Walter Vecander
Walter Vecander, 1948.
WALTER EDWARD VECANDER was born in Pennsylvania around 1906 to Gustaf Edward and Hilma Vecander, who had come to America from Sweden in 1904 with their two older children, Gustaf E. Jr. and Elsie. The elder Vecander worked as a welder. The family was living in Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania in 1910. Younger brothers Francis and Harold were also born in Pennsylvania.
By 1916 the Vecander family had come to New Jersey, where daughter Lila was born. When the Census was taken in 1920 the family lived at 1122 Cambridge Street in the Cramer Hill section of Camden. The 1929 City Directory shows the family living at 1354 North 29th Street.
On March 1, 1928 Walter Vecander was appointed to the Camden Police Department along with Francis Guetherman, August Riehm, William Schriver, Edward Shapiro, John V. Wilkie, Earl Wright, Edward Cahill, Marshall Thompson, Stanley Bobiak, Paul Edwards, Leon Feltz, George Getley, Joseph Lack, Thomas Stanton, Otto Toperzer, and Frank Wilmot. Younger brother Harold Vecander joined the force on September 20, 1940.
By January of 1949 Walter Vecander had been promoted to Sergeant. The 1947 Camden City Directory shows Walter Vecander and his wife Julia living at 1289 Sayrs Avenue. Walter Vecander died of a stroke on July 27, 1949.
Photos
Walter Vecander.
Walter Vecander — Camden Courier-Post, July 29, 1949.
Police Visit Times, No Arrests Made
Trenton Times —
Big Training Class Makes Call To Write of Newspaper Making
Husky officers from 24 police departments raided the Times Building today. In plain clothes, their hips bulging with lethal weapons, they first invaded the news room, then took the building piecemeal.
There were no casualties and no arrests—for the mission was peaceful.
The policemen, 27 of them, including chiefs, captains, sergeants, motorcycle men and patrolmen, are in training at the New Jersey Police Academy at Wilburtha, training quarters of the State Police. Their visit to the Times plant was part of an educational program. Upon their return to the academy, the policemen will write their conceptions of how a newspaper is published, and their scripts will be submitted to an examination not unlike that undergone by a school boy’s essay.
Lieut. W. J. Coughlin, of the State Police, school commandant, was at the head of the delegation.
The officers and the departments represented were: Chief Oran W. Lloyd, Pitman; Chief Frank B. Conklin, Beach Haven; Chief Alvin C. Lich, Westwood; Chief Martin Clausen, Princeton; Captain James Hamilton, Wildwood; Sergeant James J. Smith, Paterson; Sergeant Arthur J. Wilhelm, Bloomfield; Sergeant William H. Kiernan, Glen Ridge; Sergeant George B. Patterson, Delaware Township Camden County; Sergeant Raymond J. Start, Camden; and Patrolmen Kenneth V. Tallman, Interstate Park; Harry P. Carty, Hasbrouck Heights; Nathaniel Estilow, Burlington; William E. Jester, Delaware Township, Camden County. William E. Schultz, Camden; Walter E. Vecander, Camden; Fred Wandras, Kearny; Enos J. Fouratt, Metuchen; John P. Yunker, Dunellen; Raymond Stines, Belmar; Angelo Colacci, Bound Brook; George D. Conklin, Kenilworth; William A. Fischer, Cranford; James J. Regen, Union County; Archie Summers, Rutherford; Benjamin Van Volkenburgh, Kearny; Anthony C. Giordano, Madison; Raymond Lansche, Alpha.
Cops and Firemen Will Meet Rulers on 30% Pay Slash
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Raise Question of Basis on Which Reduction Will Be Made
MEN’S STAND UNKNOWN
Representatives of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will call on the City Commission today to discuss the city’s proposal to cut salaries 30 percent as an economy measure.
That was announced last night by Herbert Botts, president of the association, after a meeting at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman avenue.
The representatives will include: Patrolman Walter E. Vecander and Sergeant Walter Mattison, for the police, and Captain Alvin S. Thompson, for the firemen, in addition to the association’s wage committee, which comprises Patrolmen Botts and Clifford N. Flenard, for the police, and John Plum, William P. Spencer and Harry Haines, Jr., for the firemen.
