William H. Neale
WILLIAM H. NEALE was born April 30, 1917 in Camden NJ to Paul B. and Carrie M. Neale. He was named after his grandfather, a Civil War veteran who also was named William H. Neale, with whom the family lived, at 578 Berkley Street in what was then Camden's Ninth Ward. This house had been the Neale family home as far back as 1887.
When the census was taken in January of 1920 Paul Neale was working as a clerk at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyards. Grandfather William passed away in the 1920s; Paul, Carrie and William Neale remained at the Berkley Street address through the 1930s. He was active as a Boy Scout in the early 1930s. The family later moved to 773 Line Street. William Neale attended Camden's public schools, completing two years of high school before entering the workplace.
Known to his fellow officers as Bill, he joined the Camden Police Department on August 24, 1940, two days after William Large, Stanley Zuchowicz, and Donald Watson joined the force.
On January 27, 1942 Bill Neale enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. The Army had other plans than aviation, however, and he served in the Army's Criminal Investigation Unit in England, and while there attended training at Scotland Yard.
Upon returning to the Camden Police Department in 1946, Bill Neale was promoted to detective, and five years later he was made sergeant. In 1957 he was again promoted, to lieutenant in charge of Camden's detectives. By the end of the 1950s Bill Neale had married and was living at 3008 Berkley Street in East Camden.
In 1960, Bill Neale was named Camden's new chief of police, succeeding Donald Watson, who was serving as acting chief. Chief Neale served under the administration of Mayor Alfred Pierce, and, after his 1962 appointment, city Public Safety Director, Colonel Edwin A. Bedell.
Chief Neale headed the department into the mid-1960s. The Camden NJ Police Department 1962 Report shows much of what the Chief was involved with, and what was happening, crime-wise in Camden at that time.
After retiring, Chief Neale moved to Marlton NJ, and was living there when his father Paul passed in 1979. Last a resident himself of Marlton, Chief William H. Neale passed away on August 14, 1998.
Chief Neale's son, Bill Neale, is a professional musician. He played guitar for the Temptations both in the studio and on tour, done session work at Sigma Sound in Philadelphia and for Motown in California, and has written, arranged, and/or produced recordings for many other noted artists, including Natalie Cole, Deneice Williams, Johnny Gill, Angela Bofill, & Brandi Wells, and also appeared, as a member of the Hollywood Cowboys, in The Gong Show Movie, in 1980.
Proficiency Awards Presented To Camden County Boy Scouts
Camden Courier-Post —
Court of Honor Held in Haddon Heights High School; Badges Given by Stedman; Haines Presides at Event
Boy Scouts of Camden county participated last night in impressive ceremonies at the semi-annual Court of Honor of the Camden County Council when awards for proficiency in scouting were made.
The court was held in Haddon Heights High School Auditorium. Joshua C. Haines, county scout commissioner, presided and the Eagle Scout badges, highest award, were presented by A. W. Stedman, president of the council.
The awards follow:
Eagle Badge—Edward Buczkowski and Alexander Foster of Troop 21, Camden.
Life Scout Badge—Conrad W Deuter, Edwin A. Forbes and Charles J. J. Meyer of Troop 5, Camden; George Copoulas, Troop 21, Camden; Harold W. Shallcross, W. E. Hayes and Kirk Cramer, of Troop 55, Berlin; Rawlins Eastwick, Troop 64, Haddonfield; E. W. Roberts, Troop 105, Collingswood; Francis Weatherby, Troop 110, Merchantville.
Silver Quartermaster’s Badge—Thomas L. Rich, mate of the Sea Scout Ship Farragut.
