His success against the criminal elements in the area soon earned him promotion to second lieutenant, a position being the modern equivalent to police sergeant.
[2] Speight remained in command of the Twenty-First Ward until the formation of the Municipal Police Department in 1857 and turned his office to the new organization.
He was among the first senior police officials to join the Metropolitans, Inspector Daniel C. Carpenter and George W. Dilks among others, and he was returned to his former post.
No trouble occurred there under Speight's watch and drafting went ahead as scheduled and uninterrupted until noon when it was adjourned for twenty-four hours.
Politicians and city officials Charles F. Maclean, John J. Morris, Thomas "Big Tom" Brennan and George Starr were also in attendance.
[3] His body was escorted by aids and personal friends from his home in Carmansville to his church, his pallbearers being Police Inspectors McDermott and Thomas W. Thorne, Captains Petty, Caffrey, Hedden, Bennett, Davis and Mount, and services performed by Rev.
At the service's conclusion, a band played a dirge and the battalion presented arms as the casket was taken to Evergreen Cemetery for burial.