From Proud Heritage, Vol 1 by DCPA, not currently in print.
Dean Swift Arnold, Dallas Police Captain for forty-five years, was born in Social Circle, Georgia, December 27, 1860, a son of William Bailey Arnold and Laura Lewis Arnold. He arrived in Dallas by stage coach early in December, 1879, where his brother, James Carter Arnold, was Deputy City Marshal.
In 1880 he was appointed a special police officer for the Texas and Pacific Railway. In 1881 he received his Commission as a special policeman for the City of Dallas, and December 31, 1886 he became a regular officer. In 1906 he was appointed as night senior captain and given complete charge of the city jail.
In 1908 the boiling Trinity River jumped out of its banks and flooded the lower part of the city with a sea of water. The flood doused all electric sources and the pumping plant for the water system. At McKinney and Orange Streets mounted officers, including Captain Arnold, were swimming their horses in the stream. The Chief of Police and Captain Arnold hired extra policemen and asked for help from the militia. During the flood Captain Arnold worked three days and nights without leaving his post.
In 1910 he was appointed a day captain. The city jail was then located where the Adolphus Hotel now stands.
In one of the raids that he made on gambling houses black robes used by dealers were seized. These were taken before the Legislature by Hatton W. Summers, then County Attorney, and were instrumental in getting the felony law passed against gambling.
Captain Arnold married Miss Jenny Ruby Smith in 1886. They had no children. In 1920 he married Miss Eula Meneley by whom he had a daughter, Ruth Dean Arnold (Ruth A. Hibbard, Ph. D.).
Captain Arnold died July 31, 1939. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery.
By Ruth A. Hibbard, Ph. D, daughter, Dallas
