USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1961 > Part 1
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US BEEBE MEMORIAL LIBRARY Wakefield, Mass.
UCIUS BEEBE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
A
Montrose Branch
150th Annual Report
LUCIUS .USETTS
MESKMO I
WAKEI, N.
Entrance to Wakefield Junior High School
Town of WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
1812
1644
1868
-
1
QUANNAPOWIT
AASS.
WAKEFIELD.
/33-375
150th Annual
Report of the TOWN OFFICERS
o f
WAKEFIELD, MASS.
Financial Year Ending December Thirty-first Nineteen Hundred and Sixty-one
1961
Also THE TOWN CLERK'S RECORD OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS During Year 1961
ITEM PRESS-WAKEFIELD
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
1812
1644.
1868
Cou
ANNAPOWI
TT
ASS.
AKEFIE
D
Population, 1960 Federal Census-24,276
Congressman, 8th District-Torbert H. Macdonald of Malden.
Councillor, 6th District-Joseph Ray Crimmins of Somerville.
Senator, 7th Middlesex District-James J. Long of Woburn.
State Representatives, 22nd Middlesex District-Theodore J. Vaitses, Mel- rose; Gardner E. Campbell, Wakefield; Lloyd B. Conn of Melrose.
TOWN OFFICERS, 1961-1962
Selectmen Kenneth E. Morang, Jr., Chairman, *1963
J. Edward Surette, Jr., *1962
Burton F. Whitcomb, *1963
Thomas D. Morse, *1962, Sec. - Acting Chm. John W. Moccia, *1964
Town Clerk +Charles F. Young
Assistant Town Clerk #Marion B. Connell Moderator *Roger H. Wingate
Treasurer
Paul Lazzaro, *1962 Tax Collector Catherine E. Simpson, *1964
Town Accountant ** John J. McCarthy
Assessors
John J. McShane, Chairman Frank A. Tredinnick Leo F. Douglass, Secretary
Term Expires March 1964 Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1963
Municipal Light Commissioners
Jean H. Hartshorne, Chairman James Boit Wiswall John Morley
Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1964
Board of Public Works
Sabatino Benedetto, Chairman Harry H. Denning Walter E. Morton
Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1963
3
150TH ANNUAL REPORT
Aldo Andrew Bartlett, Sr. (Resigned) John S. Bethel, Jr. Albert V. Boland
Term Expires March 1964
Term Expires March 1962
Term Expires March 1964
Board of Public Welfare
M. Leo Conway, Chairman William D. Scott P. Elizabeth Kitchenman Virginia M. Jackson
Albert J. Petrucci
Term Expires March 1964
Term Expires March 1962
Term Expires March 1963
Term Expires March 1963
Term Expires March 1962
School Committee
Harold E. Staunton, Chairman
Gertrude M. Spaulding, Secretary William W. Allyn
Henry B. McConville, Treasurer
Lenora LeCours
John P. Turner Lawrence J. Fitzgerald
Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1963
Trustees Lucius Beebe Memorial Library
Phillips C. Davis, Chairman
Gladys Watkins, Secretary
Walter C. Hickey (Deceased)
Edward Lynch
Frank A. Tredinnick, Jr.
Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1964
Moses M. Frankel Leslie J. Wilson Rosaria Hodgdon
Thomas L. McManus
Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1962
Board of Health
Evan Fairbanks, Chairman Dr. Robert Dutton Norman S. Bosworth, Secretary
Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1964
Town Planning Board
Kenneth W. Thomson, Chairman Ruth M. Woodbury, Secretary-Treasurer William R. Spaulding Burton C. Parker
Lawrence J. Mccluskey
Term Expires March 1965 Term Expires March 1964 Term Expires March 1966
Term Expires March 1963
Term Expires March 1962
Wakefield Housing Authority
Lucian Colucci, Chairman James J. Curley Gardner C. Reed George M. Livingstone Herbert Kenneth Noble
Term Expires March 1965 Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1964 Term Expires March 1966 Term Expires March 1962
.
