Raymond Stark
Raymond H. “Mike” Stark Sr. served as a member of the Camden Police Department for 27 years. He was appointed to the force on April 11, 1917, with badge number 139, was appointed to the mounted traffic squad on January 11, 1919, and retired on pension on May 15, 1944.
Stark was born in Philadelphia and had resided in Camden since he was ten years old. At the time of his death he lived at 141 North 32nd Street.
The newspaper accounts collected on this page name him by rank as his service went on: “Traffic Officer Stark” in May 1923, “Acting District Detective Raymond Stark” that August, “District Detective Raymond H. Stark” in September 1923, “Patrolman Raymond Stark” through the late 1920s and early 1930s, and “Sergeant Raymond Stark” in October 1936.
During a leave of absence in 1926 Stark served with the Camden Bridge police. The Camden Post-Telegram reported on November 15, 1926 that, after four months as a sergeant of that force, he submitted his resignation to Captain Alfred Souders and would resume his duties in the Camden department the following day as chauffeur of the Third District police ambulance; the same account states he had been a member of the Camden department for ten years before joining the bridge police, and that his return automatically dropped the suit he had instituted against the city for a pension under the disability clause. His 1953 obituary states instead that he organized the police force for the Camden Bridge and, as a sergeant of the body, led the parade across the bridge when it opened in 1926.
Since his retirement Stark had been active with the Retired Police and Firemen’s Association of Camden County, of which he was a charter member and secretary. He was a life member of the South Jersey Suburban Police Inc., a member of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and of Rescue Council 151, JrOUAM, and a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Camden. He died of a heart condition in Cooper Hospital on Thursday afternoon, October 22, 1953, at the age of 59, and was buried in Lakeview Memorial Park.
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Erie Street
Erie Street in North Camden runs from Beach Avenue to 9th Street, crossing Delaware Avenue, Point, Front, Segal, and the numbered streets 2nd through 9th.
32nd Street
32nd Street runs from the Delaware River through Cramer Hill and East Camden to the city limits at Highland Avenue, with North and South addresses dividing at Federal Street. At Westfield Avenue an acre of cultivated land and an old house called the "Mansion" were razed for the Westfield Acres housing project, which was itself razed in 2000 and replaced by Baldwin's Run.
Arthur Avenue
Arthur Avenue, named after President Chester A. Arthur, is located in the Cramer Hill neighborhood of Camden. It runs from 24th Street eastward to 29th Street and Von Nieda Park, passing along the south side of Veterans Memorial Park.
R. H. Stark Dies At 59; Retired City Policeman
Raymond H. "Mike" Stark Sr., 59, of 141 North 32nd Street, a retired Camden city policeman appointed in 1917 and pensioned in 1944, died of a heart condition in Cooper Hospital. He organized the Camden Bridge police force during a 1926 leave of absence and was a charter member and secretary of the Retired Police and Firemen's Association of Camden County.
Mute Saved from Jail for 'Refusal' to Speak
Alexander Purzycki of 1267 Kaighn Avenue, arrested in Johnson Park by Policeman Raymond Stark, would not answer questions at headquarters or in police court. City Jailer William Michalak told Judge Gene R. Mariano the man was a deaf mute, and the charge was dismissed.
Merchantville Driver Held on Tipsy Charge
Preston Fisher of South Merchantville was held in $500 bail on a drunken driving charge made by Policeman Richard Donnelly. Lieutenant George Ward and Sergeant Raymond Stark tested Fisher and told Donnelly they did not consider him intoxicated; Donnelly insisted the charge stand.
Taps Sound for Jack Airedale, Canine Mascot of Fire Laddies
Camden firemen and policemen gave Jack, the Airedale mascot of the Headquarters Fire Company at Fifth and Arch Streets, a hero's funeral in November 1934 after he was crushed under the wheels of his own truck. An estimated 3500 people passed his bier, and taps were sounded over his grave at sunset; Arthur Batten was among the honorary bearers.
