Introduction
Harold Melleby Sr.
HAROLD MELLEBY was born and raised in Camden, New Jersey. After serving with the United States Marine Corps, Harold Melleby returned to Camden. He was appointed to the Camden Police Department around 1950. Rapidly advancing through the ranks of the department, he was appointed Chief of Police in March of 1967, and remained in that post until the summer of 1981. He also served in a dual role as Public Safety Director the late 60s and into 1970, when he was succeeded by William Yeager.
Around 1959–1960 Harold Melleby had a new home built at 3306 Pelham Place. It was one of the last new homes built in East Camden prior to the rebuilding of McGuire Gardens in the 1990s.
Harold Melleby passed away on October 7, 2009.
Bought Gun At Work
Philadelphia Inquirer —
East Camden Man Ends Life with Shot as Wife Seeks Reconciliation
The 21-year-old wife of an East Camden man, on the verge of a reconciliation after a five-week separation, found her husband dead from a gunshot wound of the head early Sunday in his apartment.
Camden county Coroner Howard W. Creran said Wesley W. Gaylord, 34, of 1026 N. 27th Street, Camden, apparently ended his life with a single shot from a .22 caliber rifle, which was lying alongside him on a day bed in the apartment.
WORKED AT DRIVE-IN
Creran said an autopsy would be performed Monday.
Gaylord, a maintenance man for the Tacony-Palmyra Drive-in Theatre, Palmyra, N. J., was found at 2 A. M. by his wife, Reba, of W. Walnut Street, Westmont.
She told Camden Detective Thomas Scarduzio she had talked with her husband Saturday afternoon about a reconciliation. She said she agreed to meet Gaylord at his apartment about 11 P. M. Saturday, after he finished work at the theater.
FINDS HUSBAND’S BODY
Mrs. Gaylord said she phoned Gaylord shortly before 11 P. M. at the theater, but was unable to reach him. Later she went to his apartment. He was stretched across the day bed, bleeding from mouth and ears. She called neighbors, who summoned police.
Scarduzio said he questioned Fred Basile, 18, of 356 Boyd Street, Camden, a brother-in-law of the victim, who said he last saw Gaylord when he let him out of a car near his home at 11:10 P. M. Saturday.
BUYS RIFLE FOR $20
Police reported Gaylord was despondent because of the separation and last Friday night purchased the death rifle from an usher at the drive-in theater for $20.
The case also was investigated by Capt. Philip Large, of Camden county detectives; Lieutenants Harold Melleby and William Neale, and Detective Joseph Hainsworth, of the Camden police.
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.
Melleby Ranks First in Chief Test
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Public Safety Director Keith Kauffman said he has not received official word on the scores of the civil service for the rank of police chief in Camden.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the Civil Service office in Trenton said Inspector Harold Melleby finished first among the four competitors with a score of 87.6.
Inspectors William Yeager, John H. Watkins and Anthony P. Skolski finished in that order with scores of 85.3, 81.8 and 76.3.
2 Hospitalized; Inhaled Fumes
Camden Courier-Post —
Two of the eight R. M. Hollingshead Corporation employes taken to Cooper Hospital yesterday after inhaling cleaning fluid fumes, have been admitted for observation.
They are Mrs. Virginia Keenan, 45, of 131 Bowers Avenue, Runnemede and Mrs. Mary Huhn, 46, of 2607 Bank Street.
Treated and released were Mrs. Rose Melleby, 45, wife of police Inspector Harold Melleby of 3306 Pelham Place; Mrs. Wanda Walsh, 37, of 216 Greenwood Avenue, Gloucester City; Mrs. Edna Ward, 50, of 31 North 24th Street; Richard Ruh, 20, of 222 South 34th Street; Robert Norris, 27, of 2413 Wayne Avenue, and Clifford Bill, 25, of 2124 Van Buren Street.