Star Scout Badge—H. Robert Lind, Joseph W. Martin and Harry Martin, Sea Scout Ship Farragut; Walter B. Everett, L. H. Gehr, Jr., Michael Melka and Edward S. Hunt, Troop 5, Camden; David King, Troop 2, Camden; K. Borman, Troop 14, Camden; William Neale, Troop 10, Camden; Albert Pape, Edward Watson and Taylor Kellogg, Troop 21, Camden; J. Frank Sweeney and Rainsford Darling, Troop 59, Collingswood; William E. Hales and Richard Groo, Troop 78, West Collingswood; S. Joseph Burns, Edward Taylor and Nelson Ulrich, Troop 80, Gloucester; Lloyd Van Horn, Troop 90, Atco; Eric Crowe, Richard McKinney and Kenneth Price, Troop 109, Gloucester; Charles Breme and Kenneth Litzinger, Troop 105, Collingswood; Charles Arentzen, Troop 111, Stratford; Charles David Smith, Troop 110, Merchantville; Edward C. Barnett, Jr., Conrad V. Kanuf, Robert D. Sayrs and William C. Stevenson, Troop 112, West Collingswood; Willard Schaeffer, Robert Fiddler, Robert B. Riddle, R. Proctor, Jr., J. Laing Jr., and G. Cook, Troop 113, Oaklyn; Erik Hemmingsen, Troop 118, Gibbsboro.
Merit Badges—David King, Leo Ocroombout, Lawrence Corn, Troop 2, Camden; Lester Daniels, H. Robert Lind, Patrick Brady, Howard Walker, Andrew Weatherby, Edward Trummel, Joseph E. West, Alvah Veit, Joseph Martin, Harry Martin, Warren Weber, James A. Keenan, Leslie Smith, Russell Walls, Marvin Lequer, Paul Thompson, Elmer Hamilton, Thomas B. Rich, Jr., Robert Rich, Troop 4, S. S. S. Farragut; Walter B. Everett, Michael Melko, William Walston, Roy A. Voll, Robert Trace, Robert Stephens, Carl Seifling, Oliver Rinear, Charles Meyers, Edward S. Hunt, Philip Tice, L. H. Gehr Jr., E. Forbes, Fred Brooke, Conrad W. Deuter, Troop 5, Camden.
A. Braun, Troop 9, Camden; Wilbur Powell, William Brenton, Troop 11, Camden; K. Borman, Troop 14, Camden; Norman Steinberg, Joseph Foster, Edmund Buczkowski, Alex Foster, Franklin Kinsky, Albert Pape, B. F. Mercer, George Copoulas, Scott Hilton, Edward Watson, Harry Dolmetsch, Taylor Kellogg, James Capoulas, Albert Baker, Loy Zorger, Troop 21, Camden; Howard Todt and W. Albinson, Troop 52.
Lloyd Van Horn, Harold W. Shallcross, W. Edgar Hayes, Benjamin Toy, Kirk Cramer, Claude Rowand, Lewis Orchard, William Straub, Troop 55; Joseph Hittorff, Raymond Giron, Edward Schultz, Frank Sweeney, Troop 59; Theodore Fox, Alfred Benson, Arthur Ruby, Charles Cox, Thomas Gibson, Robert Carpenter, Alfred Milash, Rawlins Eastwick, Troop 64; Wayne Garrigues, William E. Hales, Virgil Groo, Elmer Groo, Richard Groo, Robert Reck, Fred Miller, Paul Bennett, Ronald Ferguson, William Hales, Stewart Smith, Jr., John Scarborough, Robert Bergstresser, Troop 78.
J. Burns, Edward Taylor, Nelson Ulrich, Troop 80; Walter Angelo, Jr., Harvey Hartzelt, Joseph E. Kirk, Jack Lotz, Troop 85; James Chemi, Charles Weaver, George Sanger, Norman Sanger, William Farr, Troop 87; John R. Hohn and Robert Pierce, Troop 102; Harry Rainey, Carl Miller, Jr., Charles Breme, E. W. Roberts, Raymond Krawczk, James Moncrief, Kenneth Litzinger, Troop 105; Eric Crowe, Kenneth Rice, Richard McKinney, Troop 109; Charles Smith, Francis Weatherby, C. Hammond, Fred Shouds, Troop 110.
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.”
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; and Otto Kaiser, 904 North Twenty-sixth street.
Suspect Arrested in Night Burglary
Camden Courier-Post —
Youth Accused of Robbing Vending Machines at 5th and Chestnut
Francis H. Wilson, Jr., 20, of 582 Auburn street, is held by the police today as a suspect in connection with a robbery at the gasoline station at Fifth and Chestnut streets, early Saturday. The station is owned by Albert Defalco, 213 Wayne Terrace.
