Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-05-31
REAGER GIVEN
POLICE MEDAL
Gets Garretson Award for
Performing Most Conspicu-
GUS Act of Bravery

For having performed the most
conspicuous act of bravery during
the year, Patrolman John Reager
was awarded the Garretson police
medal in the course of the annual
inspection of the entire department
at the city hall early yesterday
morning.
The medal was bestowed upon
Patrolman Reager by Mayor Will
liam c. Wilson and in making the
presentation the mayor called atten-
ton to the act performed by the
officer at the fire at 100 Fayette
street early in the morning of April
II. At the outbreak of the fire Pa
trolman Reager rescued several peo-
pie from an upper story OF the
burning building. The stairway eX-
its were blocked by the fire and the
rescue was accomplished by way OF
a window. officers Paul Layden
and Frank Tonghini were also
highly commended for their work
in assisting Reager at the same fire;
Officer Tonghini was second
time commended for his excellent
work on December 19 of last year
when with the assistance of Detec-
tive Jack Smith. of Chief Burke's
detective bureau, he captured TWO
men who were making off after rob-
bing the clothing store of Sidney
jacobson at 276-27S Smith street.
Mayor Wilson also mentioned
Patrolmen William Peterson and
John Kurpiel for acts of exceptional
bravery performed during the year.
Petersen undoubtedly saved the life
of Lewis Skelly of High street. on
April 4 of this year, when the child
released the hand brake on an auto
mobile in which he was playing. But
for the prompt action OF Ofhcer
Petersen the child would have been
crushed between the automobile
Ind a heavily laden barrel that was
standing along the curb next to the
automobile.
Kurpiel was mentioned for an in
cident in which he figured last De-
cember. Early in the morning of
December 19 the officer in question
captured a man as he attempted to
make his exit from the saloon OF
James Gerity at Smith street ana
Watson avenue. The man carried
loaded revolver which, it later de-
yeloped, he had stolen from the sa-
loon.
The entire department attended
the inspection, in accordance with
the annual custom. In his address
Mayor Wilson congratulated the de-
partment on behalf of the city for
the work it had accomplished from
the chief down to the newest patrol
man and upward again through the
plain clothes force and detectives.
He characterized the department as
steadily increasing in efficiency ana
expressed his appreciation or lts
work. In the course of his remarks
the mayor recalled the fact that II
was ex-Chief Burke who inaugurated
the annual inspection ceremony.
The mayor spoke highly or the
/ work done in the parochial schools
in the organization of patrols ana
suggested that the example set by
the parochial schools should be fol-
lowed by the organization of similar
patrols in the public schools. He
praised the boys for the manner IN
which they carried out the work as
signed to them, and urged that the
boys turn out annually for the Mem
orial Day inspection while they are
bows and after they have reached
certain age they can turn out to see
other boys perform the duties IN
augurated by them.
Lined up with the regular police
force were the detachments OF safe
ty Patrol school boys from St Mary S
st. stephens and Holy Trinity
Parockial schools. These boys are
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