One of the questions to be presented to the commissioners by the police is expected to be the status of 41 policemen who were placed on the five-year basis last year.
The basic pay for police serving four years is $1800 and that for five years $2040.
In 1932 forty-one men were eligible to become five-year policemen. When the subject of pay cuts was broached at that time, it was proposed by the city that the four-year men not be advanced, but that they should take a cut on the basis of the $1800 salaries. The five-year men, however, objected to this, agreeing that they would take a $140 cut, providing the four-year men were advanced to the $2040 basis before being cut.
Through that arrangement, every patrolman in the department received a salary of $1900 for 1932. This was made possible by cutting the five-year salaries by $140 and advancing the four-year salaries by $100.
Now the question appears to be whether the salaries of the five-year men who were classified as four-year men in 1931 are to be cut 30 percent on the basis of the five-year salary of $2040 or on the basis of their 1931 salary of $1800. If these 41 men are cut 30 percent on their 1931 salaries of $1800, they would receive only $1260 while the other five-year men would receive $1428.
Cops and Firemen Will Elect Today
Camden Courier-Post —
Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association
The Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.
The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriber, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeants-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.
Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman.
Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Baumgartel, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Getner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furman Price.
Bott Chosen Head of Policemen, Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association
Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.
The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday’s balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.
In a three-cornered fight, William P. Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.
Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.
Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.
Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.
After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13.
Nap in Parked Auto Brings 30 Days in Jail
Camden Courier-Post —
Because Samuel Boykin, 29, of 1022 Penn Street, insisted on sleeping in an automobile parked in a restricted area, he will pass the next 30 nights in jail. Police Judge Pancoast, in sending Boykin to jail on a charge of being drunk and disorderly, also indicated he would spend the same number of days in jail.
Motorcycle Policeman Walter Vecander testified he went to Broadway and Market street on complaint of a motorist who said a man was sleeping in his car. Boykin was taken to police headquarters but released when the motorist refused to sign a complaint. Fifteen minutes later Boykin was sound asleep in the same automobile, Vecander said. Boykin admitted he had been drinking but denied he had been driving while intoxicated or that he was disorderly. A charge of illegal parking was dismissed.
Man Is Given Lift and Robbed in Auto
Camden Courier-Post —
Audubon Resident Beaten and Hurled From Car; Found Dazed
Accepting a ride which he thought was a friendly “lift,” Frank Clayton, 58, of 157 Wyoming avenue, Audubon, was struck over the head, robbed of $8 and thrown from the machine early yesterday.
Motorcycle Policeman Walter Vecander found Clayton, wandering around the streets in a daze more than a mile from where he was put out of the car. He told detectives that he was waiting for a bus to go home at Broadway and Federal street at 2:30 a. m. when two men came along in an automobile and stopped near where he was standing.
They asked him where he was going and when he told them they said they were going that way and would take him in their car. They drove out Haddon Avenue, he told the police, and turned off at Euclid Avenue. When he objected and told the men they were going the wrong way, he was struck on the head, he said. The car stopped near the Hatch Junior High School, Park Boulevard and Euclid Avenue, and one of the men went through his pockets. He tried to fight them off, he said, and was again struck. Then he was thrown out.
Policeman Vecander found him walking near Haddon Avenue and Park Boulevard and took him to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital, where he was treated for a lacerated scalp. He was then taken to the detective bureau and asked to look over the rogues’ gallery in an attempt to identify his assailants.
Two New Automobiles Recovered After Theft
Camden Courier-Post —
Two of three automobiles stolen from a Collingswood agency early Wednesday, have been recovered by local and state police.
Policemen Walter Vecander and August Reihm found one yesterday in a vacant garage on Fenwick Road, Fairview. A bottle of perfume and empty chewing gum and cigarette cartons were in the car. State Trooper Stanley Austin found the second one last night in a vacant garage at Nicholson Road and Black Horse Pike, West Collingswood Heights. It bore stolen tags and a number of fingerprints.
The cars were stolen from the show rooms of Edward Berglund, 622 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood.
M.F. Middleton Felled by Gas In House Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Former City Commissioner Found Unconscious in Old Home
With gas flowing from a pipe detached from a gas range, former City Commissioner Melbourne F. Middleton, Jr., was found unconscious in the kitchen of his former home at 538 Cooper street early Saturday night.
