First Black APD Officer Dies; Remembered For Making Impact On City
By: Katie Thompson
Updated: February 7, 2012
A piece of history has certainly left his mark. During a time of racism and segregation,
Otis Mclin became the first black officer to join the Abilene police department in 1964.
"There had been a history in the United States of all white police squads. It would have been a really great statement for the Abilene Police Department to bring Mclin in," Explains HSU history professor Tiffany Fink.
Mclin grew up in Abilene, served in the Air Force, and attended Hardin Simmons University where he went on to be the first black student in Abilene to graduate with a bachelors and masters degree in law enforcement.
"He was one of the first officers to get his education, to go to Hardin Simmons. Officers like myself followed him. He was really thought of as a really good police officer," Explains Retired Chief Melvin Martin, who spent several years working with Mclin.
Mclin left the Abilene Police Department in 1974 to pursue a position in Austin, where he later went on to be a teacher.
His impact, and his legacy will surely never be forgotten
Mclin is survived by his children and grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service tomorrow at 1pm at st. Peters United Methodist Church in Austin.
Otis Mclin became the first black officer to join the Abilene police department in 1964.
"There had been a history in the United States of all white police squads. It would have been a really great statement for the Abilene Police Department to bring Mclin in," Explains HSU history professor Tiffany Fink.
Mclin grew up in Abilene, served in the Air Force, and attended Hardin Simmons University where he went on to be the first black student in Abilene to graduate with a bachelors and masters degree in law enforcement.
"He was one of the first officers to get his education, to go to Hardin Simmons. Officers like myself followed him. He was really thought of as a really good police officer," Explains Retired Chief Melvin Martin, who spent several years working with Mclin.
Mclin left the Abilene Police Department in 1974 to pursue a position in Austin, where he later went on to be a teacher.
His impact, and his legacy will surely never be forgotten
Mclin is survived by his children and grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service tomorrow at 1pm at st. Peters United Methodist Church in Austin.
