Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-12-12
POLICE CALL
SYSTEM NOW
A CERTAINTY
A Law Is Found Whereby
Bonds Can Be Issued for
That Purpose.
PLANS FOR IMPROVING
POLICE DEPARTM ENT
Auto Patrol Wagon and a
Dormitory Are Needed,
Says Chief Burke.

That a police call system will be
established in this city is now a GER
tainty, according to Alderman-at-
Large Voorhees,. He says that he
has found that there is an act, where
by the city can issue bonds to pay
for 1t, which solves the hardest part
of the problem. 1t was formerly be-
lieved that IL the call system was
put in, the city would have to
increase the police appropriation, in
order to provide for it.
AS the installation of such sys-
tenn would be quite expensive, such
an appropriation would have raised
the budget considerably, but If bonds
can be issued for it, the task is very
simple.
A call system is the recommended
tion of Chief Burke, who considers it
a necessity. At a meeting of the
Board of Aldermen on December i,
q committee composed of Aldermen
Cannon, Dalton and Shultz was ap-
pointed to Investigate the matter
They have already looked into 1t and
with Mi. Voorhees, agree that 1t
would make the police department
more efficient.
Chief Burke says that with call
system the desk sergeant would al
ways know where and when to find
an officer. He would also be able to
give them instructions readily. II
the system was In use, every patrol
man would be required to call the
headquarters at certain hours.
Roundsman John Morris would still
cover his present rounds In .,rder to
see that the policement were calling
the sergeant themselves and not by
proxy.
The chief is preparing his annual
report, which will be submigsed to
the Board of Aldermen after January
i. He is elated that call system is
to be established and is sanguine
that mounted man to do duty on
the outskirts of the city will be pro-
vided for.
Another suggestion of the chiefs
which is worthy of consideration is
that an automobile patrol wagon be
secured for the use of the police de-
partment. The building which the
council purchased for a stable could
be easily converted into a garage,
and as horse will have to be pur-
chased to pull the present patrol wa
gon, with the addition of not a very
large sum, an automobile patrol could
be obtained. Trenton and number
Of other cities not much larger than
Perth Amboy, the chief says, have
them and recommend them highly.
The room on the second .,oor of
the police station which Is now oc
cupied by the fire alarm repeaters
and batteries, Is needed for jnrmi-
tory for the patrolmen.
The recent strike proved that it
was needed. as the small room in
the front of the building is not large
enough for the men. This back room,
If fitted up with few cots, would en-
able the chief to hold few reserves
in time of riots or strikes, or in fact
any time when trouble was expected.
Now II any of the day men are held
in reserve at the police station dur
ing the night they must stay awake
until called out for action.
A slight change may be made in
the sergeant's room on the first floor.
At present when the squads line up,
the end of the line cannot see or
hear the sergeant when he gives or
ders. By cutting off part of the toilet
room in the back, this enlargement
is possible.