Eliot Ness, a lawman well-known for efforts to enforce Prohibition, won’t be the only person honored this summer in Potter County. So will modern-day law enforcement.
On July 20, the festival committee is planning to honor law enforcement at the courthouse square in Coudersport, tentatively at 6 p.m.
Celebrating law enforcement is crucial, said Steve Green of Southwoods Farm Nature Preserve.
“We all owe them much. We will be celebrating and saluting all law enforcement during the Ness Fest: Local, state and federal,” he said.
Some of the agencies with particular ties to Ness’ past will be at the event: Ness’ successor employer to the Treasury Department, the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cleveland City Police and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Also making an appearance will be individuals from local police departments and the sheriff’s office.
“The ‘Eliot Ness Fest: Touched by the Untouchable’ seemed not only a fitting but perfect time to celebrate and pay tribute to our many law enforcement men and women who selflessly and constantly serve and protect us,” Green said.
Ness lived out his remaining days in Coudersport. Green said that Ness practiced honest, ethical, conscientious and accountable law enforcement during his whole life, complete with providing effective police training throughout his career, much of that spent in Cleveland.
He put together a team of Prohibition enforcement personnel, called “The Untouchables,” to fight back against the activities of gangster Al Capone. Ness died on May 7, 1957, in Coudersport.
“He earned that nickname, the ‘Untouchable,’” Green said. “There is much about Ness’ life that is little known. During this Ness Fest in Coudersport these things can be learned. So as we celebrate Ness for all these things, we also celebrate all of our law enforcement for these very same things.”
The fest will also include a program presented by the ATF at the Coudersport Theatre at 7:30 p.m. July 20, which will detail Ness’ service to the agency and the law enforcement challenges of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
“We are more excited about this event than I can adequately or possibly tell you,” Green said.
For more information about the Salute to Law Enforcement event, contact Green at stephenagreen1952@gmail.com.