According to police, the station had been broken into by jimmying a window. A total of $31.90 was taken from candy and cigarette vending machines. It was reported that at 3 a.m. Saturday two persons were walking by the station and noticed a man there.
Roland Granger, 3015 Saunders street, asked the man what he was doing and the latter replied he worked there. Granger was suspicious and notified the police. Patrolmen William Neal and Thomas Welch investigated. The couple gave police a description and later a suspect was arrested at Broadway and Newton avenue.
He was identified at detective headquarters by the couple as the man at the gas station. Detective Gus Fortune searched Wilson and found keys and a screwdriver allegedly belonging to Defalco and also money believed taken from the machines.
Wilson is held for further investigation.
Burglary Victims Recover $4,360 in Stolen Goods
Camden Courier-Post —
Display at City Hall Rivals Oriental Bazaar In Variety Shown
Loot valued at $4360 by detectives was returned to its owners in detective headquarters in city hall Tuesday night.
Headquarters resembled an Oriental bazaar as the stolen articles were spread over seven tables, two large desks, and hung on clothing racks.
Detectives are holding George Wilmer, 30, of 521 Liberty street, a parolee, whom they suspect of being Camden’s daytime “phantom burglar” who has been plaguing the department for the last three months. To date police say they have charged Wilmer with 29 counts of breaking and entering and two counts of attempting to break and enter.
Captain of Detectives Thomas Murphy said that Tuesday night’s display was only a portion of the loot and that police believe Wilmer pawned a quantity of the goods in Philadelphia. They also suspect he sold some to secondhand and antique dealers, Murphy said.
The display that met the claimants when they went to headquarters looked like a mail order (Continued on Page 4—Column 5)
Loot (Continued from Page 1)
catalog come to life. There were women’s dresses, men’s suits and top coats, several types of radios, an oil space heater, binoculars, cameras, costume jewelry, empty wallets and even a clothes chest with the clothing still in it.
Missing from the collection were two parakeets which detectives returned to their owner Thursday because — unlike the birds — they had to be fed.
Assisting Capt. Murphy in the identification and return of the stolen items were: Detective Sergeants Earl Quinton, William Neal, William Kelly and Clifford Carr, and Detectives William O’Brien, John Huston, August Pfleiderer, George Ellis and Marshall Thompson.
Find Boy, 7, Drowned in Camden Pool
Camden Courier-Post —
Vandals Ripped Fence, Enabling Victim to Enter
The body of a 7-year-old boy, missing since Saturday morning, was found late Monday night on the bottom of the Camden County swimming pool at 9th st. and Ferry ave. after firemen had syphoned off more than 3 feet of rain water.
Police and county officials said acts of vandalism had made it possible for the child to gain access to the spot where he subsequently met his death in the debris-littered pool.
The body of Irvin Gibbs, of 731 Ferry ave., was discovered by Morris Boone, 41, driver for District Fire Chief Winfield Leviseur, lying in 18 inches of water.
The father of the boy, Edward, 38, a Campbell Soup Co. employe, identified the body in the presence of Coroner Thomas J. Danks.
The father told investigators his son had been sent on an errand to a friend’s home at 1507 S. 8th st. at 10.30 Saturday morning by the mother, Willa Mae, but after checking they found the boy had never arrived there. A state police message was sent out in an effort to locate the boy.
According to Chief Leviseur, the father went to No. 8 firehouse at 619 Kaighns ave. early Monday night and told Capt. Otto Kaiser that a neighbor, Mrs. Mary Valentine, of 1847 S. 8th st., had suggested to him that he should look for a boy in the pool, “or in four feet of water in the County Parks pool.”
Kaiser relayed the information to Leviseur who despatched truck 2 and Engine Co. 3 to the pool. Meanwhile, parks officials were notified.
The firemen, combined as a rescue squad under Leviseur’s supervision, first began dragging the pool, but when these efforts were hampered by debris, such as Christmas trees, old tires and boards, Leviseur sent to fire headquarters for flood lights and a syphon rigging.
