John F. Stokes

John F. Stokes (January 7, 1889 – January 1, 1963) was an American law enforcement officer. He was involved with many high-profile cases as a detective with the Massachusetts State Police and later served as Massachusetts' Commissioner of Public Safety and Director of Civil Defense.

Early life Stokes was born on January 7, 1889, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He left school at the age of sixteen to become a steamfitter.

Law enforcement Cambridge Police Department and military service In 1911, Stokes joined the Cambridge Police Department as a patrolman. He left the force in September 1917 to enlist in the United States Army.

Commissioner of Public Safety In 1941, Stokes became acting Commissioner of Public Safety after Eugene M. McSweeney became seriously ill. In 1942, he selected a five-story building at 1010 Commonwealth Avenue in Brookline to be the new headquarters of the Massachusetts State Police and oversaw the move from the old headquarters at Commonwealth Pier. On March 30, 1943, McSweeney resigned and Stokes was chosen by Governor Leverett Saltonstall to succeed him. Stokes was the first career law enforcement officer to become Commissioner of Public Safety.

Massachusetts Civilian Defense Agency In July 1950, Governor Paul A. Dever chose Stokes to the run the newly created Massachusetts Civilian Defense Agency. He planned on retiring after the cleanup of the 1953 Worcester tornado was complete, however he remained on longer after the man nominated to succeed him, Henry Parkman Jr., was offered the position of assistant United States High Commissioner in Germany by president Dwight D. Eisenhower. Upon retiring, Stokes waived his $9,750 pension in favor of a $6,500 retirement allowance on the grounds that his appointment as Civil Defense Director was meant to be temporary, therefore his pension should be based on his final salary as Public Safety Commissioner.

Death Stokes died suddenly on January 1, 1963, at his home in Belmont, Massachusetts.