The lifelike policeman sculpture in Friendship Heights Village, titled “Oh, It’s You, Welcome!” by artist J. Seward Johnson Jr., was dedicated on April 29, 2000, as part of the Village of Friendship Heights collection.
Positioned near the intersection of South Park Avenue and The Hills Plaza, the realistic sculpture often causes passersby and drivers to do a double take, with many initially believing it is an actual police officer standing by the crosswalk. The piece also serves as a subtle reminder for motorists to stop for pedestrians.
The statue honors longtime Friendship Heights resident Colonel James S. McAuliffe Sr., whose name appears on the officer’s badge. McAuliffe served as a Montgomery County police officer for 42 years, including 16 years as Chief of Police. He lived in the Village for more than 55 years, and his family resided on High Street, now South Park Avenue, near the current site of The Willoughby North.
According to the plaque, McAuliffe also served on the Friendship Heights Citizens Committee from 1961 to 1965. Two of his brothers were also police officers, while both of his sons later became Montgomery County judges. McAuliffe passed away in 1996 at the age of 89, but his legacy lives on through the sculpture.
We published a version of this story, written by Tom Merritt, in 2020.
