USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > Woodbridge > History of Woodbridge Township Police Department > Part 2
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and Charles S. Walling, the Carteret policemen were notified that "their terms as policemen of this Tomship terminated on the 28th day of May, 1906."
Page Nineteen.
A Second petition from J. L. Punn, asking the committee to appoint him police justice, or recorder, was received on June 28, 1906 and referred to the committee for further consideration. On September 6, 1906, the Township , minis Carteret, prepared 'its budget. with two less policemen on the force, the police appropriation was cut from $4,000 to $2,600. In fact all the appropriations were cut considerably, the amounts being as follows: Township purposes, $3,000
Roads & Bridges
2,500
Support of Poor 1,700
Macademizing
4,000
Police
2,600
Assessors' Maps 500
Total Budget $14,300.
During the same month, Martin Jaeger was appointed special officer for the month of October at a compensation of $50 per month. The appointment was evidently made for the vacation period. The police department, from all appearances, was too small to take care of routine matters and special assignments also, for in the minutes of November 8, 1906, We read:
"On a motion duly seconded , Mr. Diebold, overseer of the poor, Was empowered to employ a detective at an expense not to exceed $50 to find out, if possible, the parents of the child found at Port Reading on October 30, 1906."
Again the police committee had difficulty in making the officers understand that they must punch the time clocks that had been installed in woodbridge, Port Reading and Sewaron. A resolution Was finally passed on Nove ber 8, to the effect that any officer fail in to raclette in deeste Sugen. 2 for.
Page Thenty.
ten days for each failure without pay. Then , less than a month later, Officer Coffey was notified that he would be suspended from duty from December 7th to 16th inclusive because he had failed to . "punch the clock". At the end of the suspension period Officer Coffey failed to report back to duty "due to a severe cold. " On March 14, 1907, the minutes recorded that "Mr. Kuhlman be instructed to procure a key to the Port Reading fire house for Officer Coffey". And then on April 11, 1907, it was "moved and carried that the resignation of Michael Coffey as policeman and constable to take effect April 16, be accepted. "
A few days later, onApril 22, 1907, Hans Simonsen, of Sewaren, who had acted as special office during vacation periods, was named police officer in Mr. Coffey's place, his appointment to take place at once.
With policemen's salaries set at $50 a month, the officers decided that their pay should be increased and in April 4, 1907, they presented a petition requesting a raise. In the following month "it was moved and carried that the salaries of the officers be increased to $55 per month, increase to date as of May 1st, 1907." At about that time, Mr. De Forest, of Sewaren, requested a liquor license for the "Sewaren House " and the permit was opposed by the Boyntons who vigorously protested, declaring a "saloon in Sewaren would be demoralizing." Today there are 70 taverns in the Township with Sewaren boasting of its share. The Township continue! to grow and as
the population increased petitions were submitted asking for police protection for the various sections. In January of 1907 a petition wie gold notwanting that "Peter John on be appointe?
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Special officer for Keasbey and vicinity, he to be compensated out of the appropriation fo- police and also that a lock-up and polling place be set-up in this locality. On Motion duly seconded said petition was laid on the table for further consideration. " At the same meeting, John Omenhiser Was given
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the position as janitor Or Warden at the lock-up for the ensuing year and the Justices of the Peace in the Tomship were notified that . the committee"desires that they detain no prisoners in the lock-up over 24 hours without a hearing. E
Again, at the end of the year, Ir. Johnson submitted an application for appointment to the police department fo- Keasbey and Fords sections and again the application was "received and filed. " A few days later, a Mr. Peter Hamilton applied for the position and received the same treatment. On January 6, 1908, a Mr. James O'Reilly submitted an application and once again the Tommship committee followed the same routine. The applications then came thick and fast with Peter Peterson and Arthu- Deter among the applicants.
And then on May 28, 1908, on a motion duly seconded, James . Walsh, who was destined to rise from the ranks to the Chief of Police of the Woodbridge department, a position he held at the time of his death, was "appointed police officer at Keasbey and Fords at a compensation of 350 a month, said appointment to take effect June Ist, next." Thus, James Walsh became the first
policeman to cover a beat, not his home territory. Walsh, a Woodbridge-proper resident covered Keasbey and Fords for some time. with no automobiles for transportation for the police department
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in those days, Walsh had to board the bus to Perth Amboy each night and change at Perth Amboy for the bus to Fords. After covering the 1 section all night on foot, Walsh had to get back to Woodbridge the best way he could, most of it by foot. And those were the good old days!
