Introduction
Donald Watson joined the Camden Police force on August 22, 1940, along with Stanley Zuchowicz and William Large. William H. Neale followed them onto the force two days later. Both Neale and Watson would go on to serve as Chief of Police in Camden.
Donald Watson was appointed Acting Chief of Police in April of 1960 after Gustav Koerner retired. In August of 1960 William H. Neale was appointed Chief of Police. Donald Watson resumed his previous rank of Inspector. He was again given the duties of Acting Chief in May of 1964 when Chief Neale was ill. Chief Neale applied for his disability pension in February of 1965 and at that point Donald Watson was formally appointed Acting Chief of Police, pending a civil service examination. He was succeeded by Harold Melleby in March of 1967. Donald Watson retired in 1969.
For many years a resident of 935 Beideman Avenue in Camden’s Cramer Hill section, Donald Watson passed away on March 21, 1991 at the age of 83, survived by his wife, the former Elizabeth R. Rowan, a daughter and five sons. Youngest son Jerome Watson served with the Camden Fire Department for over 31 years before retiring on January 1, 2000.
Mrs. Kobus to Ask More Cops, Firemen for City Next Year
Camden Courier-Post —
New Appointment Return Forces to 1938 Status; Defense Increases Need
Appointment of 22 patrolmen and 10 firemen by City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus during the past three months has brought the personnel of the public safety department to figures comparable to 1938.
That announcement was made yesterday by Commissioner Kobus, who expressed the hope the city could afford additional members of both departments in the near future “as a safety measure and because of the great national, State and local defense programs, in which we must participate.”
“Camden is rapidly taking its rightful place as one of the greatest industrial centers of the entire nation. Thousands have been added to the payrolls of our various great industrial plants. Houses are at a premium within the city, and it is natural for the public safety department to keep in step with the times,” the commissioner stated.
“We have hundreds of new traffic problems confronting us today, that never existed back in 1931, when the police department was manned by 247 regular members and 83 special policemen and investigators.
Comparable to 1938 Figures
“Today the personnel of the police department totals 194 men, with no special investigators. This is comparable to 1938, when we had a total of 192 members of the department. Since 1938, 12 policemen have died and eight others requested to be placed on pension, after long and honorable service to their city.
“No replacements were made until a civil service examination was held and a list of eligible men provided. I have appointed 22 policemen from that list and 10 men as members of the city fire department, which had nine vacancies due to deaths and retirement.
“I will ask that sufficient money be placed in my budget for next year to appoint a few additional policemen, due to the defense measures which have been set up, and in which the public safety department is expected to participate.”
All of the new police and fire appointees must serve for one year at a salary of $1500. The second year they receive $1560, with their salaries going to $1680 for the third year and $1800 for the fourth year.
Normally they would have received $2040 for the fifth year, when they become full-fledged members of the department, but a referendum approved by the voters at the last general election sets the salary of police and firemen at $2400 annually after 1943.
As it will be after that year the present appointees will reach the end of the five-year period during which they receive annual increments in their pay, it was indicated they would jump to $2400 after their fourth year in the two departments.
Appointments Listed
The new policemen appointed by Commissioner Kobus were:
Joseph Caputi, 332 Mt. Vernon street; Joseph M. Carroll, 427 Lansdowne avenue; Roland Comerford, 2931 Cramer street; Vincent Conley, 423 Beideman avenue; James Eskridge, 716 North Seventh street; Joseph Hooven, 501 Beideman avenue; Julius Kaunacki, 1183 Sheridan street; William E. Kelly, 55 State street; William F. Large, 729 Mickle street; William H. Neale, 773 Line street; Francis J. Nelson, 720 Penn street; John E. Opfer, 323 North Second street; Cecil H. Picou, 1127 Cooper street; Earl Quinton, 687 Jefferson avenue; Edw. W. Tatem, 565 Mt. Vernon street; Harry Tracy, 2003 Federal street; Harold I. Vecander, 1039 North Twenty-sixth street; John H. Watkins, 2902 Constitution road; Edward Watson, 1048 Haddon avenue; Donald R. Watson, 841 Lois avenue; George T. Weber, 1231 North Thirtieth street; Stanley Zuckowicz, 1157 Thurman street.
The new appointees to the fire department are:
Philip H. Farrow, 529 Newton avenue; Anthony W. Bretschneider, 1621 Louis street; John Gryckiewicz, 810 North Front street; Thomas Winstanley, 329 Bailey street; William Palese, 900 South Fourth street; Anthony Dzinski, 1230 Atlantic avenue; Joseph R. Guarino, 25 Morse street; Martin B. Nelson, 561 Spruce street; William Cleary, 614 Federal street; Otto Kaiser, 904 North Twenty-sixth street.