Term Expires March 1964 Term Expires March 1963
Term Expires March 1962
Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1964
Term Expires March 1964 Term Expires March 1964
Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1963
4
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Constables
tJohn F. Mahoney #John G. Gates (Deceased) ¿Richard A. Curran
Harold J. Maloney #Harold R. Anderson #Charles S. Antetomaso
#Registrars of Voters
George E. Findlay, Chairman
Edmund W. Sliney Charles F. Young, Clerk
Frederick G. Gorman
Term Expires March 1962
¿Finance Committee
Fred A. Beyer, Chairman
William K. Lawrence
Willard P. Farwell, Jr., Vice Chairman
Francis A. Johnson
Term Expires March 1964
Wallace H. Hugel, Secretary
Anthony Minichiello
Raymond L. Schofield
Herbert J. Kaiser, Jr.
William B. Black
Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1963
Frank Calore Paul Donovan A. Robert Almeida
Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1964 Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1964
Term Expires March 1962
Term Expires March 1964
¿Board of Appeals
William C. McKie, Chairman James J. Curley
Paul W. Cameron (Resigned)
Joseph L. McManamin
Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1961 Term Expires March 1964
#Recreation Commission
Charles P. Greene, Chairman J. Frank Anderson Earl G. Bonney
Mary Ellen Hurton, Secretary Thomas Hennessy David E. Sliney
John B. Encarnacao
Surveyors of Lumber
+George Kerr +Ralph Morel *James E. Hewes
*Hiram A. Tobey ¡Harry R. McIntosh George J. Gould
Field Drivers
*Everett E. Packard
tWalter J. Doyle
+Richard Baker
* Term Expires Appointed
** Tenure 1 Elected Annual Basis
Term Expires March 1961
Term Expires March 1963
Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1964
Term Expires March 1963
Term Expires March 1963 Term Expires March 1962 Term Expires March 1962
Melvin J. Levine
Bertram A. Hudson
Warren M. Laskey
General
Government
Reports of
BOARD OF SELECTMEN BOARD OF ASSESSORS BOARD OF APPEALS PLANNING BOARD
6
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Selectmen
The newly elected Board of Selectmen - Kenneth E. Morang, Jr., Burton F. Whitcomb, J. Edward Surette, Jr., Thomas D. Morse, John W. Moccia, Jr. organized on March 7, 1961 by electing as Chairman, Kenneth E. Morang, Jr., Secretary, Thomas D. Morse, Executive Secretary, John J. McCarthy and Clerk, Mrs. Ida L. Weiss.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Fire Department: Burton F. Whitcomb, John W. Moccia, Jr. Police Department: J. Edward Surette, Jr., Thomas D. Morse Veteran's Services Department: John W. Moccia, Jr., Thomas D. Morse Civil Defense Department: J. Edward Surette, Jr., Burton F. Whitcomb Building-Wire Inspection Departments: Thomas D. Morse, John W. Moccia, Jr.
The range of powers, duties and responsibilities of the Board of Select- men are encompassed by approximately seven hundred sections of law re- lating directly to Selectmen and with hundreds of other sections bearing on town government in general. Many of these sections are applied infre- quently while others are applied with regular frequency to the administra- tion of town government.
The Board of Selectmen have continued an effective program of co- ordinated administration through the Selectmen's Executive Secretary approach to municipal administration. The Executive Secretary imple- ments the policy decisions of the Board, provides for day to day adminis- tration and integration of the duties delegated to him by the Board of Selectmen. This activity extends to all town departments under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen as well as providing for communica- tion and liason between all town departments, boards and committees.
The program of Group Insurance Benefits for town employees which was authorized by referendum action in March of the year 1958 has con- tinued in effect and the contract for Group Hospital, Surgical and Medical insurance was awarded to Blue Cross - Blue Shield and the contract for life insurance was awarded to the John Hancock Life Insurance Company for a period of one year. This program provides insurance coverage for four hundred and seventy-five (475) employees of the town in all depart- ments at a total program cost of $88,684.44, the town's share of which cost amounts to $44,353.12. This entire program is administered by the office of the Board of Selectmen. The Town's dividend on the life insurance program amounted to $2,916.00 for the year 1961.
The town's fire and casualty insurance program which extends to many departments and provides for various types of coverage amounted to a program cost of $61,915.34 for the year 1961.
The Board of Selectmen has approved a public and institutional prop- erty plan of insurance which is provided for property classes which are prin- cipally supported by taxes and not operated for commercial ventures for profit. It is estimated by the application of this plan, the town may effect an approximate 20% savings in the property so covered.