The syphoning began at 9.10 p.m. as a crowd of more than 500 persons watched from outside a wire fence enclosing the pool property. At 11.18, Boone, poking a stick into the muddy water, came upon the body and Kaiser helped him pull it out.
Ironically, the pool had been drained and closed for the season, and all the pumping equipment had been winterized, explained William W. Messenger, superintendent of Camden County Parks, making it impossible for the regular pumping equipment to be used.
Investigators said the Gibbs boy had evidently gained entrance to the pool through one of the many holes ripped through the cyclone fence by vandals.
A boy at the scene, Elmer Hammond Jr., 12, of 254 Branch Village, said he was playing near the pool with six other children on Saturday morning and that he had gone into the pool up to his waist and pulled out a five-year-old girl resident of the Franklin D. Roosevelt housing development.
City Detectives William Neale and Nathaniel Jones are investigating the Hammond boy’s story.
In addition to Messenger, parks officials at the scene included Howard MacDougal, foreman, and Patrolmen Edward Eckman and Charles Van Fossen.
12 Burglaries Confessed by 2 Relatives
Camden Courier-Post —
A 26-year-old North Camden man has confessed to 12 recent burglaries, including the $800 burglary of the Camden Realty Co., 722 Federal st., on Nov. 3. Det. Lt. William Neale said.
William J. Porter, of Fern st. near 8th, and his brother-in-law Howard James, 25, of Fogarty ave. near Federal st., were held in $25,000 bail Thursday, for further hearing, by Municipal Judge Marino. Porter told detectives he also broke into a beauty salon at 726 Federal st., last Christmas.
Porter and James, Neale said, have admitted to working together on eight burglaries, and are also charged with two sole burglaries each. Both men will be given a hearing Tuesday by Judge Marino. Porter also faces a charge of assault and battery, brought by his wife, Jean.
Woman Held in S. Camden Fatal Knifing
Camden Courier-Post —
Row at Party:
Municipal Judge Marino today held a 36-year-old woman without bail for a further hearing Friday in the fatal stabbing of a South Camden man early today.
Miss Evalena Watkins, of the 1200 block S. 3rd st., was charged with the death of James W. Atkins, 27, of 1225 S. 3rd st. He was pronounced dead at West Jersey Hospital.
Det. Lt. William D. Neale said Atkins was stabbed in the heart while at a party in a first-floor apartment of his house. He lived on the second floor.
Marino also set $25,000 bail for Willie Simmons, 31, also of the 3rd st. address, as a material witness.
Police received a call at 4 a.m. from off-duty Ptl. James Johnson, who said he had been requested by Miss Watkins and Simmons to call an emergency patrol.
Ptl. Edward Fulton and Leo Tompkins answered the call and found Atkins sitting on the first-floor hall steps in a crouched position. They took Atkins to the West Jersey Hospital but he was dead on arrival.
Dets. Russell Young and John Huston were called. They notified Dube, Neale, the city homicide squad of Acting Lt. Vincent Conley, Nathan Jones, William O’Brien and County Det. James P. McLaughlin.
Several guests at the party, including Miss Watkins, Simmons, Mrs. Atkins, the victim’s wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Carl H. Perry, were taken to detective headquarters for questioning.
Dube and Neale said they learned Atkins had been stabbed following an argument in the stairway of the first floor. He and his wife had been guests at a party in the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Perry, Neale said. Mrs. Atkins told him she witnessed the assault. Witnesses told him the group had been at a party in the Perry apartment and they had been drinking.
Woman Held For Jury on Murder Count
Camden Courier-Post —
City Court Scene:
Charged with murder, Miss Evelena Watkins, 36, of the 1200 block S. 3rd st., was held without bail for grand jury action today by Municipal Judge Marino.
Police arrested Miss Watkins early Tuesday following a fight in the apartment house in which she lived. James W. Atkins, 27, of the same address, was stabbed to death in the fight, according to Det. Capt. William Neale.
Judge Marino also held Willie Simmons, 31, another resident of the house, without bail as a material witness, after County Det. James McLaughlin testified Simmons “refused to cooperate in the investigation.”
City Det. William O’Brien testified the woman admitted she intervened in a quarrel between Atkins and Simmons, and stabbed Atkins with a knife.
