Douglas Holmes
R. Douglas Holmes, Chief of Police, Camden Police Department
Douglas Holmes was born in New Jersey around 1927 to Robert and Anna Holmes. At the time of the 1930 Census the family lived at 709 South 9th Street, and the family was still there in 1947. Douglas Holmes was a 1944 graduate of Camden High School, where he took the college preparatory course, and was a member of the football and track teams. Academically he was in the top twenty-five percent of his class.
Douglas Holmes joined the Camden Police Department and rose to the post of Chief of Police in the 1980s. Chief Holmes retired in 1986.
Chief Holmes passed away on November 11, 2012.
Camden High School — Purple & Gold, January 1944
Douglas Holmes — Camden High School Purple & Gold, January 1944
Boxing Show Slated to Aid Drop-A-Buck
Camden Courier-Post —
Boxing Show Slated to Aid Drop-A-Buck
More than 500 members of boys clubs and Little League teams in the area will be guests at a special amateur boxing show Tuesday night at Convention Hall from which proceeds will benefit the Frank H. Ryan Drop-A-Buck Club.
Sponsors for the young guests are being solicited now by a committee headed by Police Insp. Anthony Skolski.
The show will be staged by the Camden Police Athletic League and sponsored by Camden Local 35, New Jersey Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.
Ten three-round bouts will present boxers from the Philadelphia Police Athletic League and some Middle Atlantic AAU champions will be on the card.
Among sponsors of one or more children already signed are Deputy Public Safety Director Willard C. Schriver; Police Chief Gustav Koerner, Skolski, Municipal Judge Anthony Marino, Dets. Joseph Mardino and Ernie Santaniello, Art Sharp, Andy Fanelli, Nick Tedeschi, Anthony Galiozzi, the Hub Steak House, Rt. 38, Maple Shade; Hill Clothing store, 2636 Westfield ave.; Roma Cafe, 3rd and Royden sts., and Local 35, NJSPBA.
Persons, organizations or business establishments wishing to become sponsors are urged to contact Skolski at the city police department. Assisting are Anthony Moffa, co-chairman; George MacKenzie, Charles Kocher, Mario Ferrari, Peter Paul, Edward Yeager, Walter Busko, Thomas Kelly and Douglas Holmes.
Cops Get Boy, Key in Hunt of Meter Looter
Camden Courier-Post —
A 15-year-old boy suspected of looting scores of parking meters in the city with a key found in his possession was arrested early today near Broadway and Auburn st.
Police identified the suspect as Frank Burns, 15, of Line st. near 7th st.
He was apprehended at 5.30 a.m. by Sgt. Earl Quinton and Ptl. Edward Ingram and Thomas Penn and held for city juvenile authorities, who will continue an investigation of the looting.
Twelve Looted in Night
Quinton reported 12 meters in the vicinity of Broadway and Mickle, Federal and Carman sts., had been looted Wednesday night prior to Burns’ arrest.
A second suspect eluded police while they were arresting Burns, according to Quinton.
Quinton said a key found in Burns’ pocket fit the parking meters and he used it to remove the coin boxes from them. Quinton said he did not know where Burns obtained the key.
200 Boxes Taken This Year
Nearly 50 parking meters were looted in the city in April, raising the total for the first four months of 1959 to more than 200.
Ptl. Douglas Holmes and Charles Voll found nine meters looted Wednesday night and Quinton three shortly before arresting Holmes.
Quinton said he was on patrol on Broadway near Stevens st. when he spotted a boy removing a coin box from a meter.
The police sergeant added the boy ran into Auburn st. when he spotted the police car. Quinton broadcast a description of the boy and then went after him on foot.
In the meantime, Ingram and Penn, who were in the vicinity, had circled the block and the police trapped Burns in an alley between Auburn and Washington sts.
Quinton closed in and made the arrest, he said.
Burns is alleged to have admitted looting “numerous meters in center city,” according to Quinton.
Shortly after 8 a.m. today, Martin Portnoy, operator of an electrical fixtures store at Broadway and Auburn st., found three coin boxes on the side steps of the store. Portnoy turned the boxes, intact and containing coins, over to Ptl. Dennis Evans.
Ret. Chief R. Douglas Holmes
Camden Courier-Post —
Ret. Chief R. Douglas Holmes
Age: 85 • Pennsauken
On November 11, 2012, Retired Camden Police Chief R. Douglas Holmes passed away peacefully.
Beloved husband of the late Dorothy Holmes and dear father of Robert, Charles and Roswell, Jr. He was endeared by his granddaughters, great granddaughter, his loving companion of many years, Priscilla Handy, and many nieces and nephews.
Doug was the first African American police chief in the City of Camden. He served dutifully until his retirement in 1986.
Family and friends are invited to the viewing on Saturday, Nov 17th from 9am–11am at Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church at 9th & Kaighn Avenue, Camden, NJ. Funeral services immediately following. Interment at Farleigh Cemetery, Camden NJ. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor may be made to The Hospice of Moorestown VNA, 300 Harper Drive, Moorestown, NJ 08057.