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Chapter 5.
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From 1909 to 1911 the police force and the Township Committee wers to go through a period of reconstruction which finally wound up into a regularly Organized police department authorized through an act of the legislature, increased salaries for policemen, appointment of a chief of police from the ranks and the adoption of per- manent rules and regulations.
On January 19, 1909, the Township committee made an appoint- ment that was later to cause them difficulty. In the minutes of that date we read :
"On motion duly seconded, John L. Dunn was appointed police inspector at a salary of 320 per month, he to report to the committee at every regular mee .ing and to be furnished with a badge and to · exercise oversight on the policemen of the Township under the direction of the committee. "
Dunn, it will be recalled, was a justice of the peace, and old timers tell me that he always considerel himself the first chief of woodbridge township. They also tell me that when the department was reorganized under the statute, M -. Dunn took some legal steps and halted the appointment of Patrick Lurphy as first chief of police for almost a year.
Shortly after Dunn's appointment , Overseer of the Poor Rohrback was notified to "senl all trarips to Judge Dunn hereafter instead of giving them orders for a night's lodging in the lock-up and that Julge Duin be notified to use his discretion in douling with such cases. "
Las d'sites are in the Township in 1900 a on
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February 28th of that year, the Inspector of Police was authorized to employ twelve deputies in addition to the regular policemen for two days on account of the strikes in the factories at the clay banks of the township.
Committeeman Cranston, who served on the police committee during this period, was evidently a thorough man and a stickler for detail, fo- he ordered the first police blotter and directed that the police use the blotter in all lock-up cases . Previously the . Justices of the Peace kept the records and as far as can be determined the "records died with them. " 1
It might be amusing to note that the first notation on the police blotter was by Patrick Murphy who Wrote "Arrested Joe Holas for assault and committed to County jail fo- the grand jury." Joe Holas, or Hollis, as he is frequently booked, has been arrested numerous times since then on drunkeness charges and has spent a great deal of his life between the county workhouse and short visits to Woodbridge, according to the records in Chief Keating's files.
But Woodbridge Was still very much a small town in those days and was faced with country-like problems. A quaint item is found inserted in the November 11, 1909 minites which reads as follows: .
"Moved and carried that the clerk Write Officer McDonald and ask him to find out the owner of the goats whichtrespass on Mr. Caniacioli's property and notify the owner that if the goats are not . kept off said property they will be shot. "
Petitions began to pour in on the Township Committee
demanding police protection at lower Fulton Street and Spa Spring. The ansher, lack of finances, has a familiar ring even today. One pily, while coll b v. hat te pro tti , cool :
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"On a motion duly seconded the communication of Mo. Norman Grant bearing on police protection fo- Spa Spring Was Ordered received anf the clerk was directed to advise him that there is no appropriation available at the present for such purpose but that the matter will be given consideration when recommendations are made for appeopriations to be voted for at the next election. "
The first step toward the Organization of a regular police department came on August 19, 1910, when the Township committee passed the following resolution :
"Whereas: the cost of living and the expenses of the exacting demands of a presentable appearance of the patrolmen in the employ of the Township of woodbridge cannot be kept up by the samll salary now paid by said Tomship to its patrolmen, and "Whereas: the dangers and jeopardy of the position of the patrolman require able and efficient men to act in that capacity and
"Whereas: thexxxigarxxxx it is necessary in order to get good services to pay just and reasonable wages, and "Whereas: the Legislature of the State of New Jersey has provided a law by which the efficiency and the lenght of service of a patrolman may be rewarded by a meritoriuous system of graduating wages and
"ihereas : Several of the Tomships of the State of
New Jersey have since the enact ent of said law accepted the sale and have taken advantage thereof, and
"Whereas: the duties of the patrolmen of the Township of woodbridge are becoming move arduous and exacting:
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and rejection of the act entitled, "An act to regulate the pay of patrolmen on the police force in cities other than first and second class cities and in all towns and townships of this State" P. L. of 1909, Chapter 244, be submitted to the voters of said Town- ship at the next general election be balloted on pursaunt to the above-mentioned act."