Chapter 17 of the town's by-laws prescribes that the Board of Selectmen shall supervise the conduct and election of an employees' representative to
7
150TH ANNUAL REPORT
the Personnel Board for a term of three years. Mr. Francis A. Reed of the Department of Public Works was elected to this position for a term ex- piring on March 31, 1964.
As a result of the resignation by six members of the Recreation Com- mission, the Board of Selectmen met with the remaining member, Mr. John Encarnacao and elected a Recreation Commission composed of Miss Mary Ellen Hurton, Messrs. Earl Bonney, Charles P. Greene, Thomas Hennessy, David E. Sliney and J. Frank Anderson.
Mr. John S. Bethel was elected to the Board of Public Works to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Aldo A. Bartlett, Sr. The Board met in joint session with the Recreation Commission and the Board of Public Works to fill the vacancies on these Boards as is required by the Massachusetts General Laws.
Mr. Carl W. Vik was appointed to the Contributory Retirement Board for a term of three years expiring on June 30, 1964. Mr. Vik succeeded Mr. Ervine E. Laughton who had given outstanding service in this office from August 21, 1956 to June 30, 1961.
Mr. Joseph L. McManamin was appointed to the Board of Appeals for a term expiring March 1962 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Paul Cameron.
A complete revision, recodification and reprinting of the Street Traffic Rules and Orders was adopted by the Board of Selectmen after preparation by Sergeant William R. Connors and the approval of Chief J. Merritt Wenzel. The Street Traffic Rules and Orders were previously revised in 1940:
The town added an important piece of equipment in the acquisition of a new ambulance. A new station wagon and fire chief's sedan were also acquired for the protective service departments.
The Board approved a rate of 1.4% for an amount of $33,750.00 which was requested by the Town Treasurer, Paul Lazzaro, as a temporary loan in anticipation of reimbursement from the State and County on account of Chapter 90 road construction. A rate of 2.80% was approved on an amount of $100,000.00 note issue for a debt incurred in relationship to construction on the John Charles Doyle School.
The Board of Public Works was authorized to incur liabilities not in excess of $10,000 on account of an extreme emergency caused by a snow- storm initiating on December 24, 1961.
The Board observed with regret the deaths of the following employees:
Chief John G. Gates - Thirty-nine years service
Patrolman George F. Sheridan - Sixteen years service
Firefighter William E. Gerrish - Thirty-three years service
Frank A. Butler - Twenty-two years service
Louis Edwards - Nine years service
The Massachusetts Mass Transportation Commission requested that a local committee be established for the purpose of considering matters of transportation, land use, economic development and relative matters in the Greater Boston Region. The committee appointed by the Board is com- prised of: ::
William R. Spaulding, Planning Board
Earl L. Bears, Transportation Committee
John J. McCarthy, Executive Secretary, Board of Selectmen
8
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
The Board continued to oppose the further installation of automatic protective service equipment at the Boston and Maine Railroad crossings.
The boundaries between the Towns of Melrose, Stoneham and Wake- field were perambulated as is prescribed by statute.
A committee on Election Procedures was appointed to review election procedures and to provide liason between the Board of Selectmen and Pre- cinct Wardens. It was intended that by this method of conference, review and report, the Selectmen would remain in closer contact with the juris- diction for which the Board is responsible. The Board appointed Select- man Burton F. Whitcomb, Selectman John W. Moccia, Jr., Town Counsel Francis C. McGrath and Executive Secretary John J. McCarthy as mem- bers of this committee.
The Board of Selectmen have continued to represent the Town's in- terest before governmental officials, committees and commissions for the purpose of presenting information and evidence on matters which are of critical importance to the Town of Wakefield.
Fifty-two (52) Treasury Warrants totalling $7,785,585.09 were approved by the Board in payment of Salaries, Wages, Billings and Maturing Indebt- edness.
Considerable time and effort were spent by the Board on many miscel- laneous problems which would be too detailed to highlight in this report.
Reports of the various departments under the jurisdiction of the Board will be found under other headings in this report and this activity has been submitted to the Board by the individual departments on a monthly basis. These monthly reports have provided information necessary for the orderly development of administration and planning procedures.
