policeman..and brought his family with him. Then after the force disbanded he became chief of police in Assiniboia, then the depression hit big time and they couldn't afford to pay him, so he went to Regina Jail until WWII started. Then he joined the war effort to fingerprint all the soldiers. After the war, he joined War Time Prices and Trade until it disbanded and then he got the job of Chief of Battleford. When he was "let go", the town had a rally to keep him..even the native population wanted him back as he was the only policeman that treated them with respect.

His brother Walter Johnston owned a funeral home in Regina called "Johnston's Funeral Home"...they also moved to the coast. From what I believe, is that we have no Johnstons left in Saskatchewan as in the early 50's they all came to the coast for work.

From what I understand, about 1700, many of the Scottish Johnston's went to Ireland to look for work...and if that is true, they our trees probably would hook up. I have not been able to track my Johnston tree in Scotland...so I have nothing before the late 1700's.

Thank you for contacting me!