The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | April 2023
From the NJSACOP Archives … April
1912 At the April 1 , 1912 monthly meeting of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Chief McClelland introduced a Resolution , which was duly seconded , “ that section 1 , article 2 of the By-laws be changed to read that the regular meeting of the association be held on the 1 st Thursday of each month .” The Resolution carried .
1926 In an article run in the April 3rd edition of the Asbury Park Press , it was reported that the membership of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police had re-elected
Chiefs Helf and Walling
Long Branch Chief William Walling as association President . The action was taken “ as a mark of respect ” for the Chief , who was “ critically ill at his home .” Maplewood Police Chief Jacob Helf , the association ’ s Recording Secretary , telephoned the Walling home “ the hope that the news might cheer up the ill man .” The article continued :
Chief Wilday
Knowing that his end is only a matter of days , possibly hours , Chief Walling sent a letter to the association in which he stated that he would be able to last but a short time .
“ There is no possible cure for my complaint ,” he wrote in substance , “ but I send you men all my love and ask a last favor . I ’ ve loved the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police . I ’ ve served you as president . I ’ d like to die in harness – still president of our association .”
1931 In remarks to the Association during the April 1931 Monthly State Chiefs Meeting , newly elected Association president Chief Herbert Wilday ( Morristown ) urged the membership to “ personally take the time to supervise the Juvenile cases that are brought into your courts for petty offenses and endeavor to settle them outside of Court and thereby prevent them from becoming a matter of record so that the youngsters escape the stigma of a police record .”
1940 As a part of his report at the monthly April 1940 NJSACOP Meeting , Legislative Committee chairman Chief Fred Roff of the Morristown Police Department , reported that the bill , endorsed by the Association , “ making it mandatory that a member of the police or fire departments must have at least three years ’ service before being made chief ” was receiving substantial support .
Chief Roff
1959 At the April 2 , 1959 monthly meeting of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police , Chief Raymond Mass ( Shrewsbury ) was sworn into membership . Chief Mass would go on to a legendary career of service to both the NJSACOP and the IACP .
1960 At the April 1960 monthly meeting of the Association , Traffic Safety Committee Chairman Chief Harry Knowles announced that “ the Attorney General has instructed Prosecutors to investigate the alcoholic and drug consumption in cases of fatal accidents . The
Chief Mass nad Chief Knowles discussions indicated that autopsies had not been performed in many counties in fatality cases . Credit for a uniform procedure of investigation , preparing and testifying in drunken driving cases was accorded to the Chiefs of Police .”
1989 Chief George King reported at the April 1989 NJSACOP meeting that the Police Training Commission had voted at the PTC meeting on April 5th that , moving forward , all Special Police Officers seeking to be hired as a regular fulltime officer would now be required to complete the entire Basic Course for Police Officers .
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