In 1955, Whitney combined his roles as Commissioner of Public Safety and assistant commander of the Yankee Division during a riot at the Charlestown State Prison.

He ordered that a National Guard tank be brought to break down the prison doors as a show of strength.

[1] In 1959, Democratic Governor Foster Furcolo replaced Whitney as Public Safety Commissioner.

[2] A labor dispute between the Metropolitan Transit Authority and Carmen's Union led the Massachusetts General Court to approve Governor John A. Volpe's request for emergency control of the M.T.A.

[3][4] Later that year, Volpe appointed Whitney presiding justice of the Concord District Court.

[1] In 1944, Whitney was stricken with malaria and sent back to the United States, where he promoted to the rank of colonel and given command of the general staff school at Fort Leavenworth.

[3] In 1951, Whitney was promoted to brigadier general and appointed assistant commander of the Yankee Division.