Alexander Ferguson Mennie was a native of Stenton, Haddingtonshire (East Lothian) and joined the City of Glasgow Police in 1882 at the age of 20 years.
After only four years, through merit, he was promoted to Detective Officer and was chosen to oversee the security of Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s Jubilee gifts which were on display at the Great Exhibition in Kelvingrove in 1888.
On 30 November 1888, he was hot in the stomach by an insane man whom he, and a colleague, tried to arrest in a house in North Albion Street, Glasgow. Although seriously wounded, he made a speedy recovery and carried the bullet with him as a ‘luck charm’ for the rest of his service. (The bullet is on display in the Glasgow Police Museum).
He quickly progressed through the ranks and in 1900, he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent in charge of the ‘E’ (Northern) Division. In 1912, he was transferred to the newly formed ‘K’ (Govan) Division when that area was annexed to the City that year.
In 1913, he was awarded the King’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
In 1915, Superintendent Mennie was transferred to the ‘A’ (Central) Division and in 1916, appointed Assistant Chief Constable in charge of the Detective Department. The first officer to hold such a rank.
He retired in March 1922 after a long period of ill health and died at his home on 19 January 1927 at the age of 55.