Middleton was reported last night to still be in a critical condition at West Jersey Hospital, where he was taken. The Camden Fire Department First Aid Squad worked over him for an hour at the house in a vain effort to revive him.
Middleton, a former president of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, and one time city councilman, was found by a son, C. Barry Middleton, and a friend, John Williams Rossell, who lives with the Middletons on Laurel road, Moorestown. Middleton was clad in overalls and two large pipe wrenches were lying on the kitchen floor near him.
Young Middleton said his father told his family he intended to take up some linoleum in the kitchen of his former home. Middleton first went to his office Saturday and then to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to a service. From there he was traced to his former home, which is owned by him.
When Middleton failed to return home for dinner at the usual time Saturday his son and Rossell decided to search for him. When young Middleton discovered his father’s plight he notified police. Patrolmen Frank Cavallo, Henry Lutz, Walter Vecander and George Getley responded in radio cars and gave first aid until the fire department squad arrived.
The firemen worked on the former commissioner one hour with an inhalator before ordering his removal to the hospital, where they continued to work on Middleton for another hour but were unable to revive him. Hospital physicians continued working on him without success. They said his condition was critical.
Gas Man Called
At 4 p.m. Saturday the family living next to Middleton’s home telephoned Public Service that gas was coming from the house. Public Service sent a man to investigate but he was unable to get into the house. Young Middleton and Rossell said they reached the house at 6.17 p. m.
While he was a member of the first city commission Middleton was director of finance but never missed responding to all alarms of fire. He was a member of the fire committee while serving in City Council as a member from the Second ward. In that capacity he also answered all alarms.
Members of the Firemen’s First Aid Squad responding to the call were Deputy Chief William R. Harring, Hosemen Christopher Moll, William Spencer, Harry Haines, Russell Anderson, William Harry Deitz and Nelson Andrews. City Detectives Benjamin Simon, Joseph Mardino and William Marter are investigating the cause.
Workhouse Fugitive Arrested in Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with escaping from the county workhouse at Ancora, Albert Sharp, 20, of 462 Royden street, was arrested yesterday at his home by Policeman Walter Vecander.
Sharp was sentenced to 50 days in the workhouse by Police Recorder Jay Daniels, Audubon, after he was arrested on charges of acting suspiciously. He was sent to the workhouse July 1 by George Roundey, warden of the county jail, and escaped Tuesday.
Roundey said he has presented facts in the case to the Camden County Grand Jury.
5 Accused Cops To Ask Rhone for Full Exoneration
Camden Courier-Post —
CAPT. NATHAN PETIT, who with seven other officers in the city traffic department, which he heads, is accused of receiving pay from state highway funds for work at the Baird boulevard overpass while on duty for the city, is shown scanning payroll records upon which the charges are based by the city. Director of Public Safety Dr. Rhone stands in the background viewing the proceedings yesterday while questioning is directed by Louis T. Goldman, assistant city solicitor, left.
Director of Public Safety Rhone soon will be asked to “completely exonerate” five of eight Camden traffic officers who have been accused of accepting pay from the state for traffic duty at the Baird boulevard overpass during their regular city hours.
State Senator Wallace made that announcement today on behalf of Sgt. Anthony Skolski and Traffic Patrolmen Charles Hance, Martin Nelson, George Getley and Everett Joslin.
Wallace said he would base his appeal to Dr. Rhone on testimony produced at a preliminary hearing held yesterday on orders of Dr. Rhone for all eight men, including Captain Nathan Petit, and Sgts. James Wilson and Walter Vecander.
“There is no question that the payroll records which were the basis for the accusations against the five men I represent, were falsified,” Wallace said. “Sergeant Wilson, who kept the records admitted frequently in his testimony yesterday the records were ‘mistakes, errors and not based on actual time put in.’”
Wallace said he would base his request on the grounds that “none of them were ever at the overpass when the state payroll indicates they were” and that testimony showed the payroll records were padded.
FIVE CITY TRAFFIC BUREAU MEMBERS presenting their defense through counsel to Public Safety Director Dr. Rhone. State Sen. Bruce A. Wallace at extreme right; standing with him from left are Sgt. Anthony Skolski, Patrolmen Charles Hance, George Getley, Everett Joslin and Martin Nelson. Lower: Traffic Sgt. James Wilson and Walter Vecander, and Park Guard Anthony Palese waiting to be called. All of the officers were fully exonerated of ANY wrongdoing. Camden Courier-Post, September 17, 1948.
