From the NJSACOP Archives … April
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | April 2025
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 1st 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 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:
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.
Chief Jacob Helf Maplewood PD
“ 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
Chief William Walling Long Branch PD
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.
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 alcoholic and drug consumption in cases of fatal accidents. The 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.”
1988
The NJSACOP Monthly State Chiefs Meeting for April 1988 was held in Somerset, NJ. Chief Anthony Parenti, Traffic Safety Committee Chair, reported that on the following month the“ 65 mph test period will start. The affected highways will be the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway, Route 55, Route 295, Route 287 North, and Route 195.”
Chief Fred Roff Morristown PD
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