The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-07-12

Twenty years ago the New Ha- ven Railroad was losing to thieves and pilferers a considerable amount of the freight handled, and passen- ger trains were being preyed upon by film liam operators and pick pockets. Today the losses through pilferage is less than one penny per carload of freight, and passengers travel in cars swept clean of rac- keteers, card sharps and pickpock- cts.
 Comparative figures for the past 20 years (freight loss in 1920 of all railroads in the U. s. was $2,- 100000 against slightly more than half million dollars in 1930 shows @ decrease of better than 96 per cent in robbery loss, and an al- most complete elimination of mulct- ed passengers.
 Splendid Record
 Behind the enviable record of the New Haven Railroad stands group of 280 men, the railroad police, whose efforts in the past 20 years have proved so unhealthy to crim- inals that they have flyed to other fields.
 Directed by Chief George Crowley whose headquarters are in the New Haven station, the railroad police force has succeeded in smashing every organized gang of freight thieves who preyed on its lines, and has made life miserable for every other type of criminal who seeks to gain his living from working the railroad.
 Three years ago the last of the organized freight thieves, which specialized in stealing of cigarettes, was caught and put behind bars; and the last time that the force ran into a card sharper or pick pocket was during the running of the race track special last summer when a group of bridge experts were quietly removed from the train and taken before judge.
 So proficient have the railroad police become in spotting known criminals and pickpockets that they are often called upon to aid local police forces in protecting crowds during conventions and other large celebrations. Working with Middle town police during the opening of the Middletown- Portland bridge last summer, the railroad police picked up three known pickpockets before they could ply their trade.
 4,451 Miles of Track
 Patrolling 4451 miles of track, and guarding 37 million lives and bil- lions of dollars worth of property each year as well as catching up with and keeping ahead of modern gangdom, would seem like full time job in itself. but the New Ha- ven's men still find time to devote to other duties. One which they have assumed, and in a field in which they were pioneers. is the educating of school children to the dangers which turk on and around railroad property. For years, 1t has been the custom to send members of the force to schools to address children and tell them of the dan- gers which may befall them if they play around freight yards of rail- road property. The talks have born fruit, and as a result many little lives have been saved and there has been a marked decrease in the stoning of trains. placing of obstruc- tions on tracks and other pranks which in the past have proven to be of considerable annoyance to the road.
 Their Majesties! Occasionally the police are faced with task which calls for much preparation and planning g--thc guarding of the lives Of personages Of high rank. Most recent out- standing example was the visit of the King and Queen Of England here to pay visit to New York ! and the Capital. The royal pair