The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-17

His survey included Indiana,
Massachusetts, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and the
Royal Northwest Mounted.
The stories also are appearing
in the Lebanon Reporter.
BY ALBERT J. BEVERIDGE JR.
Next IN Importance TO the selection
Of police personnel is communica-
ton. If a police force is handi-
capped in this line. its efficiency is
impaired greatly and crime is bound
TO flourish as a result.
Most police organizations depend
on certain amount of modern
equipment, at least propOrtiOnate to
that used by criminals. The Royal
Canadian mounted police depend on
a minimum of intercourse, princi-
pally because the force operates
in districts where communication is
slow and poorly developed. In spite
Of this. Canadas famous force is
experimenting with radio and a few
stations already have been installed
IN the northwest.
In the United States, where crime
increases. it has been necessary to
develop some sort of cOmmunica-
ton either between different cities
or between headquarters and Off
GERS on duty. The first medium of
communication successfully adopt
ed was the teletype.
This is a system Of automatic
typewrites which record messages by
means Of a telegraph typewriter.
When a message is being transmit
ted from a machine. other machines
are recording the same message IN
stantly whether they are in the
same building. within the same city
or different cities.
Teletype Is Popular
Most large municipalities have
adopted this system of cOmmunica-
ton and almost all state police
forces rely on it. In the east there
is a regular system in which five
states, New York, New Jersey, Penn
svlvania, Massachusetts, and Con-
neCticut. cooperative not only for
the spreading of important police
alarms. but also to relay police mes
sages and conduct Investigations be-
tween states. Such a system re-
suits in increased police efficiency
and added economy.
Newer than the teletype and still
in its infancy is the radio. Few
states have explored this system to
the point where it can be used sue
CeSsfully in all places at all times.
Michigan and Massachusetts have
developed the best systems and even
these are supplemented by teletype.
A radio system has been approved
in Indiana and while it is not yet
ready for operation. it is likely that
it will be functioning by December.
Massachusetts has developed the
best and most efficient mediums of
intercourse. Three radio stations
cover the state and were so success
full last year that $3.50 items were
broadcast in the 1924 hours the
stations were on the air.
Success Is Shown
To illustrate the value of the
teletype and radio we quote two
examples from the official MaSSa-
chuSettS records:
(a) On Aug. 80 1888, word was
received at Troop G headquar-
tiers at Holden that a man for
whom several warrants on break
ing and entering charges were
held was supposed TO be staying at
the home of a friend in CroSSWeu,
Mich.
A teletype message vas sent at
S.03 p. m. TO WHIP radio station at
birmingham requesting a message
to the Michigan state police radio
station WRDS, giving them the
information and asking that an
attempt be made TO locate the
man. At 8.31 p. NJ, or twenty
eight minutes after our teletype
message was sent TO birmingham,
a teletvpe message was received at
Holden from birmingham stat
ing that the Michigan state police
had reported by radio that the
man had been located, arrested
and was being held for us at their
st. Claire barracks. He later was
eXtradited 10 Massachusetts.
ID On Nov. 25, 1888, at 7:20
D. m. a hOldup was reported at
a gasoline filling station on the
Boston post road in Wayland. At
7.2I o. m. a message was broad
cast from station WHIP TO all
cruiser cars. giving description
of the robber and the regiStra-
ton number of the automobile IN
which he had left the scene of the
crime. This message was immedl-
atelv received by two patrol men
of Troop c at a point on the BoS-
ton post road west of the scene OF
the reported holdup. Proceeding
east they encountered the wanted
car and arrested the occupant, who
admitted the crime He was found
10 be armed with loaded auto
matte pistol and had the proceeds
of the robbery on his person. The
Troop c officers reported the ar
rest by phone 10 their headquar-
tiers at TAO p. m. nineteen minutes
after the radio broadcast was re-
ceived.
Mobile Unit Used
one interesting feature which has
been used successfully in MaSsa-
chusetts is a mobile unit radio sta
ton modelled on a SiX-cyiinder
truck chassis and capable OF trans