Judge Marino deplored what he described as a recent increase in “knife cutting” cases in Camden, as he sentenced Edward Walker Jr., 26, of Linden st. near 8th, to one year in the county jail.
The sentence was imposed after Walker’s wife, Earkey, 26, testified her husband started a fight when he arrived home early Thursday and cut her with a knife. The wife’s arm wounds required 16 sutures to close at Cooper Hospital.
“You have been before me before,” Judge Marino told the defendant in imposing sentence, “and something has got to be done to stop these cuttings.”
City Detective Bureau to Be Closed at Night as Part of ‘New Look’
Camden Courier-Post —
Sleuths to Get Street Duty:
Camden city detective bureau will be closed to the public from 5 p. m. until 8 a. m. daily beginning Jan 13, according to plans announced by Deputy Commissioner Willard C. Schriver.
Under the new plan, Schriver said, detectives normally on duty during those hours will be on the street instead of in the detective bureau.
Schriver said the new plan is part of a “new look” anticipated for the police department during 1958.
Another innovation planned, Schriver said, is a centralizing of the communications, records and identification bureaus of the department. He said plans for next year also include transferring of the police electrical bureau from the 8th floor to the basement police headquarters.
Under this plan, Schriver told a group of newsmen called to the meeting, all initial news reports will be available for reporters in the police electrical bureau on the 8th floor of City Hall. These initial reports will be in the form of a daily bulletin of complaints received.
Schriver said all complaints, no matter how minor, will be recorded and filed under a new record and identification bureau system. In the past, minor complaints reaching the police department were acted upon with no records written or filed by the officer, Schriver said.
The deputy commissioner said under the new plan, all calls to police headquarters will be channelled through the communications section of the electrical bureau, where an initial report in triplicate will be made on every offense reported.
These reports then will be channelled to the proper bureau for follow-up action if necessary, Schriver said.
Under the present system, records of investigations are available 24 hours a day in detective bureau “offense reports” compiled by detectives.
Det. Lt. William Neale, in charge of detective bureau, told the reporters a system had been arranged whereby records of offenses during the hours when the records room will be closed would be available from the desk sergeant in police headquarters. He said the lieutenant in charge of the shift would make the reports available to newsmen.
Neale explained that telephone complaints formerly handled in detective bureau during the night hours would be channelled under the new plan to the electrical bureau and relayed to the proper department by radio communication.
“In this manner we will be able to release two additional men from detective bureau for street duty, thereby giving better protection on the outside,” Neale said.
“We found manpower was being wasted by keeping two detectives in the bureau all night just to answer the telephone,” Neale said.
Police Chief Koerner explained an alert officer will be assigned each night on a rotating basis. This officer would then notify the necessary department to continue the investigation.
Also attending the meeting were Inspector Augustus Riehm, chief of staff of the police department, and Det. Lt. William Yeager.
The records room will be open daily from 7 a. m. until 2 a. m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a. m. to 4 p. m. on Saturday and Sunday.
When asked by newsmen how they are to obtain information on police activities during the hours when the records room will be closed, Schriver said:
“We are trying to run a police department in the best manner we can. We are not concerned with the running of a newspaper.”
Lieutenant Bill Neale — 1959
Lieutenant Bill Neale at a B & E of photo equipment from a home in North Camden. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
Veterans Boxing Association Ring 6 — 11th Annual Banquet, April 20, 1959
Joey Powell — 1931, 127 lbs. Dick Graminga, Charles Humes and Tony Georgette—Managers. Eddie Prince, Lew Sparks and Jack Blackburn—Trainers.
Joey Powell’s Well-Wishers also extend best wishes to Sergeant Ray Smith.
