Introduction
Isaiah Pitts was born on March 4, 1930. He served with the Camden Police Department, and had been promoted to detective in June of 1967. He retired from the department with the rank of sergeant. His son, Isaiah D. “Daryl” Pitts followed him onto the force.
Last a resident of Camden, Isaiah Pitts passed away on June 9, 2003.
1962 Camden Police Report — Roll Call and Inspection
1962 Camden Police Report
Front row from left: William Kelly, John Ferry, Clyde Waters, Andrew Monroe, Cecil Picou, Isaiah Pitts, Sergeant Joseph Troestel. Middle Row: Standing behind Waters and Monroe (with mustache) is Fontaine Shockley, unknown, unknown, Freddie Dobson, Horace “Speed” Wilkerson, Frank Crissey is at far right, holding a book. Back row starting at the window: Jerome Spratley, Arnold Cream, Danny Domerowski and at far left Art Lewandowski.
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.
The Pursuit of a Murderer
Camden Courier-Post —
The Pursuit of a Murderer
THE PURSUIT OF A MURDERER
By Joe Happ and Joseph R. McCarthy
The announcement, when it came, burst in City Hall like a grenade. A Camden man, in jail nearly a year awaiting trial for murder, was being charged with seven more.
[Full investigative article — continued in leroysnyder-081570-03b.jpg]
The victims:
—Mrs. Lula Crawley, 45, who was stabbed 13 times on Feb. 14, 1969. Her body was found bound and gagged in her antique shop in the 100 block of S. 6th Street.
—Mrs. Mary Freeman, 56, whose body was found floating face down in a foot-and-a-half of water in a vacant house at 224 Berkley St.
—Mrs. Shirley Brittingham, 32, and Warren Wells, 22, whose badly decomposed bodies were found in the basement of an abandoned home at 825 Commerce St. on April 25, 1969.
—Mrs. Vera Stevens, 45, beaten to death. Her body was found in a vacant lot last April 29.
—Mrs. Lovie Williams, 52, of 612 West St., whose body was found beaten and slashed to death in her home May 19, 1969.
—Mrs. Gertrude Friedman, 58, raped, beaten and slashed Sept. 8, 1969, at her store and apartment at 330 Kaighns Ave.
Obituary: Isaiah Pitts
Camden Courier-Post —
PITTS, ISAIAH
73 yrs, of Camden, on June 9, 2003.
He retired from the Camden Police force as a Sergeant. He is a member of the Men’s Federation.
He is survived by his wife, Juanita; his children, Isaiah D. (Esther) Pitts I, Janet Pitts Morris, and Jewel Pitts Earl; his grandchildren, Jewel J., Kenneth, Kenya, Isaiah K., Isaiah D. II, Geneva, Chequai, and Juanita; 4 great-grandchildren; special nephew, Craig Pitts; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be held 10:30am Saturday at Macedonia AME Church, 261 Spruce St., Camden, where friends may call after 9am. Interment Sunset Memorial Park. A viewing will be held Friday, 5–8pm at CARL MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 831 Carl Miller Blvd., Camden.