Louis L. Finks

Louis Lozano Finks (November 11, 1908 – February 13, 1970) was a Fairfax County police officer and later Justice of the Peace for the Mount Vernon District.

Career

Finks was appointed as a special officer on November 15, 1928.[1]

In April 1929, Finks was severely injured while chasing a speeding car on the Washington-Richmond Highway when he crashed his motorcycle into a truck that unexpectedly pulled out in front of him.[2] After several months of recovery, Finks eventually returned to duty in January 1930.[2]

On May 23, 1930, Finks unintentionally ran down 8-year-old Arline H. Shifflett with his police car as she crossed the Leesburg Pike on her way home from school.[3] Finks and fellow policeman Arthur W. Mills took the mortally injured child to Georgetown Hospital, where she died about an hour and a half later.[3]

Mistakenly believing he was in Fairfax County, Finks shot and seriously wounded criminal suspect Leroy Holsinger in Arlington on April 30, 1931. Accompanied by Commonwealth's Attorney Wilson Farr, both he and officer Carl McIntosh surrendered at the Arlington Courthouse and were arrested the following day.[4][5]

Chief McIntosh appointed Finks sergeant of the traffic division shortly before the FCPD became a separate agency on July 1, 1940.[1]

Upon the formation of the Fairfax County Police Beneficiary Association in 1941, Sergeant Finks was elected its first president, and would serve until December 1944 election of Sergeant James Dodson.[1]

Following his retirement from the FCPD, Finks served as a justice of the peace in the Mount Vernon district.

Finks lost his bid to retain the office in the Democratic primary held July 11, 1967 to Karl F. Weickhardt, who would go on to win the November 7 election.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Courtney, Daniel P. History of the Fairfax County Police Department, 1921-1990. Fairfax, VA: History4All, 2009. Print.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "AUTHORITIES PROBE FATAL CAR ACCIDENT." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 24. May 25 1930. ProQuest. Web. 29 Aug. 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "POLICE AUTOMOBILE KILLS SCHOOLGIRL." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 1. May 24 1930. ProQuest. Web. 29 Aug. 2014.
  4. ↑ "2 POLICEMEN HELD ON MAYHEM CHARGE." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 3. May 02 1931. ProQuest. Web. 29 Aug. 2014.
  5. ↑ "SUPERVISORS BACK 2 ACCUSED POLICE." The Washington Post (1923-1954): 1. May 03 1931. ProQuest. Web. 29 Aug. 2014.
  6. ↑ Yenckel, James T. "Heated Fairfax Board Races Likely." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Apr 13 1967. ProQuest. Web. 29 Aug. 2014 .
  7. ↑ "Fairfax Results." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Nov 08 1967. ProQuest. Web. 29 Aug. 2014.