Introduction
William Yeager, September 2009
In August of 2009 I asked a number of former Camden police officers if they could shed some light on a character who was called “No Nose” who I used to see on Federal Street in the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. In the course of these inquiries I was contacted by Chris Yeager, who had served in the department. Chris recommended that I speak with his father, William Yeager, now 93, who first served with the Camden Police Department in 1942 and retired from public service after holding the post of Camden's Director of Public Safety in 1973.
I first met Mr. Yeager on September 4, 2009. In preparation for this meeting I bought a digital voice recorder… which I forgot to turn on until 30 minutes into our conversation. I have no experience as an interviewer, which you will find out below. We both enjoyed the talk, and agreed to continue recording his memories of people, places and events that took place during his career. We've also spoke about his childhood, growing up first in Collingswood and then in North Camden.
Mr. Yeager tells it as it was, and he was there to see it. I am quite grateful to him for his taking the time to share his experiences with me for the website. Much of what is on this site is taken from newspapers and other second hand sources, I feel quite fortunate in being able to present to you a first-hand account of the life and times of a Camden policeman from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
As with any other group of people, there are things that happened that one can either say are good or bad. The purpose here is not to embarrass any individual, especially those long gone, but rather to show that the human condition, i.e., people's behavior, was not all that different then than now. Every police officer spoken of here dealt with things on a daily basis that the rest of society would rather not deal with, or even acknowledge, and for that we owe a debt of our gratitude. If some had failings on an individual basis, well, haven't we all? To understand, first we have to know, and with that in mind, I've chosen to report here what was told to me by a source I hold to be unimpeachable.
The audio you will hear was recorded in WMA format. I've used Windows Movie Maker and using pictures and excerpted sections of the audio have produced the WMV video files that you will find below.
More material will be added on a continuing basis. I've over an hour of raw audio that I have not formatted yet, and Mr. Yeager and I will be speaking again several days from now.
September 12, 2009
Not long after I had written the above, I had a health issue of my own, and Mr. Yeager and I did not meet again. He passed away peacefully in August of 2011. My intention is to process the remaining raw audio prior to the memorial service scheduled for him on October 1, 2011.
August 17, 2011
Memories of a Camden Policeman
September 4, 2009
About Leon Grenkwicz aka “No Nose”
“I surrounded myself with people who I thought were good people”
September 11, 2009
A visit to the Camden Brewery at South 6th and Bulson Streets
Judge Dzick and the Pretty Policemen
Photos
William Yeager and Chris Yeager
William Yeager
Camden Courier-Post –
William Yeager, 95, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at Meritus Medical Center Hagerstown, MD. Born May 8, 1916 in Camden, New Jersey, he was the son of the late William and Fannie (Brown) Yeager. William was a member of the Camden City Police Department New Jersey from 1939–1972, rising in rank from patrolman, to deputy chief and finally to Director of Public Safety.
William was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Pauline T. (Borucki) Yeager, and is survived by his companion and caregiver, Kathleen Yeager. He is also survived by daughter, Pauline R. Yeager of Glen, New Hampshire; son Christopher and daughter in law Denise Yeager of Boonsboro, MD; daughter in law Denise Yeager of Pennsauken, New Jersey; 11 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; his brother George Yeager and sisters Ruth Mecca and Terry Ireland. William was preceded in death by his son Jack Yeager and daughter Anna Marie Yeager, his brother Edward Yeager, and sisters Marian Mitchell and Irma Murphy.
Private services and burial will be at Locustwood Cemetery in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Online condolences may be made to the family at: www.osbornefuneralhome.net
Camden Soldier Fined, Car Theft Charged
Camden Courier-Post –
A Camden soldier, charged with larceny and possession of a stolen automobile, today was fined $200 in municipal court by Judge Dzick.
The defendant, Cpl. James Snyder, 20, of 293 Kaighn Avenue, pleaded guilty to possession of the vehicle, owned by Louis Miller, 1002 Haddon Avenue, but claimed he did not steal it.
He was arrested Saturday night by Sgt. William Yeager and Patrolman Harold Vecander. Snyder is stationed at Walter Reed hospital, Washington, D. C. Police notified Ft. Dix authorities.
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.
Letter to National Fire Protection Association
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
CAMDEN I, NEW JERSEY
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
November 24, 1971
National Fire Protection Association
600 Batterymarch Street
Boston, Massachusetts
Re: Comprehensive Report – Bureau of Fire/Rescue
Gentlemen:
As the Director of Public Safety, City of Camden, I am pleased to submit, for your consideration, the enclosed Comprehensive Report, prepared by the administrative staff of the Bureau of Fire/Rescue, Department of Public Safety. Said report encompasses the City of Camden's approach to the critical personal and property considerations involved in the potentially hazardous result of every uncontrolled fire.
The quality of the Fire/Rescue Bureau is reflected through its fine performance record and it is with extreme pride, as Director over that Bureau, that I submit this report, realizing the value of professional opinions proposed by personnel whose qualifications can be graphically presented through consideration of their superior performance record.