State Police Celebrate First Black Member From Salem

SALEM, MA — A major figure in the integration of the Massachusetts State Police grew up in Salem.

Isaac S. Mullen, who was the first Black member of what was then called the Massachusetts District Police Force, served from 1888 to 1899.

State police highlighted the story of Mullen, who records show lived in Salem in 1860 after being born in Stonington, Conn. in 1841.

Mullen attended Phillips School and then enlisted in the Navy, where his ship helped run down ships smuggling slaves from Africa. He was then stationed in New York and North Carolina during the Civil War.

The Massachusetts State Police and Museum Center's history on Mullen said that he kept a logbook that referenced "the taking of pirate ships and first-hand information regarding the horrors of slave traffic, including how African men, women and children were thrown overboard from the slave ships to prevent spread of disease."

Mullen also played the "bones" — used as a musical instrument at time, and one placed for President Abraham Lincoln.

Mullen was appointed to the State District Police in 1888 and assigned to Suffolk County. He served for 12 years before retiring in 1899.

Mullen died in 1930 and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery along with his wife, Mary.

More on Mullen's life can be found here.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)