Rustem Bey, Chatham Township's First Official Police Chief

Contributed by Patricia Wells, Chatham Township Historical Society

In his time, Rustem Bey was known to every resident of Chatham Township. First as the son of Madame Bey, second as the Chief of Police. Rustem was born into an exotic life. His father, Sidkey Bey, was a Turkish diplomate stationed in Washington, D.C. His mother, Hranoush, was an elegant, multilingual, opera singer. The couple counted many of Washington’s politicians, including President McKinley, as friends. Rustem was born a Turkish citizen in 1899 in the Turkish embassy, technically, Turkish soil. He did not take up U.S. citizenship until he was in his twenties.

The family moved first to New York City and later to Chatham Township when Sidkey left his diplomatic post and became a rug merchant. In 1920 Hranoush established a training camp for boxers on the family’s River Road farm. Rustem attended a year of dental school, but decided dentistry was not his destiny. He was hired as a salesman for H. & D. Folsom Arms Co. In 1927 he was appointed as a part-time special police officer under part-time Police Chief Herbert Rowe. The township’s population was about 1,000 then and only part-time staff were needed. At the time officers used their own cars and supplied their own guns. In time, Bey was promoted to sergeant. When Herb Rowe died in 1937, Rustem was promoted to chief. It was not until 1941 that the Township Committee officially created the Chatham Township Police Department with Bey as its first official chief.

In 1924 Rustem married Mildred High of New Providence. She grew up on Passaic Street within easy walking distance of the Bey home and Training Camp. The couple made their home next to the Camp. They had two daughters, Bette Ann and Muriel. Upon marriage Mildred gave up her job as a clerk at an insurance office and became a homemaker as was typical of the time. Mildred’s brother, Harry C. High, became Police Chief of New Providence. Bette Ann married local boy, George Smithbauer, who became a Township police officer.

In 1953 Bey headed a committee to establish the Township Chapter of the Police Athletic League (PAL) and became its first president. He was also a member of the Long Hill Fire Department, serving as president in the 1930s.

Rustem’s health began to decline in 1960 and he passed away in April 1961 at age 62. He had served on the police force for 34 years. He was buried in St. Vincent’s Cemetery on Shunpike Road. Mildred was buried next to him when she passed away in 1977. Bette Ann, Muriel, and their families left the area, and no family members now live in the Township.