In Milwaukee Mafia, I wrote about discussions circa 1912 how the police wished they had an Italian officer to help solve “Black Hand” crime. I wrote, “No Italian joined the Milwaukee Police Department until 1928.” That was incorrect. Joshua R. Henze mentioned the true first Italian policeman back in 2012 in an article for the Informer journal. I also wrote for this issue and read Henze’s work (which is excellent – honestly, he puts me to shame), so I have no excuse for overlooking it.
Peter Nannetts was born September 2, 1887 in Bagni di Lucca, Lucca, Tuscany. This is in northern Italy – but not far north. Although relatively small today (6,000 inhabitants) the town had many frequent foreign visitors because of their hot springs. Interesting, many English-speaking foreigners are buried there. A small English cemetery provides a final place of rest for the many foreign Protestant visitors who died in Bagni di Lucca. Some of the more notable graves, in order of the date of death, are of: Alexander Henry Haliday (1807–1870), Irish entomologist; Charles Isidore Hemans (1817–1876), English antiquary; Mahlon Dickerson Eyre (1821–1882), American art collector; English novelist Maria Louise Rame, better known as Ouida (1839–1908); Rose Cleveland (1846–1918), de facto First Lady of the United States; Nelly Erichsen (1862–1918), English illustrator and painter; Edward Perry Warren (1860–1928), English art collector; and Evangeline Marrs Whipple (1862–1930), American philanthropist and author.
Nannetts entered the United States on June 20, 1905 (age 17) at New York City with no family joining him. The ship manifest lists him as “Pietro Nannetti,” a northern Italian. His father paid for his ticket, and he said he was going to meet an uncle in New York. The name of the uncle is hard to make out, but looks something like Fuggiti Mansarato.
He later said he came to Wisconsin on November 10, 1907.
1910 census taken on May 3, he’s living at 1905 Cherry Street in Milwaukee with wife Marie Herzig and daughter Lucy. His spoken language is given as English, and his occupation is “artist.” Cherry Street is northwest of the Third Ward, indicating he did not live among the Sicilian community.
His daughter Lucy, who had been born on March 31, died on September 15, 1910, less than six months old. At this time, the family’s address was given as 750 Buffum Street in the Sixth Ward. Although the death occurred in Milwaukee, the death record suggests burial took place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Portage, Wisconsin. There is no Holy Cross in Portage, so I suspect this was an error and she is buried in Milwaukee.
Nannetts filed his declaration of intent (to become a citizen) on March 21, 1912. He gave his address as 615 ½ Lee Street in Milwaukee.
On May 26, 1915, he filed his petition for naturalization with an address of 820 7th Street and occupation as “ornamental plasterer.” Witnesses were police officer William Herbert Gaurkee and his wife Clara Herzig Gaurkee, who lived at 832 45th Street. Clara was the sister of Peter’s wife.
Nannetts was naturalized in Milwaukee on September 15, 1915. He still gave his address as 820 7th Street in Milwaukee. Witnesses were police officer William H. Gaurkee and his wife Clara Gaurkee.
When registering for the draft in 1917, Nannetts gave his address as 943 4th Street. He listed himself as an “alien” despite “naturalized citizen” being an option. His occupation is listed as “ornamental plasterer” for the Stillman Paine Company (130 Reservoir Avenue).
Was hired on as an officer October 4, 1917 and was quickly useful — November 1917 was the time of the notorious police bombing; six suspects picked up in the next few days with help from Nannetts.
At the time, he was assigned to a plainclothes detail in another Milwaukee Italian enclave around Bishop and Potter Avenues, working with Patrolman Frank Kaczmarek and Detectives John Hammes and John Shenar. District Attorney Zabel praised Nannetts, stating that he “is a bright Italian and will be of much value to the police department in running down Italian criminals.”
October 30, 1924, was hunting in Richfield and accidentally shot himself. He was brought to Deaconess Hospital in Milwaukee (West Wisconsin Avenue) for treatment. Nannetts died two days later. His funeral was held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (modern address 1937 N Vel R. Phillips Ave) with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Cemetery record lists his final home at 704 First Street.