Joseph Grochowski — Al Bunker — Ed Kaszycki — Andy Friday — John Skiba — John Dombrowski — Walter Szalanski — Nick Pawlak — Wm. O’Brien — Bill Neil — Wm. Schultz — Tom Scarduzio — Peter Paull — Barney Tracey — Dave Hainsworth — Walter Zimolong — Edward Shapiro — Thomas McLaughlin — John Opfer — Vallie Francesconi — Tom Ryan — Leon Lucas — Jesse Urban — Bobbie Zimmerman — Joe (Kid) Murphy — Pee Wee Wilson — Jackie Gleason — Joe Vitarelli — Al Daley — Frankie Youker — Joe McEvoy — Frank Valenti — Jim McFadden — Charles Bauer — George Ballantine — James O’Neill — Dorothy Dougherty — Agnes McHenry — Vicky Dangler — Francis Souders — Loretta and Reds — Bart — Roger Cotton — Leon McCarthy — Kenneth Geitz — Joe Daubman — Norman Jacobson — Nick Colofrancisco — Chris Rago — Charles Myers — Ray Cohand — Paul Harduk — Charles Wells — Carl Stolinski — Walter Wilson — Steve Straub — Charley Kmiec — Jimmy Tyler — Joe Dorfy — William Vogel — John Campbell — Steve O’Keefe — Sam Laird — Ed Rickter — Don Cragin — John Odorisio — Michael Przywara — Walter Paleszewski — Watson Burdalski — Stanley Snajkowski — Frank Drabik — John P. Kawczak — Frank Kulesa — Steve Kirby — James R. Asher — Polack Tony — Stephen Yakopczyna — Helen and Chick — Don Wilson — James Monaghan — George Carr — Bill Jentsch — John Greenan — Charles Galasso — Don’s Barber Shop — Joe Shaw — Ben Gutowski — Tom Bristow — Joseph Stelmach — Leon Hood — George Saunders — Mike Borman — Anthony Cirelli — Bob Hardy — Frank Hardy — Benny DePalma — Frank Padulla — Mike Yack — Stanley Powell — George Kroecker — A Friend — The Fox — Tom Fish.
East Camden Man Ends Life with Shot as Wife Seeks Reconciliation
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Bought Gun At Work
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.
Buys Rifle for $20
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.
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.
Signal Award Presented to Police Hero
Camden Courier-Post —
Patrolman Peter Yecco was cited for heroic action above and beyond the call of duty Thursday by Commissioner Garrity.
He received the Camden Police Department’s Distinguished Service Award, as Chief of Police Neale and other high ranking police and civil defense officials looked on.
Yecco was one of 16 policemen and three civilians cited by the department.
He was honored for entering the Delaware River on April 3 at 2:20 a.m. at the foot of Atlantic Avenue and assisting to safety three persons who were in a car that had been driven overboard into an abandoned ferry slip. The citation carries with it one week off.
3 Others Cited
Three policemen, including Patrolman Monserate Gonzales, who was with Yecco on April 3, were awarded Certificates of Commendation. Gonzales’ citation noted that he acted in the “best tradition of the police profession.” The others commended are Patrolman Charles Ferry who saved the life of a new-born child and Patrolman Thomas Penn who brought back life by mouth-to-mouth breathing into a two-year-old boy who had apparently died from drowning. Policemen receiving certificates of commendation are entitled to four days off.
John M. Dodd of 3615 Westfield Ave., an auxiliary policeman, was one of three civilians receiving certificates of citation. The other civilians cited are Peter Celeste of 532 Line St. and John Monti of 400 Jackson St.
Police Commended
Other policemen receiving certificates of citation who will be entitled to one or two days off are Patrolman Earl Bates, William Campbell, John Dease, Robert DePersia, Dennis Evans, Anthony Greskovich, Donald Maloy, Anthony Martino, Erwin Ray.
Also Patrolmen Alfred Steinmetz, James Styles, Sergeant Earl Wright, Sergeant John Ferry and Detectives Nathaniel Jones, Thomas Scarduzio and Golden Sunkett.
The board of review of the Camden Police Department was recently organized at the direction of Chief Neale. Inspector Edward Watson is chairman of the board.
The highest award is the honor award given for heroic action above and beyond the call of duty, an act which involves danger to the life of the officer named in the citation.
Camden Police Department — 1962 Annual Report
WILLIAM H. NEALE, Chief of Police. Lifelong resident of city… educated in public school system… appointed to police department in 1940… promoted to detective in 1946 after service with US Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID)… while in CID attended famed Scotland Yard School… also attended numerous police schools… elevated to sergeant in 1951… to lieutenant in 1957 handling detective division… promoted to Inspector in 1960… appointed Chief in August 1960… married father of three children… Vice-President South Jersey Chiefs of Police Association.
