Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-01-17
COUNTY UN|TES
To END CRIME
Sheriff's Office Will be Gen.
tral Point at Which County
Crimes Will be Reported
CONFERENCE HELD TODAY
Many Different Phases of
Crime Prevention and Pro-
lection Are Taken Up.
CONFERENCE HELD TODAY
BY STAN Correspondent.

ny StdH correspondent.
NEW BRUNSWICK. Jan. IT.
In order to form acounty organiza-
tion of police which shall include
members of the prosecutors detec-
tive force. municipal police and
rural marshals and deputies, IA con-
ference of the heads of the various
police forces was conducted with
Prosecutor Joseph L. Stricken here
today. A fair sized representation
of police is present and in addition
representatives of the Board of
FTeeholders and shcriff's office.
About twenty-five attended the
conference. including Sheriff Elmer
C. Wyckoff and Freeholders Dey.
Applcgate and Quackenbush. All
OF the county detectives were pres
ent.
The matter of establishing a CEN
trail Office was discussed and settled
shortly before noon. it being agreed
that the sheriff's Office should serve
as such and be open at all hours of
the day and night to receive any re-
ports from the police of the county.
Sheriff Wyckoff announced that
his force would be able to conduct
si;ch an office. at which all crimes
could be reported and warning calls
sent out to every police chief in the
county. A list of the names and
phcne calls of all of the police heads
will be placed in this Office in order
that no time shall be lost in spread
ing word about the county of any
crime. The freeholders at this point
offered to cooperate with the po-
lice in any way possible.
The freeholders announced their
intention of placing on all county
bridges telephones in order that
bridge tenders might notify county
headquarters of anything out of .he
ordinary or they might be called
by the county headquarters to be on
Oh the lookout for certain parties.
This will not affect the Albany
street bridge in New Brunswick or
the Perth Amboy South Amboy
bridge, as both are under state con-
troll. 1t was decided to take the
matter of installing telephones on
these two bridges also up with the
State Highway Department.
A suggestion. which received seri-
Gus consideration and favorable ac-
ton, was made by Recorder C. c.
Weber of Metuchen. 1t urged the
establishing of a uniform telephone
number for every police station in
the county. He pointed. out that if,
in each community the same-500
or 1000 for instance-'was used, it
would be an easy matter to notify
a large number of police stations in
short time, whereas at present
every police station has a different
number and much time is lost III 60
ing through directory finding the
numbers Detective Ferguson was
authorized to take this matter up
with the telephone company and
learn whether or not arrangements
could be made to have a uniform
number for all of the police stations
in the county.
suggestion was made that in
order to patrol rural districts pri-
vate citizens be sworn in as special
off1cers to act when necessary.
Prosecutor Stricken stated that per-
sonally he did not approve of this
plan. He favored the naming OF
paid officers who should be uni.
formed and on patrol duty al all
times. He declared that better re-
srlts could be obtained from a pro
fessionar' police officer than from
amateurs"
Another matter of importance to
come up-for discussion was the sub
Ject of police officer following a
criminal or suspect outside the
boundaries of the municipality in
which he is employed to make an
arrest There was a difference of
I<opinion on the legality of such DO
lice powers. but it was the general
opinion that such a ruling would
make it less possible for a person to
escape by going from one place TO
another, in Middlesex county. II is
probable that steps will be taken to
put through new rules and regula-
tions. If such action can be taken
under the law. making it possible
for a police officer to make an ar
rest In any part of the county, re-
gardlesS of where he is stationed
While discussing the ability nj
professional police as compared
TO "amateurs." the question OF
eliminating the paid guards :. al
Camp Raritan came up. 1t was
generally agreed that the men who
mad acted as camp police and
guards during the past two years
| should be retained rather than have
soldiers row stationed at that camf
succeed them in their duties.
new government regulation has
been received at camp doing ava,
with the paid guards on January 20
/ The freehoiders have already taker
action to have the present guard.
maintained. if possible.
Prosecutor Stricken told the mel
in conference that there is no Law
which will compel any municipalit
to employ policemen but it was in
timated that failure on the part o
townships and boroughs to hir
policemen would result in actiol
being taken to have the state legis
lature enact laws forcing these ir
responsive rural communities to en-
tContinued on page ~