City’s Youngest Police Chief
Camden Courier-Post —
Harold Melleby, 39, Takes Oath Tomorrow
Police Insp. Harold Melleby will become Camden’s youngest police chief when he is sworn into office tomorrow morning during ceremonies in City Hall.
The 39-year-old Melleby has been a member of the department for 15 years and presently is inspector in charge of the patrol and planning and research divisions.
Melleby finished first in the recent Civil Service promotional exams to fill the vacant office of police chief.
Personnel Survey Due
Insp. Donald A. Watson has been serving as acting chief since the retirement of Chief William A. Neale in August, 1965.
Public Safety Director Keith Kauffman, who appointed Melleby to the post, said the new chief’s first major action will be to take a survey of all police department personnel.
Kauffman said wherever possible policemen assigned to jobs other than active police duty will be replaced by civilian employes.
He said those men presently holding office-type jobs will be reassigned to aid in the city’s fight against the increasing number of crimes.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Kauffman’s office. Melleby’s wife, Rose, and their six children are expected to attend.
Melleby lives at 3306 Pelham Place. He was appointed to the police department as a patrolman in 1952 and promoted to sergeant in 1957.
He became a lieutenant in 1962 and was appointed an inspector two years later.
Two Commendations
Melleby received two commendations during his 15-year career.
In 1957 he was lauded for his work in apprehending four juveniles responsible for 41 burglaries.
Three years later he received a meritorious commendation for his idea of using disguised policemen to fight molesters of women on the city streets.
“Operation Audrey and Bertha” was responsible for many arrests, and its recent offshoot “Operation Granny and Grandpa” is being used to cut down on the rising number of muggings and purse-snatchings.
Melleby served as a Marine sergeant in the Pacific during World War II.
9 Camden Police Earn Promotions
Camden Courier-Post —
Lt. Howard Clayton, 55, 30 year veteran on Camden’s police was named acting captain of the service division yesterday, while five city patrolmen were sworn in as detectives by John T. Odorisio, city clerk.
A sixth patrolman, Isaiah Pitts, 37, of 2920 Berkley Street, unable to attend promotion ceremonies because of illness, will be sworn in on return to duty. He’s a 10-year veteran.
As acting captain of the service division, Clayton will head the identification, traffic and communications bureaus.
Patrolmen promoted yesterday were Augustus Balzano, 31, 3165 Merriel Avenue, and David Del Rossi, 27, 1466 Mount Ephraim Avenue, both three year veterans; John Phoenix, 35, 1333 Princess Avenue, Robert Mentz, 30, 2608 Baird Avenue, and Gilbert Upshaw, 36, 1525, Wildwood Avenue, all six-year members of the force.
The six men will earn $6625 a year as detectives; a $200 increase in present salary. All have been acting as detectives.
Deputy Police Chief William Yeager also announced the appointment of sgt. Peter Paull, 42, a 16-year man on the force, as acting lieutenant. Paull will be in charge of the communications section.
Frank Senatore, also 42, and an 18-year veteran, will be transferred from the patrol division to the detective division Monday morning, Yeager said.
Present during the swearing in were Police Chief Harold Melleby, Yeager, and Captain John Watkins, head of the detective division.
18 Qualify As Camden Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
4 for Police
TRENTON—The Civil Service division announced yesterday that 14 Camden residents have passed examinations for employment in the city fire department. Four non-residents also passed the firemen’s tests, and three non-residents passed examinations for the city police force.
City residents receiving passing grades for fireman were: Daniel J. Galasso, 3023 Atlanta Road; George S. Szychulski, 1412 Mt. Ephraim Ave.; Samuel Battle Jr., 1121 Kaighns Ave.; Charles W. Arzillo Sr., 431 Winslow St.; Ronald Angemi, 1306 Merrimac Road, and Sage C. Russell 3rd, 453 Beideman Ave. Also, Robert C. Welch, 1475 Ormond Ave.; Jerome J. Watson, 935 Beideman Ave.; Robert G. and Ronald J. Boyle, 1127 N. 33rd St.; George R. Abbey 3rd, 1 Oak Walk Crest; Michael J. Shue, 1231 N. 32nd St.; Richard C. Arensberg, 3091 Pleasant St., and Thomas J. Boody, 1070 S. Merrimac Road.