The Board appointed Election Officers and Tellers for service at the election on March 6, 1961.
APPOINTMENTS MADE BY THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN FOR 1961 Clerk to Board of Selectmen - Ida L. Weiss
Town Counsel - Francis C. McGrath
Veterans' Service Agent - Richard J. McGrail
Building Inspector - Frank A. Tredinnick
Wire Inspector - John J. Curran Gas Inspector - Thomas J. Curley
Fire Inspector - Chief William P. Hurton
Lock-up Keeper - Chief J. Merritt Wenzel
Dog Officer - Animal Inspector - John W. Hopkins
Fence Viewers - Frank D. Mackay, Gaston E. Loubris, Earl A. Turner Board of Appeals (3 years) - Paul W. Cameron
Registrar of Voters (3 years) - George E. Findlay
Constables - John G. Gates, Charles S. Antetomaso, Harold H. Anderson SWEETSER LECTURE COMMITTEE
Dr. George E. Potter, Katherine Nelson, Kenneth E. Morang, Jr., Bur- ton F. Whitcomb, Thomas D. Morse, J. Edward Surette, Jr., John W. Moc- cia, Jr.
KENNETH E. MORANG, JR., Chairman THOMAS D. MORSE, Secretary BURTON F. WHITCOMB J. EDWARD SURETTE, JR. JOHN W. MOCCIA, JR.
9
150TH ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Board of Assessors
Computation of Tax Rate
Appropriation from Tax Levy
$4,597,547.00 3,013.00
Overlay deficit prior years
Overlay current year
73,287.00
State and County Assessments
301,790.00
Appropriations from available funds
219,427.00
Gross amount to be raised
$5,195,064.00
Income Tax
$ 300,498.00
Corporation Tax
126,394.00
Motor Vehicle Tax
330,800.00
Water Revenue
471,820.00
Town Receipts
546,152.00
Transfers from available funds
156,066.00
Transfers from Municipal Light Department
80,000.00
Transfers from Excess and Deficiency
123,360.00
Overestimates of prior years' assessments
5,052.00
Total estimated receipts and available funds
$2,140,142.00
Net amount to be raised by Taxation
$3,054,922.00
Total Valuation
1961 Real Estate
$60,175,250.00
$2,948,587.00
1961 Personal Property
1,873,250.00
91,789.00
1961 Poll Tax - 7,273
14,546.00
Total Taxes Levied on Polls and Property
$3,054,922.00
Rate of Taxation:
School Rate (52%)
$25.60
General Rate (48%)
23.40
Tax rate per $1,000 of Valuation
$49.00
Number of Polls assessed
7,273
Number of Motor Vehicles assessed in 1961
12,964
Valuation of Motor Vehicles assessed in 1961
$8,865,790.00
Motor Excise Tax levied in 1961
$ 488,073.00
Number of dwelling houses assessed
5,798
Number of acres of land assessed
3,225
Respectfully submitted,
BOARD OF ASSESSORS JOHN J. McSHANE, Chairman LEO F. DOUGLASS, Secretary FRANK A. TREDINNICK
10
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Town Planning Board
The Master Plan, on which work was begun in June 1960, will be com- pleted early in 1962, and a condensed report is scheduled for distribution at the annual town meeting in March.
The Planning Board has worked closely with Technical Planning As- sociates, Inc., throughout the year. There were 12 meetings with the plan- ners and four neighborhood meetings, at each of which a majority of the Board was present.
Three subdivisions were approved in 1961, Morrison Road West ex- tension with 15 lots, Forest Glen with 17 lots in the Montrose area, and Willard Road with 5 lots off North Avenue.
Acting as Board of Survey, only one public hearing was held which was on the layout of North Emerson Street.
The Zoning By-law to create a Limited Business District was approved by a special town meeting in January, and at the same meeting a tract of land on North Avenue was rezoned to this new type district. As a result of these actions, the Lord Wakefield Hotel has been completed and an office building is now under construction.
Following the appointment of the Parking Committee authorized at the June special town meeting, the Planning Board met with the new committee at an organization meeting.
At its 45 regular meetings about 100 problems of land use were studied and the Board acted on 15 different actual or proposed subdivisions. There were 4 public hearings on zoning articles, 3 on subdivisions, 1 as Board of Survey, and the Board met 16 additional times with the professional plan- ners, for a total of 70 meetings and hearings in 1961.