In the meantime, the "horseless carriage" was presenting its first problem to the Township and the following September, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles at Trenton was asked to send an inspector to Woodbridge to put an end to reckless drivers of automobiles through Amboy Avenue, if possible. At approximately the same time there is a record of an arrest made by Officer Nu-phy because the motorist traveled at the rate of 30 miles an hour!
The movement to Organize the police department gained more momentum when on September 8, 1910, the Ordinance entitled, "An Ordinance to establish a police department in the Township of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex" was adopted and the following resolutions were unanimously passed :
"Whereas, there has been presented to the Township Committee of the Township of Joodbridge in the County of Middlesex a petition signed by at least five per centun of the qualified electors of such Township, as evidenced by the total number of votes cast at the next preceding election of officials of such township, Which said petition has been duly filed with the clo -!: of said To:mship for the adoption of an act of the Legislature of the State of hen Jersey er.title:
"" att to move poling de ant at in the Township of
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of offices of the officers and mon employed in such departments" approved hay 7, 1907,
"Now therefore, be it Resolved that the question of the adoption of said sct shall be submitted to vote in the ranne- and form required by law, in said Township at the next ensuing election for Toniship officials, to be held hereafter, to wit the November election , 1910.
"And be it further resolved that there shall be printel on eachi ballot at said election, in such manner as is required by the statute in such case made and provided, the question of the adoption and acceptance or rejection of said la by the voters."
It will be note that it was the first time that the word "tenure" is employel in the connection with the police department and they it was undoubtedly the first effort made to take the policement out of political control once they were appointed to the force.
The voters approved the resolution on the ballot and on November 10, 1910, the police inspector was orderel to have all officers Present/ at a "meeting to be held on Wednesday night at 8 P. N. "
On that night, November 16 , 1910, " on a motion duly seconded it was resolved that the following policemen be appointed under the ordinance of the Township and the two ney acts aloptel by the voters at the last General election, to wit: Patrick Cullinane, Patrick Murphy, Michael McDonald, Hans Simonsen andl James Walsh. "
Inspector's Dunn's name was conspicuous by its absences.
Old Timers have in four In; that Dun fought to hold on to
in position
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however, anl on November 30, 1910, the minutes read :
"Attorny -arch reported regarding the police matters that the ordinance adopted in September , last, to establish a police department in the Township of woodbridge and the two acts adopted by the voters at the last general election were void and of no effect, inasmuch as the legal voters of the Township had never voted to establish and maintain a police department, and on a motion duly made and carried the clerk was instructed to invite the policemen to be present at the regular meeting to be held December 1, to hear an explanation of the matter. "
From then on there was plenty of strife before Mr. Dunn resigned as police inspector and the Township committee took it upon itself to push the matter, organize a regular police department and name Patrick #. Murphy as chief of police.
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Chapter 6.
By striking back at Inspector John Dunn, the Township committee hoped to be able to push through its move to establish a police department, a movement that undoubtedly had the support of the people. On December 6, 1910, the chairman of the Township committee, Randolph Lee, relinquished the chair to Mr. Lahey and brought up the matter of "dispensing with the services of the police inspector and, on motion duly made and carried, the matter Was referred to the Township attorney to report at the next meeting."
On December 8, 1910, Mr. Lee again relinquished the chair to Lahey and offered the following resolution moving its adoption :
"Resolved that the employment of John L. Dunn as police inspector be and the same is hereby terminated from and after the present month: Be it further resolved that the Township clerk notify the said John L. Dunn, of the contents of this resolution. "
Mr. Kuhlman seconded the motion and the roll was called by the clerk. The vote was as follows: For the resolution- Lee and Kuhlman; against the resolution- Lahey, Cranston and Brown. The motion was there- fore lost.