Watson to Aid Chief Neale
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Inspector Donald Watson Sr. yesterday was assigned to the chief of police’s office to assume some duties of the chief and to sign papers for ailing Chief William Neale.
Watson, 56, of 935 Beideman Ave., was named by director of public safety Keith Kauffman, who asked that all police commanders cooperate with him.
Watson served as chief of police in the city from April until August of 1960. A 24-year veteran of the police department, he has been in charge of the police training school.
Director Kauffman said this is only a temporary assignment pending the return of Chief William Neale who has been on sick leave.
Odorisio Swears in New Cops
Camden Courier-Post —
Twelve men were sworn today by City Clerk Odorisio as new patrolmen in the police department. Attending the ceremonies was Director of Public Safety Kauffman. The men, Kauffman said, will attend a police training school for six weeks beginning Monday. They will receive a starting salary of $4,800 and after two years a salary of $5,975.
The additional men, Kauffman said, will give the police department 252 men and officers.
Two of the new patrolmen are relatives of fire department officials. Anthony R. Saponare, 22, of 348 Boyd st., Apartment B, one of the new recruits, is the son of District Fire Chief Anthony C. Saponare and a grandson of Rocco Saponare, former city detective sergeant.
Frank Martelli, 25, of 569 Line st., is the son of Fire Capt. Louis Martelli and a nephew of Fireman Casper Martelli.
The other new patrolmen are Joseph L. Grace, 24, of 342 Pfieffer [sic] st.; Richard C. Hailey, 29, of 2111 Kossuth st.; Frank E. Valora, 21, of 1608 Pierce ave.; Francis S. McHugh, 23, of 619 Clinton st.; Charles A. Taylor, 26, of 1161 Magnolia ave.; Anthony S. Gambone, 30, of 3827 Myrtle ave.; George C. Corson, 26, of 918 Penn st.; William J. Horay, 22, of 813 N. 2nd st.; Vincent L. Miller, 28, of 1443 Greenwood ave., and John D. Stinsman, 22, of 913 N. 22nd st.
12 new police candidates sworn in
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin —
12 new men are reviewed by Camden Public Safety Director Keith Kauffman (far right in civilian clothes) and acting police chief Donald Watson. The candidates were Anthony R. Saponare – Frank Martelli – Joseph Grace – Richard Hailey – Frank Valora – Francis McHugh – Charles Taylor – Anthony Gambone – George Corson – William Horay – Vincent Miller – John Stinsman
Named Acting Police Chief
Camden Courier-Post —
NAMED ACTING POLICE CHIEF, Insp. Donald Watson is introduced by Public Safety Director Kauffman to newsmen and police department brass at conference today in City Hall.
Four uniformed officials (from left) are Inspectors William Yeager, George Weber and Harold Melleby and acting Lt. Thomas Kelly.
Watson will serve pending Civil Service examination for post vacated by Chief William Neale, who has applied for disability pension.
Twelve Sworn In As City Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Twelve men were sworn in today to implement the second phase of a 42-hour work week for Camden city firemen.
The new firemen, three of them following their fathers into public service, were administered the oath by Fire Chief Edward V. Michalak.
The men will begin basic training at the city’s fire academy immediately, Michalak said, in order to begin their duties in January.
They are part of a total complement of 24 who will be used to allow some of the department’s firemen to begin a 42-hour work week.
So far one-third of the department have been working the new schedule, approved by voters last November.
An additional 12 men are expected to be appointed within the next few weeks. The entire department is scheduled to work 42 hours by January, 1970, when the third phase of the plan goes into operation.
Three of the men appointed today represent second generations to work for the city or county. They are: Jerome J. Watson, 21, of 935 Beideman Ave., whose father, Donald, is a former city police chief; Daniel J. Galasso, 26, of 3023 Atlanta Road, whose father, Charles, is warden of the Camden County jail; and William H Huelas, 22, of 320 E. Bettlewood Ave., Oaklyn, whose father, John, is a captain in the city fire department.
In addition, twins Ronald J. and Robert G. Boyle, 22, of 1127 N. 33rd St. were included in the group.
Others appointed were: George S. Szychulski, 22, of 1412 Mt. Ephraim Ave.; Glenn H. Moore, 23, of 142 Chestnut Ave., Woodlynne; Marvin W. Bendy, 28, of 250 S. 3rd St., Gloucester; Samuel Battle Jr., 21 of 1121 Kaighns Ave.; Ronald Angemi, 22, of 1306 Merrimac Road; Robert C. Welch, 28, of 1475 Ormond Ave.; and George R. Abbey, 25, of 1 Oak Walk.
Donald R. Watson, 83, retired police chief
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post, March 24, 1991
Donald R. Watson, 83, retired police chief
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post, March 24, 1991