When Pompano was incorporated in 1908, the town's first law enforcement officer was Benjamin F. Phillips. He was elected to serve as Marshall.

Phillips presided over no police force - he was it. An early photo shows him wearing a suit and derby, and sporting a mustache. He could easily be mistaken for an actor in the movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

According to a newspaper article, Phillips was born in "Madison City" (no doubt today's Madison, Florida, a little over 50 miles east of Tallahassee), and arrived in Pompano in 1900.

Although his exact date of death is not available, the 1918 City Directory lists him as living in Pompano, engaged in farming.