TOWN PLANNING BOARD Kenneth W. Thomson, Chairman
Ruth A. Woodbury, Clerk Burton C. Parker William R. Spaulding Lawrence J. Mccluskey
Report of Board of Appeals
Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Wakefield, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The Board of Appeals held twenty-one (21) hearings during the year ending December 31, 1961. There have been eighteen (18) decisions ren- dered, two (2) withdrawals and one undecided.
Respectfully,
Board of Appeals WILLIAM C. McKIE JAMES J. CURLEY JOSEPH L. McMANAMIN
......
Protection of Persons
and Property
Reports of
POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING INSPECTOR WIRE INSPECTOR PLUMBING INSPECTOR ANIMAL INSPECTOR DOG OFFICER SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES CIVIL DEFENSE
12
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Chief of Police
Number of arrests
851
Number of arrests on warrants
41
Number of arrests w/o warrants
250
Number of arrests on capias
7
Number of arrests on default warrants
2
Number of summonses served
551
Males
764
Females
87
Residents
271
Non-Residents
580
AUTOMOBILE LAWS, VIOLATIONS OF:
Allowing improper person to operate
1
Causing property damage
10
Failing to stop on signal of officer
4
Improper operation
1
Improper plates
3
Mechanical signal, not stopping
105
Motor running unattended
1
Not keeping to right of way
5
One-way street, violation of
1
Operating after revocation of license
2
Operating after suspension of license
3
Operating-failing to slow down at intersection
20
Operating-no registration
3
Operating so as to endanger
4
Operating-speeding
32
Operating under the influence
16
Operating without authority after right has been suspended
2
Operating without license
13
Operating without official inspection
13
Parking overtime
333
Refusing to show license to Police Officer
1
Refusing to show registration to Police Officer
1
Uninsured car
4
Unregistered car
5
Using without authority
13
U-Turn violation
15
FOR THE FOLLOWING CRIMES:
Accosting
1
Adultery
2
Arrested for other officers
30
Assault and battery
6
Bigamy
1
Breaking, entering and larceny in the nighttime
6
Breaking, entering and larceny in the daytime
1
Burglar tools in possession
5
Carrying dangerous weapon
2
13
150TH ANNUAL REPORT
Children-delinquent
2
Disturbing the peace
6
Drunkenness
102
Fugitive from justice
1
Illegitimacy
1
Indecent assault
1
Insane
5
Larceny
30
Lewdness
5
Malicious mischief
3
Murder
1
Non-support
5
Peeping Tom
1
Possession of improper pictures
1
Procuring liquor for minor
1
Receiving stolen property
1
Safe-keeping
4
Sounding false alarm of fire
1
Truancy
2
Vagrancy
5
Violation of probation
8
HOW DISPOSED OF
Continued
17
Custody of Probation Officer
6
Defaulted
60
Delivered to other officers
30
Discharged
5
Dismissed
22
Fines imposed
509
Grand Jury
21
House of Correction
16
Insane Hospital
6
Placed on File
71
Probation
7
Released
54
Sherborn Reformatory for Women
2
State Farm
7
Suspended sentence to House of Correction
11
Suspended sentence to State Farm
2
Walter Fernald School
2
Youth Service Board, Committed to
1
Youth Service Board, Suspended sentence to
2
AMOUNT OF FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURT
11
@
$ 1.00
$ 11.00
147
@ 2.00
294.00
60
a 3.00
180.00
1
@ 4.00
4.00
145
@ 5.00
725.00
2
@ 7.00
14.00
14
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
66
@
10.00
660.00
10
@
15.00
150.00
20
@
20.00
400.00
15
a
25.00
375.00
1
a
30.00
30.00
3
a
35.00
105.00
1
@
40.00
40.00
12
@
50.00
600.00
6
a
75.00
450.00
6
@
100.00
600.00
2
@
200.00
400.00
1
a
300.00
300.00
TOTAL
$5,338.00
MISCELLANEOUS REPORT:
Accidents reported
406
Amount of lost property recovered
$2,833.41
Amount of property left outside stores and cared for
$1,137.00
Amount of stolen property recovered
$30,589.68
Broken wires reported
14
Buildings found open and secured
948
Burglary (false alarm)
70
Complaints and cases investigated
2784
Dead and stray cats reported
41
Dead bodies cared for
20
Dead dogs reported
10
Defects in gas pipes reported
6
Defects in streets and sidewalks reported
87
Defects in water pipes reported
12
Details for public assemblages
2272
Dog bites reported
43
Dogs killed
100
Fires discovered and alarm given
13
Fires discovered and extinguished without alarm
5
House lights reported out
2
Lanterns in dangerous places
4
Lights found burning in buildings
15
Lost children cared for
19
Lost dogs found and returned to owners
34
Medical Examiner cases
20
Obstructions removed from the street
19
Officers at fires
224
Persons missing
31
Rescued from drowning
....