The Mr. Lee toook and unprecedent step. The minutes continue: meter r. Lee desired entering on the minutes that he, as chairman of the Township committee, declares the office of police inspector vacant after "ecember 31, 1910 and instructs the treasurer to pay no money for such services after that date". Mr. Brown desires to record his objection to such action being taken." (
On December 20, the resignation ofJohn L. Dunn, as inspector of police, was received and on December 29, the - resignation was accepted.
Not much is recorded in the Township minutes regarding the police department from that date until June 23, 1911 when John Omenhiser Withdrew his application for a police job and Robert Egan was appointed for Keasbey and Fords and Philip Dunphy for Woodbridge proper. Robert Egan is day patrolman at Fo-ds corner at the present time, while Dunphy, now deceased, became a desk sergeant.
The Township committee at the same time passed the following resolution: ‘
non motion duly made and carried it Was ordered that a recorder be appointed to act as such to hear lock-up cases and exercise an oversi- ght over police on condition that the statute does not compel payment of over $400 per year." And on June 27, 1911, Mark G. Ashley became recorder. He served in-that capacity up until the time B. W. Vogel became judge.
On July 6, 1911, a letter was submitted by the taxpayers and citizens of Fords and Keasbey expressing regret at the transfer of Officer James Walsh from that portion of the Township. At the same time the following resolution was adopted:
"Resolved: that in pursuance of the opinion of the counsel this day furnished in the police matter the police officers be paid in accordance with the schedule fixed by the act of the legislatura herotoforo adopted by the voters of the Township. "
A few days later, on July 13, 1911, events took a turn that Was to shape the destinies of the police department. In the records \' find the follo 113 1010 8
Page Thirty
"In view of the fact that it has been-decided to regulate and organize the police of this Township into an organized police force, I believe that it would be wise to appoint one of the members of the present force as an inspector of police to serve under the direction of the police committee in such manner and under such regulations as this committee may adopt.
Patrick Murphy was then appointed as police inspector but a few weeks later the title was changed to Chief of Police. Thus Murphy became the first, officially recognized chief. It also established a precedent of picking a man from the ranks to head the department.
At the same time, Committeemen Dooley and Kuhlman were named as members of the police committee and were authorized to purchase a "suitable badge and helmet emblem for the Chief."
Action against the Justices of the Peace , who cluttered the lock up with prisioners arrested by constables and approval of powers to Chief Murphy were noted on November 9, 1911 when it was Ordered that no prisoners be permitted in the lock-up without the endorsement of the Chief of Police Or the acting patrolman in charge of the lock-up and that the keeper of the lock-up be notified of this action. "
.It Was also ordered "that the keeper of the lock-up be directed to procure new locks and keys for said lock-up , he to consult the Chief of Police regarding the number and disposition of · the keys."
Meanwhile, the police officers were making their regular rounds of duty, as the Township Committee endeavored to straighten put legal talents.
In the first police blotter of record, we find that
illegal liquor was not an unknown quantity. Officer Robert Egan, arrested one George Molnar, of Perth Amboy, "for illegal liquor selling" early in 1912.
Chief Murphy was busy arresting motorists for reckless driving while the first light check was made by Officer Dunphy who reported one light out on Fulton Street, one on Albert Street and one on Rahway Avenue.
An amusing entry Was made by Officer Cullinane who Wrote: "This man John Peterson that was here last night about that cow. I got his cow for him on the payment of fifty cents. n
The cow had evidently roamed away from pasture, had been picked up and the fifty cents was in payment of board.
They even had "crooks" in the "good old days". A record in the blotter, by Chief Murphy tells of a "Mrs. Sipos, of Keasbey, who reported that a man, about five feet seven inches tall, called at her home. He had a smooth face and dark hair. She gave him her husband's watch to have a photo put in the case. He said he was from Perth Amboy. He never came back with the watch. "
Another note, that interested me particularly, read: = Mr. Wagner, reporter for the Evening News, reports two fur robes taken from his car on St. George Avenue. " A reporter with a car and TWO fur robes!