Of 43 admitted for the firemen’s test, 18 failed and 11 failed to appear.
Non-Camden residents receiving passing grades were William R. Swan, 32 Marne Gardens, Moorestown; Glenn H. Moore, 142 Chestnut St., Woodlynne; William H. Huelas, 320 F. Bettlewood Ave., Oaklyn, and Marvin W. Bendy, 250 S. 3rd St., Gloucester.
Non-residents receiving passing grades for the city police department were Ronald C. Rovegno, 14 S. Arlington Ave., Berlin; William R. Swan, 32 Marne Gardens, Moorestown, and Henry F. Stypinski, 112 Delaware Ave., Riverside.
Police Chief Harold Melleby said yesterday that all men who passed the test would be appointed probationary patrolmen pending investigations of their background. There are now 246 men on the force, Melleby said. Firemen also will be investigated to fill existing vacancies and supplement the additional staff needed because of a reduction in the work week to 44 hours.
Police and firemen receive starting salaries of $7,145 a year, $8,325 the second year.
Firemen Oppose Ending Job
Camden Courier-Post —
Safety Director
Three organizations, representing 90 per cent of Camden’s 250 firemen, strongly protested the proposed abolition of the director of public safety to city council last night.
James R. Asher, battalion chief and president of Local 788 of the International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO, said firemen fear the division of the fire and police departments might result in a lack of protection for firemen during periods of civil strife.
He added that many firemen also feel that a disparity will result between the salaries and working conditions of policemen and themselves.
Have Common Boss
“If we have trouble in the streets and the chief of police, whoever he may be, decides he can’t spare officers to accompany firemen during alarms, we’ll be out there by ourselves,” Asher said.
He added, “We don’t want to be victims of this because as it stands now the chief of police and chief of the fire department are answerable to a common director.”
Chief of Police Harold Melleby is now acting director of public safety. He has proposed, in accordance with a recently-completed police department study, that the position of director be abolished and replaced with separate chiefs answerable to the mayor.
Not Included
Commenting on the survey report, Asher said it did not include the fire department and noted the recommendations only apply to the police department.
He said the proposal that police salaries be increased by at least $1,000 could result in a disparity with firemen’s salaries. Presently both make a base salary of $8,300.
Leon Puszczykowski, president of the Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association, said abolishing the directorship “could put us in a very uncomfortable seat.”
Asher noted the purpose of the closed-door session was to inform council of the “seriousness of the problem.”
Spencer H. Smith Jr., president of the Police and Fire Association of Camden, could not attend due to ill health.
Council president Mrs. Elizabeth Hawk said she had no comment on the meeting. She said a meeting will be held with Mayor Alfred R. Pierce before any action is taken by council. Council recently met with Melleby.
John Marini, councilman, said he supports the police department “100 per cent” but noted that this does not necessarily reflect council’s view.
It was his belief the city should back its police force and law enforcement agencies. He said he could see no real problem that would be caused by abolishing the public safety director.
4 Firemen Suspended By Melleby
Camden Courier-Post —
Four veteran members of the Camden Fire Department have been suspended by Harold Melleby, public safety director, on charges stemming from a fight July 21 at Engine Company 9, 27th and Federal Streets.
John Kolessar, an acting captain who was involved in the fight with fireman Peter Carbone, has been suspended for 15 days. He is currently on a three-month leave of absence without pay.
Kolessar pleaded guilty during a departmental disciplinary hearing to charges of conduct unbecoming a public employe, disorderly conduct and assault. No charges were lodged against Carbone.
Deputy Chief Frank Deal, who was acting in the position of Chief Edward V. Michalak who was on vacation when the incident occurred, was suspended for four days, beginning tomorrow. He was cited for neglect of duty, failure to report the fight to Melleby and failure to suspend one or both of the men involved.
