The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-10-09

quest, Waterbury will have police radio in operation early next year. Mayor Beach of Hartford, in q statement to the. Hartford Courant, said the following about police
 By J. WATSON BEACH Mayor of Hartford
 Prior to 1929 there were no or ganized police forces in the Eng fish speaking countries of the world. Persons and property were protected by very fudimentary system of night watchmen, who unfortunately were found only too often inside taverns and other places of amusement rather than calling their watches.
 In that year Sir Robert Peel forced through parliament a bill creating a regular uniformed con. stabulary in London. With both compliment and derision the pulp lie soon dubbed them "Bobbies." New York was quick to introduce the same methods. The bright and shiny copper buttons brought forth the name Copper" or Cop as we know the policeman to-day.
 The next important step in pos | &ASV AV6A Go5 4G0ulICu lIOIkk tu0 |vention of the telephone. Call boxes the policemen to periodically com- municate with headquarters. No longer was the patrolman an iso- lated unit with but slight possibil- ity of assistance when he needed it. Science stepped in again with the development of the automobile. Naturally criminals were quick to take advantage of this rapid means of getaway, but police depart ments immediately equipped them- selves with patrol cars.
 Radio Latest Development Police radio marks the latest revolutionary step in police meth- ods. Over 135 cities in the United States have already adopted 1t, in- cluding Bridgeport, Worcester, AL bany, Rochester, Binghamton and Providence. It is an effective wea- pon of both the Massachusetts and New York state police forces. Police patron by means of. autos equipped with radios places tho patrolman at a definite advantage over the criminal. He covers his beat far more frequently than when he had to walk 1t. He ar- |rives on the scene in a it condition. not tired and exhausted from rtin- ming several blocks. He arrives almost instantaneously, often catching the criminal in action. If his man has gotten away, he can telephone back 8 general call for all cars to be alert for suspicious automobiles and persons. The evil dence he secures is fresher, in- creasing the effectiveness of the detective division.
 The system as visualiZed for Hartford includes an average of IF radio beats, supplemented by foot patrol, a rowing cruiser car and two cars held in reserve. The system is mobile and flexible, concentrat- ing activity where most needed. The radio beats are much smaller than those usually adopted, giving Hartford ultra protection.
 What does this mean for Hart ford? One thing-safety. Your policeman would be no further away than your telephone. Protec- ton? Think of having a policeman at your door within three minutes after your saying II want a police man" to the telephone operator, at any hour of the day or night!
 A network can be thrown up, blocking every principal highway leading out of the city. Extend 1t to the adjoining cities and towns, and complete regional protection is afforded. The criminal recognizes no governmental boundaries.
 The next development has not yet come out of the laboratories. It is two-way radio, whereby the patrolman in the car can talk with the dispatcher at headquarters over the air. The recommended system of one-way equipment for additional two-way equipm ent, without junking any part of 1t at all. The criminals life is becom- ing hard one now, and there does not seem to be much prosper ity in his future career.