PRINCIPALS IN THE CITY PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR’S PROBE of eight traffic department members, accused of receiving pay from the state at the time they were scheduled to be on duty for the city, are shown testifying in their own defense. At the left is Capt. Nathan Petit, in command of the city traffic bureau, and Sgt. James Wilson, who admitted he signed the payroll sheets. The hearing was in the office of Public Safety Director Rhone. Camden Courier-Post, September 17, 1948.
Police Sgt. Vecander Dies of Heat in Alley
Camden Courier-Post —
Found by His Brother, Patrolman, on Call To Aid ‘Sick Man’
By JAMES A. DONAHUE
“Investigate sick man in alley at 1289 Sayrs avenue,” the police radio droned several times last night.
Patrolman Harold Vecander, cruising at Mt. Ephraim and Kaighn avenues, heard the message at 6.04 o’clock. He recognized the address as his brother’s home and recalled chatting with him a few minutes earlier.
His brother, Police Sgt. Walter A. Vecander, who was on vacation, had been putting the finishing touches on newly-built porch steps with the help of a neighbor, Chester Garback, 1285 Sayrs avenue.
“Chester hasn’t been feeling too good lately,” the officer thought as he sped to the home, “the heat probably got him down.”
Finds Brother Unconscious
When the patrol car came to a stop at the house Patrolman Vecander found it was his brother, not Garback, unconscious in the adjoining alleyway.
Four minutes later Sgt. Vecander was pronounced dead at Cooper hospital.
It seemed like only a second ago that his wife, Julia, had called: “Stop working and come on in here, you’re dinner is ready.”
“Just a few more minutes longer,” Vecander answered.
It was in those “few minutes” that Sergeant Vecander collapsed of a cerebral hemorrhage which Coroner Earl B. Holl said was induced by the blanket of heat that laid on the city. Vecander was a member of the police department for 21 years. More than 15 years of his service was with the traffic bureau. He was a familiar figure throughout the city on his motorcycle.
Dr. Rhone Shocked
Dr. Rhone, director of public safety, learning of the sergeant’s death, declared he was “shocked” by the news. “He was one of the best in the department and will be missed by all of his comrades and his superiors,” the commissioner said. “He was industrious and dependable at all times, regardless of the task he was called upon to do. The highest praise I can give is that he was a policeman 24 hours a day.”
SGT. W. E. VECANDER — A Camden policeman who collapsed yesterday outside his home where he was building new front steps. Coroner Earl B. Holl said death apparently was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage probably induced by the heat.
Third Day of Vacation
Deputy Director Garrity also praised Vecander’s past record, pointing out he knew the sergeant for 25 years and found him always to be “a fine friend, an enjoyable companion and a hard working policeman.”
Members of the family said Vecander had been in good health. He was on the third day of a two-week vacation.
He is survived by his widow, Julia; a daughter, Jacqueline, 14; three brothers, Harold, Francis, Camden, and Edward Beverly; two sisters, Mrs. Brown, Camden, and Elsa Given, Collingswood, and his father, Edward, Camden.
Sgt. Vecander was a member of Ionic Lodge 94, F.A.M.; North Camden Square Club; Excelsior Consistory AASR, Collingswood; Crescent Temple, AAONMS; Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Camden Forest 5; Camden Police and Firemen’s Club and life member in Camden Local 35, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. He served as secretary of the latter organization for several years.
Sgt. Walter Vecander Funeral Rites Held
Camden Courier-Post —
Members of the Camden traffic bureau served as honorary and active pallbearers at services held yesterday for Police Sgt. Walter E. Vecander at the funeral home, 804-06 North Twenty-seventh street. Burial was in Bethel cemetery, Cove road and Westfield avenue, Pennsauken.
Sergeant Vecander, a member of the city police department for 21 years, died of a cerebral hemorrhage Wednesday night. He lived at 1289 Sayres avenue.
Led by Deputy Director of Public Safety Garrity and Acting Police Chief Johnson, more than 100 policemen from Camden and suburbs attended the viewing.