War Veteran Commits Suicide by Hanging in Eighth St. Home
Edward Nixon, 38, described by police as a shell-shocked World War veteran, hanged himself at 124 North Eighth Street. Patrolmen Raymond Stark and Walter Patton cut down the body; he was pronounced dead at Cooper Hospital.
Wife Tied in Chair, Periled With Knife
Charges Husband Trapped on Pretense of Returning Child Accused by his wife of binding her to a chair and threatening her life with a knife and with gas, Charles Flippen, 26, of 609 Grant Street , was held without bail for the grand jury by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast yesterday.
Man Hurt, Driver Held
George Cassidy of 216 Sycamore Street was cut about the head, lip and wrist in a collision at Second and Penn streets. Patrolmen Raymond Stark and Walter Patton arrested the driver, Marshall Reinheimer, for failing to show a registration card.
Four Suspects Caught as Series of Weekend Robberies Keep Police Busy
Stolen Garage Loot Found in Auto As 4 Men Are Nabbed Trio Held at Gloucester for Robbing Store at Westville Grove Oil Stove is Stolen Loot valued at several hundred dollar was recovered and four men arrested over the weekend as many robberies were reported to police throughout South Jersey.
Police Visit Times, No Arrests Made
Twenty-seven officers from 24 New Jersey police departments, in training at the New Jersey Police Academy at Wilburtha, toured the Trenton Times building as part of an educational program. The roster includes three Camden men.
2 Men, 2 Girls Jailed; Nabbed in Apartment
Two Gloucester men and two young Camden girls arrested in a Federal Street apartment house were found guilty of disorderly conduct before Judge Bernard Bertman. Policemen Walter Patton and Raymond Stark were summoned by the building's owner.
Cops Unable to Find Razor Fight Motive
Detectives remained unable to establish the cause of a razor battle at 343 Pine Street in which Palmier Delaiso was severely cut. Patrolman Raymond Stark, answering an anonymous call, found Delaiso unconscious and arrested Angelo Sobi as he tried to flee.
2 Missing Men Are Found Dead
Two Camden men missed by relatives and friends were found dead of heart disease. Patrolman Raymond Stark broke down the door at 907 Federal Street to find barber Thomas Green; John Curran was found in the yard of 286 Liberty Street.
Sergeant Stark Quits Bridge Police Force
After four months as a sergeant of the Camden Bridge police, Raymond "Mike" Stark resigned to Captain Alfred Souders and returned to the Camden police department as chauffeur of the Third District ambulance, dropping his disability pension suit against the city.
Take Sergeant Examination
District Detective Raymond H. Stark, Acting Sergeant John Potter and Mounted Officer Clarence Thorne of the Third District took the civil service examination for promotion to sergeant. Acting Sergeant Boettcher was slated to sit it but his name was dropped from the list.
Break Into Home
Thieves break into the home of Mrs. Penven at 2746 Arthur Avenue, stealing $80 hidden in a locked drawer. District Detective Raymond H. Stark investigates.
Broken Bottle Maims Officers Quelling Fight
District Detectives Shlam and Hurlock and Acting District Detective Raymond Stark answered a report of a riot at Thirtieth and Pleasant streets in East Camden. Officer Hurlock's wrist was gashed by a broken bottle, severing an artery; five men were arrested.
Wanted a Real "Cop"
A man arrested by plain clothes officers Hurlock and Schlam near Twenty-sixth and Carman streets refused to submit until a uniformed policeman appeared — Traffic Officer "Mike" Stark. He still would not give his name.
Arrested Bus Driver
Robert Black, driver of a Cramer Hill bus, was twice sent to police headquarters in one day by Traffic Officer Raymond Stark at Twenty-sixth and Federal streets for failing to produce a jitney bus driver's license.
Camden to Improve 2 City Departments
Dr. A. Haines Lippincott, surgeon to the Camden police and fire departments, submitted recommendations approved by City Council, including schools, medical surveys and firearms instruction. Nine men, among them Traffic Officer Raymond Stark, were expected to retire on disability.