The first record of counterfeiters is found in a report made by Officer Bob Egan, as follows:
"Found moulds for making coins and some counterfeit coins in the home of Mary Jerkovitz at Fords. There were moulds for half dollars, quarters and nickels. Also found 58 counterfeit hal? dollars, 25 quarters and a nickel, Ariosto Mais derkovitz and Mik Zula, The t. coveren at officers who work with me too; then to
·
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Newark. "
The first record of a hit-and-run death was also made by Officer Egan who Wrote : Found the body of Andrew Horvath, 20, of Ellendale Terrace, between Rogan 's Corner and-Florida Grove Road.
And although , there were previous murders, the first recorded one Was covered by Officer Reilly, who reported to his superiors: "Matteo Ranaldo, of Port Reading, was shot to death by a shotgun near the camps, May 24, at 12:10 A. M., by some unknown person." 1 And so it went, murders, hit-and-run cases, counterfeiters, and robberies. So the World hasn't changed much after all.
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Chapter 7.
And while the police officers were busy making arrests, the police recorder, Mark Ashley, was equally as busy, meting out punishment to offenders. On December 7, 1911, the recorder's report for November showed fines collected "amounting to $154 and a disbursement of $10; check for the balance, $144 being turned over to the treasurer." The disbursements were for conveying prisoners to the county workhouse. In those days, the police officer making the arrest, had to escort the prisoner in question, to the workhouse. It meant walking the prisoner to the Fast Line, a long ride in the trolley, and then a long walk through the woods, after leaving the trolley, in order to reach the workhouse.
It might be interesting to note, in passing, that in the early part of 1912, the Township was divided into wards, for the first time.
On June 13, 1912, William Butters and Mr. Klein were appointed to the police force "to serve at the request of the Township Committee at $2.00 a day. " A few days later it was moved and carried that "William Butters and Emil Klein be appointed to serve as special policemen at the regular salary until further notice" and the Chief was authorized to appoint two other men if Butters and Klein refused to serve.
Then on June 20, 1912, Officer Michael McDonald submitted his resignation asia police officer of the Township which was received and accepted
At the same time, the committee Ordered that in the event of vacancies or additions to the police force such vacancies mere to be filled by confirming the appointment of special policemen appointed to serve in connection with the regular appointed police force." Early in July, on the eleventh day to be exact, "John T. Reilly was appointed policem n to act in the place of William Butters, who declined to act in the same capacity as Emil Klein."
After the initial meeting on the first day of January, John Omenhiser, the keeper of the lock-up was o-dered to vacate the lock-up building before February 1, 1913 and turn over the keys of the jail at once to Michael Miller.
Chief Murphy "got a break" soon after when his salary was increased to "1$100 a month to be raised at the rate of $60 per year until the maximum of $125 per month be reached."
And then -- progress began in earnest -- the police officers were provided with whistles and the clerk was instructed to Write to Hugh McCullum and Robert Fullerton to get bids on a motorcycle! Fulerton's bids were as follows: "5 H. P. Harley & Davidson single cylinder, $235; 8 H. P. Harley & Davidson, twin cylinder, $285. " McCullum's bid was "7 H. P. Indian, $250". It was noted that the speedometer, Prestolite lamp, headlight, horn, etc., were to be purchased Separately. The bids were carried over for further consideration.
Speeding of autoists became a real problem, so it seems, for the clerk was instructed to have signs placed at Fords Corner, New Brunswick Avenue at the City Line and Keasbey at Perth Amboy City Lino to warn autoists against speeding,
On July 1, 1913, thì police co. ittco because busy and tuo more bon were appointed to the police doparto. ai Join P. Cholar,
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of Keasbey, now on pension, and Samuel ( "Whistling Sam") Lloyd, of , Sewaren. The clerk Was directed to purchase the Indian motorcycle from Mr. MoCullum and Phal Dunphy became the first motorcycle cop. The motorcycle was fully equipped for those days and lettered (in police blue ) "Woodbridge Police". - n fact the motorcycle , according to Chief George E. Neating, was still a part of the police equipment when he joined the force shortly after the war
At approximately the same time, William Krause( now deceased) who later became janitor of the Port Reading school. became a member of the police force, as far as I could determine there is no record in the minutes of his appointment. "his may have been due to a slip-up in the office of the late Andrew Keyes, Township Clerk at that time. The first record I found of Krause's being a member of the police force , Wasin the payroll sheets.
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