August Englund

August "Gus" Englund (November 16, 1868 – November 2, 1935) was an American chief of police of Monterey, California, who served as Carmel-by-the-Sea's first police chief at the one-man police department for nearly 20 years.

Early life
Englund was born on November 16, 1868, in Sweden. He began his military journey in the Swedish Army, serving as a sergeant in the esteemed King's Dragoon Regiment, stationed at Fort Meade (South Dakota) where he stayed from 1892 to 1895. Later, he transferred to the 4th Cavalry Regiment. Englund's deployment brought him to the Philippines during the Spanish–American War from 1896 to 1899, where he participated in advances against the enemy. He was honorably discharged from military service in 1899.

Englund immigrated to America in 1892. Upon his arrival in the United States, Englund enlisted in the 8th Cavalry Regiment from 1896-1899 in the Spanish–American War. He campaigned in the Philippines under General Lawton until he was discharged. He participated in the Boer War in China.

Englund married Ella Allbright on June 20, 1905, at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco. She was previously widowed.

Professional background
After his return to the United States, Englund initially joined the police force at Yosemite National Park, where he maintained order and ensured the safety of visitors. In 1900, he served in China as part of the Quartermaster Corps. Continuing his journey, Englund worked alongside the 15th Cavalry Regiment at Sequoia National Park in 1901. Seeking new opportunities, he ventured to Dawson City and St. Michael, Alaska in 1902, where he engaged in the gold rush.

In 1903, Englund came to Monterey where he found employment at the Monterey Presidio. He then joined the Monterey Police Force from 1905 to 1906. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, he temporarily left his role in the police department to join the San Francisco Pinkerton Police Force, where played a role in maintaining law and order, ensuring the safety and security of the affected areas. From 1911 to 1913 he served as Chief of Police in Monterey, then returned to San Francisco where he did special police duty for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco from 1913 to 1914.

Carmel's Police Department began with the incorporation of the village of Carmel in the autumn of 1916. Englund was appointed as the City Marshal and Tax Collector by the Carmel city trustees. Englund patrolled the streets of Carmel alone on horseback ensuring that chickens stayed off Ocean Avenue. He had other duties such as locating missing children and assisting with starting reluctant stoves. Additionally, it was his duty to post official notices around town.

During the Great Depression in 1932, Carmel faced financial challenges and reduced city employee salaries by fifteen percent. Englund, faced with diminished funds, made the difficult decision to dismount and retire Beauty from active duty. Consequently, Beauty was put out to pasture and Englund used a patrol card instead.

In January 1935, Englund slipped and fell on the rocky shores of Monterey Bay. He was leading the search for a dead body in Carmel Point, who had drowned at the water's edge at Cooke's Cove in Carmel Bay. The fall resulted in a severe foot injury, and infection set in a few days later. Englund was admitted to the San Francisco Veterans Hospital, where his leg was amputated to stop the spreading infection. Despite this the infection persisted.

Death
On November 2, 1935, Englund died at the age of 66, at the San Francisco Veterans Hospital.