The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-06-10

beat .. night duty on North Elm street The residents of Baldwin street came to know him when he patrolled @ beat in that section for a year in the eve- ming Three years after his appointment to the Waterbury Police Force. William Duggan be- came interested in traffic when he was assigned to one of those posts at the corner of East Main street and Phoenix avenue, the traffic spot no whandled so well by the genial Barney Burns '. He was transferred from Phoenix avenue to do duty at tAe corner of West Main and Leavenworth streets where he spent ten years handling traffic. Tn November 1883. he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in charge of the Mo- tor Patrol to succeed Sergeant Flaherty who was transferred to the Traffic Squad.
 The Motor Patrol is, of course familiar to everyone in Water- bury Not only does 1t proc vide a policeman when An em- ergency arises, but the members of the motor patrol also look af- ter traffic regulations So well do they do their work, that Waterbury, in recent survey was adjudged to have one of the best traffic safety records in this section of the country.
 Tn April of this year, Bill Dug- gan was promoted to the rank of captain in charge of the Motor Patrol .. Your biographer ask- ed him if the promotion came be- cause of additional duties or for some other similar reason and Captain Duggan seemed to be puzzled for an answer k. <. Com. missioner Harry Minor, chairman of the board of Fire and Police commissioners was present during my visit with the captain and he supplied the answer Com missioner Minor said .. "Bill did such a fine job handling the Motor Patrol that the promotion was due him" ... think it's in. teresting for us to know what his superior officers think of today's reighbor. Captain Duggan be- lieves that one of the greatest hazards to public safety in the streets is the practice of cutting in and out of a line of traffic. He and his men are doing all they can to stop this dangerous prac. tice '. Another important drive which is not in progress IS the checking of motor cars for proper lighting equipment. In the past three weeks, over 1000 automo- piles have had correct headlights 7 put on because of the work of the motor patrol If you're driving with only one headlight or if one bulb is weak and about to burn out, the motor patrol will stop you and not let you proceed until the faulty lighting system is corrected No arrests have been made although there are some cases where the motorist was libale to arrest for violating the law which says that spare headlight bulbs must be carried in the car ., |. The policemen give motorists a break and let them leave their car to go out and buy the necessary equipment.
 This movement for proper lighting equipment is just one ex- ample of the effort that the Wa terbury Police department, through Captain Duggan is putt ting forth in the interests of pub- lie safety .. Captain Duggan is the perfect example of the arm of the law .. His interpreta- tons of justice are tempered with a willingness to give the other fellow the benefit of the doubt. Although Captain Duggan is ac- complaining great good in his work, his kindly nature removes any possibility of his being called a "hardboiled cop" He's con- scientiouS as regards to his work and doesn't mind e bit when Q necessity arises for him to work over his regularly assigned hours. Commissioner says of him There's one fellow who doesn't seem to care how long he works while there's c job to be done. And when we want something done we give it to Captain Dug- gan and feel sure that the task