George Jefferis, Police Veteran, is Dead at 54

Camden Courier-Post – September 6, 1951

Patrolman George F. Jefferis, 54, veteran motorcycle officer, of 114 Terrace Avenue, died Wednesday in Cooper Hospital, where he was under treatment for injuries suffered last week in a collision of his cycle and an automobile. Coroner Blake said in an autopsy would be conducted today.

Jefferis, a patrolman for 25 years, was admitted to the hospital August 29 with a fractured left ankle and a possible fracture of the left hip, suffered when his motorcycle and an automobile collided at Third and Penn streets.

The car was driven by Robert Collins, 20, of 6041 Clayton Avenue, Pennsauken Township.

Active U.S. Bond Seller

Jefferis was widely known throughout the city for his work during World War II with Patrolman Earl Stopfer, in the sale of $4,000,000 in war bonds, and for the past 16 years in guiding and instructing public and parochial school safety patrols. During that period the two men organized safety patrols in 38 schools with a membership of 1058.

The two patrolmen three years ago completed a colored, sound motion picture, “A Plan For Safety,” financed by the Atlantic Refining Co. Since then the film has been shown throughout the United States, Canada, Hawaiian Islands, and is now in England. The picture was filmed in Camden, with the two policemen and Camden schoolchildren as characters.

Veteran of World War I

Among the cities which have announced they have organized safety patrols along the lines shown in the picture are Vineland, Millville, Akron OH, Cincinnati OH, Springfield MA, Memphis TN, Washington DC, Bloomington IN, Salt Lake City UT, Topeka KS, Richland WA, Boston MA, Lancaster PA, Honolulu HI, and Toronto, Canada.

The film has been shown before hundreds of civic, social, and service groups, and parent-teacher associations. It relates various duties and requirements for school safety patrol members and shows them in correct activities in the event of fire alarms and drills, operation of children’s courts, holding of safety meetings, care of children on streets, and holding of program planning meetings.

Jefferis was a Navy veteran of World War I and a member of Camden Local 35, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, for 25 years. He completed 25 years in the police department in July.

On September 7, 1948 Jefferis also suffered injuries when his cycle was struck in the rear by an auto as he was cruising on Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

Jefferis is survived by his widow, Ida; a daughter, Barbara Ann, 15; his father Joseph, of 1152 Baring Street, a retired employee of the Delaware River Joint Commission, and a sister, Mrs. Gerard Tiedeken, wife of the city’s chief school attendance officer.

Services will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. in the Murray funeral home, 406 Cooper Street, where friends may call Sunday night. Burial will be in Locustwood Memorial Park.