The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-04

ms process takes time" ac-
cording 10 Dahl. who explained
that In August. 1910. the sheriff
had included in the 1871 budget an
item for the purchase OF an inter
phone which would put the shcrifrs
office in direct touch with the po-
lice radio operator.
After the interphone item was
okehed in the budget by the county
commissioners, Dahl said that the
county purchasing agent had re-
fused to buy the interphone al
though a requisition was filed on
January Z. 1e4l. and several re-
quests had been made. Cost Of
the interphone was $40 but in
recent months price advances have
increased the cost of the inter
phone TO more than $40.
Tells Of Blank spots
Dahl also described the limita-
tons Of the police radio station.
saying that two-way communiea-
ton was impossible beyond
circle running from the foot Of
Elhi hill near Sumner through
Spanaway to Ponder's station.
Beyond that limit the sheriffs de-
partment has no direct COM
munication with its cars.
Questions by the jurors revealed
that the sheriffs cars can talk
direct to the police radio engineer
and can. II they wish. make q re-
quest for the lights" when they
plan to make an emergency run
through the traffic signal area.
Dahl said he did not know whether
the sheriffs car made such a re-
quest on November % but he did
know. through later examinations.
that the receiving set was in
working order.
Need More Men
After Dahls testimony, Under
sheriff Clyde Knowles took the
stand and under Tollefsons ques-
tioning stated that the sheriffs
department was undermined.
Those two men who were killed
were on shift for seven straight
days, working II to 16 hours a
day. We should have four prowl
cars scattered throughout the
county" Knowles stated.
Juror William Stancer asked
Knowles II the sheriffs office had
a working agreement with the
state patrol and Knowles replied
that the two agencies cooperate
with each other"
Use Experienced Men
Stancer also asked Knowles II
there were ANY tests or examina-
tons for drivers of sheriffs cars"
Knowles said there were none but
that the men were picked with !
driving experience.
Knowles was also asked II the /
sheriff's office had issued ANY |
particular instructions on routes !
to follow through the city on
emergency calls
Knowles said there were no in
on routes"
Question Knowles
Two jurors, Irving Thomas and
Robert Hager. then asked Knowles
why the sheriffs car making
run TO a River road accident on
the Saturday preceding the fatal
crash took a route down 9th street
to Pacific ave, then down Pacific
ave at / o'clock in the afternoon
at the height of traffic. Knowles
said he couldn't understand it,"
Thomas then asked If routes for
cars could be worked out
and Knowles said lit was pos
sible."
Sheriff John c. Bjorklund, next
to be called, was very vigorous in
his testimony. which included the
reading Of a page and half letter
which he had sent to the county
commissioners on March IS, 1871.
asking for two more men.
I've tried to increase my per-
sonnet. can't put my men on a
working-day basis. ! have asked
the county commissioners TO meet
with me to plan ways to give the
county needed police protection
but they won't"
Don't the county commissioners
realize the gravity Of the situa-
ton ?" asked Hy Mandles.
Il don't know. But politically