New City Police Must Be 'Clean' Is Order of Mayor

By Camden NJ History
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New City Police Must Be 'Clean' Is Order of Mayor - Camden Courier, January 13, 1922
Camden Courier, January 13, 1922
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NEW CITY POLICE MUST BE 'CLEAN' IS ORDER OF MAYOR Expose of Cops' Connection With Vice Protection Causes Sweeping Move THREE VACANCIES EXIST The clean-up of the personnel of the Police Department is the next move following the expose of graft and vice protection in the so-called tenderloin section of the downtown wards. Three nominations have been made of men to fill the vacancies created by the separation of three policemen from their positions as guardians of citizens' life and property. Before these men are named to the force they must be proven to have clean personal records which will stand the closest scrutiny. Mayor Ellis today said that every precaution will be taken to ensure the appointment of men who are beyond reproach. Recommendations of friends of former employers or political backers will not be sufficient to obtain police jobs for applicants. City detectives today are investigating the past lives of the three men who have been nominated from the Third Ward to fill the places made vacant by the resignations of William Draper and Tony Latorre and the discharge of Ira Hall, all First District policemen, accused of complicity in underworld affairs. Detective George Murry also resigned rather than fight the charges preferred against him by City Solicitor Bleakly and presented to the police committee of Council. The question of a successor to the place of Murry on the detective force is now under consideration. The evidence against the accused men is in the form of lengthy sworn statements gathered in an investigation fostered by City Solicitor Bleakly and joined in by Chief of Police Gravenor and county detectives. Prosecutor Gets Evidence This has been turned over to Assistant Prosecutor Burling in the absence of Prosecutor Wolverton. It has not been decided when the evidence will be given to the Grand Jury. The name of Traffic Policeman Archer, who is stationed at Haddon avenue and Federal street, was mentioned in the report of evidence or policemen's connection with vice affairs and principals in the tenderloin. The name should have been that of Policeman Fisher, who had a warrant to serve for the arrest of a woman of the underworld. Archer never was on duty in the downtown section, and as he said today, "I never even saw any of those people."

Expose of Cops' Connection With Vice Protection Causes Sweeping Move

THREE VACANCIES EXIST

The clean-up of the personnel of the Police Department is the next move following the expose of graft and vice protection in the so-called tenderloin section of the downtown wards.

Three nominations have been made of men to fill the vacancies created by the separation of three policemen from their positions as guardians of citizens' life and property. Before these men are named to the force they must be proven to have clean personal records which will stand the closest scrutiny.

Mayor Ellis today said that every precaution will be taken to ensure the appointment of men who are beyond reproach. Recommendations of friends of former employers or political backers will not be sufficient to obtain police jobs for applicants.

City detectives today are investigating the past lives of the three men who have been nominated from the Third Ward to fill the places made vacant by the resignations of William Draper and Tony Latorre and the discharge of Ira Hall, all First District policemen, accused of complicity in underworld affairs. Detective George Murry also resigned rather than fight the charges preferred against him by City Solicitor Bleakly and presented to the police committee of Council.

The question of a successor to the place of Murry on the detective force is now under consideration.

The evidence against the accused men is in the form of lengthy sworn statements gathered in an investigation fostered by City Solicitor Bleakly and joined in by Chief of Police Gravenor and county detectives.

Prosecutor Gets Evidence

This has been turned over to Assistant Prosecutor Burling in the absence of Prosecutor Wolverton. It has not been decided when the evidence will be given to the Grand Jury.

The name of Traffic Policeman Archer, who is stationed at Haddon avenue and Federal street, was mentioned in the report of evidence or policemen's connection with vice affairs and principals in the tenderloin. The name should have been that of Policeman Fisher, who had a warrant to serve for the arrest of a woman of the underworld. Archer never was on duty in the downtown section, and as he said today, "I never even saw any of those people."

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