New Britain herald., 1927-07-02
.S0UTHINGT0N NOW
HAS POLICE FORCE
Eight Special Officers Added to
Constablay in Town

The town OF southington whose
area is as large. II not larger than
the city Of New Britain. has been
growing in population At such 4 rate
Of speed lately. that it has been
found necessary to increase the po-
lice protection for its citizens
Including tn will. -es OF Plants
Vile. Milldole and Marion under its
town government with many OF the
districts comprising outlying farms
the towns lawless element has been
having free sway for a number Of
years. Leading citizns. following the
cleanup OF band OF thieves. most
Of whom lived in Southington and
their punishment for various crimes
committed began movement q
short tie ago for the establishment
of police force to complement the
constabulary OF seven men.
A squad Of eight men, selected for
their integrity Of character, has been
chosen by special police commit
tee appointed some time ago at q
town meeting and these have been
sworn in as special policemen and
have been assigned to regular duty.
The new police creation in the
town has not been formed with the
purpose of supplanting the present
efficient constabulary OF which
Southington boasts, but Is an ad-
ditional force OF protectors for the
hitherto partially protected COM
munity.
With a town that encompasses all
the territory lying between the end
of Plainville to Cheshire and bound
ed by Bristol. the mountains sur
rounding Lake. Compounce, Wolcott
and Waterbury on one side and Meri-
den and Berlin on the other while
a part Of the town which ends at
Shuttle Meadow, bordering New Bri-
tain, the task Of enforcing the laws
and keeping the peace of the place,
has been found to be too great for
the seven men who ruled over the
destinies OF 5000 or more people.
Last Sunday. the new police force
was put into operation for the first
time. Attired in natty dark grey uni
form with Sam Browne belts,
leather puttees and caps, copied aft
er the style OF dress worn by the
state police, the special police started
to do traffic duty and to work on
Investigations of law breaking.
1t was a difficult n liter in the
past to secure police protection at
any point outside Of the immediate
central localities. Should occasion
arise for the need OF police. citizens
were req Tired to telephone to the
headquarters in the town hall and
take their chance OF finding an Of
ficer on duty.
1t was an easy matters for rob-
bers to perpetrate crimes in the
small hours of the morning. On one
occasion, it was noted not so long
ago, one of the large clothing stores
was broken into and more than
$1,000 worth of furnishings were
taken. The robbers operated by tene-
phoning the police that there was
tlOuDlC III lls tONl clu dltcl tuC
officers had gone to the scene OF the
supposed crime, they had plenty of
time to carry off whatever they
wished.
With the police force increased to
Is men, things are different and as
soon as the organization is func-
tioning properly, there will be less
lawlessness there than there has
been, in several years.
Members of the police department
are assigned TO patrol duty both day
and night. The operation OF the de-
partment is modelled somewhat aft
er the manner OF the cities. Each
officer is assigned to beat" or
district and 1t is Up to him to patrol
that and prevent any violations OF
the law which might occur in the
vicinity.
The benefit OF the citizens. how
ever. is greater in the night than 1t
is In the day. Instead OF one night
patrolman covering the entire ex-
panse OF territory Of the town. sew
eral now stand between the criminal
world and the residents.