Colonel Edwin Bedell, Director of Public Safety, City of Camden, New Jersey.
Dear Director:
It is with pleasure that I present herewith the Annual Report of the Camden City Police Department for the year 1962.
In this report we have endeavored to present, in as concise form as possible, all essential information covering the work and accomplishments of this Department during the year 1962. Utilizing pictures and graphs, we have aimed to present a clear and realistic concept of the various units of our Department, each of which plays a vital part in providing the citizens of Camden with efficient and effective police service.
An interesting segment of the report points out the overall decrease in the crime index pattern and indicates a noticeable increase in vice arrests. The crime rate in Camden is 5.2% under the previous year, 1961. The national average has increased approximately 97% from the same year.
We are constantly endeavoring to improve and modernize our various operations and follow closely all new techniques and scientific achievements. These are adopted after proven worth.
We further trust that the attainments herein will merit your confidence and approval.
Very truly yours, WILLIAM H. NEALE, Chief of Police.
Camden NJ Police Department 1962 Report
Chief William Neale (center) with officers. Camden Police Department 1962 Annual Report.
Presentation of Awards. From left: Joseph “Joe Reno” Valeriano — unknown — unknown — Sergeant Tom Kelly — Detective Nate Jones — unknown — Chief William Neale — Detective “Pete” Sunkett — unknown.
Chief William Neale initiates Police Appreciation Week at Kenney’s on Market Street.
200 Friends Pay Tribute to Chief Johnson
Camden Courier-Post —
About 200 persons paid respects Friday night to former Police Chief Samuel E. Johnson, 83, who died Wednesday in his home at 211 Elm st.
Pensioned police who had served under Mr. Johnson as well as members of the detective bureau and other police divisions filed past the bier at the Murray Funeral Home at 408 Cooper st.
Among them were Rep. Cahill, R-N.J., Police Chief Neale and many businessmen in the city.
Mr. Johnson, who was appointed to the force in 1910, was named chief in 1947. “Sammy,” as he was called, shunned the limelight and was particularly interested in juvenile problems. Services were held today in the funeral home. Burial was in Harleigh Cemetery.
Gold Badges To Be Given 15 City Cops
Camden Courier-Post —
Fifteen retired Camden City policemen will be honored by the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Local 35, Wednesday night at the Police and Fire Club, 1175 Whitman Avenue.
Police Chief William H. Neale will present awards. The awards will be gold retirement badges mounted in wallets. The men receiving them will have served 20 or more years.
According to Patrolman Robert Mentz, PBA secretary, this is the first time since 1960 that retirement badges have been presented. The ceremonies will follow the organization’s business meeting.
Awards will be made to: Edward Suski, Harry Cattell, Clifford DelRossi, Frank Gutherman, John Houston, Thomas Kauffman, William Stibi, Leon Feltz, Russell Young, Henry Leutz, George Ellis, Everett Joslin, Ralph Cline, John Kaighn and former Chief Gustav Koerner.
Pierce Finds 2 Cops Guilty On 2 Counts
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Pierce, director of public safety, Friday found Ptl. Bernal Ford, 37, of the 2000 block Miller st., and Eugene Bagwell, 31, of the 500 block Trenton ave., guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and conduct subversive to the good order of the service.
Pierce, after a departmental hearing which began Tuesday, said he will announce disciplinary action after studying the records. Ford, who has been on the force seven years, and Bagwell, who joined the force a year ago, will remain on suspension.
Police Chief Neale suspended the men March 13, two days after they were involved in a fight in a restaurant in the 500 block of Kaighn ave. Neale said Ford, who was in plain clothes but on duty, engaged in an argument with Bagwell, who was in uniform but not on duty, after Ford decided to arrest Miss Valencia Robinson, 20, of the 300 block Mechanic st., for loud and abusive language.
The two began fighting, Neale said, and Ford drew his gun and fired one shot into the floor to break Bagwell’s grip. The woman was later given a five-day suspended term in the county jail by Municipal Judge Sklar.
Pierce said a charge of intoxication against Bagwell was dismissed.