1
Runaway boys cared for
6
Runaway girls cared for
26
Search warrants served for stolen property
1
Sick and disabled people assisted
883
Street lights not burning
85
Traffic signs borrowed
33
15
150TH ANNUAL REPORT
Water running to waste
12
Wires burning trees
1
NUMBER OF DUTY CALLS:
Number of ambulance cases
647
Miles covered by ambulance
9,144
Miles covered by Car 91
33,155
Miles covered by Car 92
14,985
Miles covered by Car 94
29,938
Miles covered by Car 95
8,234
Miles covered by Car 96
312
Miles covered by Safety Car
5,488
Miles covered by New Motorcycle
8,395
Miles covered by Old Motorcycle
2,660
Number of duty calls
64,497
Legal papers served for out-of-town departments
477
Legal papers served for our department
646
Three-way summonses issued
2,970
MONEY COLLECTED AND TURNED OVER TO TOWN:
Ambulance bills
$ 350.00
Bicycle registrations
57.60
Firearms-licenses to carry
224.00
Firearms-permits to purchase
1.00
Firearms-licenses to deal in
35.00
Photocopies of records
529.00
Sanitary machine
7.20
Taxi-licenses to operate
184.00
Insurance claim-damage to ambulance
115.80
TOTAL $1,503.60
MONEY TURNED OVER TO COURT OR COMPLAINANT:
Non-support
$ 897.00
Restitution
1,015.82
TOTAL $1,912.82
In the year of 1961, the Police Department had a full complement of 36 regular men. No vacancies occurred in the regular ranks; however, there have been three vacancies for the past two years in the rank of reserve patrolman which could not be filled from the Civil Service list. Again in 1961, with the permission of the Civil Service Commission, it was necessary to employ provisional reserve patrolmen in order to keep the department functioning efficiently during busy seasons and when regular officers were out sick or on vacation.
During 1961, the following members of the department received addi- tional training in police work:
Patrolmen Charles G. Reynolds and Thomas Campbell were graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Academy in Framingham.
16
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Sergeant Kenneth Collins attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation School in Police Investigation at the American Mutual Liability Insurance Company in Wakefield. Patrolman Daniel Sullivan attended a similar course at the Newton City Hall.
Sergeant John Mahoney attended a Police Investigation Course at Northeastern University, Boston.
Chief J. Merritt Wenzel attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation School on Police Administration at the John Hancock Building, Boston; also, a Seminar at Boston College on Police Procedures in Co-operation with the Civil Authorities.
Sergeant William Connors and Patrolmen Richard C. Cheever, Frank Skillings and Arthur Bragg, on their own initiative and time, have qualified as skin divers.
In accordance with the town policy of replacing uneconomical equip- ment, a 1961 police ambulance was purchased to replace an outworn 1953 model. The ambulance is one of our most valued pieces of equipment and it responded to 647 calls during the year. A 1961 station-wagon cruiser was purchased to replace an older model cruiser.
Again this year, the Main Street Chevrolet Company donated a new station wagon for the use of the Safety Officer in his instructive work with children at schools, kindergartens, playgrounds and churches. Safety instruction was given at 23 assemblies and 72 classrooms at both public and parochial schools as well as at kindergartens. Suitable films designed for the comprehensive level of grade school children were shown and in- structive literature was distributed. To add to the safety of children going to and from school, the police department now employs thirteen women traffic supervisors for duty at especially busy intersections.
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