Hats worn by Bonifay’s first police chief return ‘home’

Bonifay Police Chief Chris Wells was recently gifted with two police department hats that were once owned by Press Griffin, the first Chief of Police for Bonifay, having begun his service in the role in the late 1940s. 

For years, the hats hung in former City Superintendent Jack Marell’s office. Marrell passed away in August. His son, Eric Marrell, gave the hats to Chief Wells, an  act Wells says he is thankful for.

“It is an awesome feeling to have a piece of history from that long ago,” said Chief Wells. “I am thankful to Jack’s family for giving them back to the department. In a throwaway society, things like these are most often bulldozed. I am humbled and grateful to have them.”