Battalion Chief John Giuliano, who was acting deputy chief the day of the fight, and Capt. Robert Briggs, who was acting battalion chief, each received one-day suspensions which end at midnight tonight. They were disciplined for failure to enforce the rules, regulations and orders of the department.
Former Mayor Alfred R. Pierce, counsel for Deal, Giuliano and Briggs, said they have 20 days to file an appeal through Civil Service.
Double Murder Shocks Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
By KEN SHUTTLEWORTH, Of the Courier-Post
CAMDEN — The murder of two elderly men, whose bodies were found bound and gagged in their two-story brick home early yesterday, has renewed calls by area residents for better police protection.
The victims, Benjamin Shablock and John Barrett, died of smoke inhalation in a deliberately set fire that broke out around 2 a.m. in the house the men shared at 834 Bailey St. in North Camden, homicide detectives said.
Shablock was believed to be in his late 60s, and Barrett was said to be near age 70.
Detective Sgt. Albert Handy said the two men were found in separate bedrooms on the second floor. He said police have no suspects and have not established a motive in the slayings.
HANDY SAID one of the bedrooms in the house appeared ransacked, but police could not tell whether anything had been stolen.
Residents of the predominantly Hispanic and black section remember their two white neighbors as quiet men who passed time sitting on the porch and working at odd jobs.
“They didn’t bother anybody,” said Eifonio Lopez, who lives a few doors away.
Several homes on the street are boarded up and abandoned, including the two on either side of the Barrett property. [continues page 7A]
Double Murder Shocks City
Camden Courier-Post —
Continued from Page 1A
ing the two on either side of the Barrett property. Lopez said one of Barrett’s former next-door neighbors moved away some time ago because of a number of break-ins.
A LONGTIME friend of Barrett, Councilwoman Helen McHugh, said he worked many years for the city’s Department of Public Works before retiring several years ago. She said he worked at the now-defunct city dump on State Street, a few blocks from his home. The councilwoman said he helped her with various political chores during his retirement.
Handy said that Shablock worked part-time as a cleaner at The Tavern on 6th Street, near Cooper, about two blocks from the house.
Samuel Benson, president of Concerned Citizens of North Camden, said word of the murders has sent shock waves through the community. His organization was formed about a year ago to improve the quality of life in the most rundown section of the economically depressed city.
As a result of the murders, Benson said he expects to renew efforts to pressure the police department into stepping up its protection commitment to the community.
DEMANDS FOR more officers have been relayed by the organization and others to Police Chief Harold Melleby but, so far, Benson says the response has been unsatisfactory.
Melleby could not be reached for comment, but in the past he has blamed union work rules requiring two-man patrols for a lack of citywide police coverage.
He has expressed confidence that a new agreement due to take effect later this year will enable the department to more adequately deal with the complaints by Benson and other citizens groups.
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
MELLEBY, Harold
On October 7, 2009, age 82, of Cherry Hill, NJ. Harold was predeceased by his parents Natvig and Anna Melleby and his beloved wife Rose M. (nee Mongo). Surviving are his children Michael, Ted, Harold, Jr., Diane, Patricia, & Linda. Loving grandfather of 9. Dear brother of Alex Melleby, Pastor Carlyle Melleby, and Blanche Melleby. Chief Harold Melleby was born and raised in Camden, NJ. He was a Marine Corps Veteran of WW II. Chief Melleby served thirty years in law enforcement with the City of Camden, NJ. Police Dept., fifteen years as the Chief of Police. Relatives and friends of the family will meet for his viewings on Sunday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Monday morning from 8:30 am to 9:30 am at the BOCCO FUNERAL HOME, 1300 North Kings Hwy, Cherry Hill, NJ. Funeral services will be held Monday 10:30 am at the Erial Community Church, New Brooklyn & Jarvis Rds., Erial, NJ. Entombment at Locust-wood Memorial Park Mausoleum, Cherry Hill.