Once upon a time police in Trenton and other cities walked a "beat." The officer was assigned to a given boundary within the city, and it was his responsibility to see that law and order prevailed in their area of coverage. The graphic above has the obit of Patrolman Stanley Chorazy, who diligently kept a written record of activities during a given shift. On the right is a scan of a little pocket note pad in my collection, wherein officer Chorazy detailed events that required his attention. It is speculation on my part that the beat patrol officer was rendered obsolete as the streets became more dangerous for a lone officer walking on dangerous streets.
Ralph Lucarella said...- ....WE HAD PATROLMAN SPARKS TO CONTEND WITH IN VILLA PARK DURING THE 1930S. HE WAS VERY FAIR AND KNEW MOST OF THE PEOPLE BY NAME. IN MANY CASES HE WOULD TAKE YOU HOME AND LET YOUR PARENTS HANDLE THE SITUATION. WE KIDS KNEW WE WERE IN FOR IT IF THAT HAPPENED. THE STREETS WERE MUCH SAFER WHILE THEY HAD PATROLMEN ON THE BEAT. BEST REGARDS./
- Mike Kuzma said...
- I knew, and respected Stan Chorazy as a man, and a cop. He was fair, thorough and honest. The Beat Cop in my South Trenton neighborhood was "Big Vince Morrison" He had to stand 6'6" and his mere presence walking the street, kept the "restless" in line. One of the finest cops ever to walk a beat, and the most honest; was Johnny Prihoda. I met John when he came on the force after WWII in the mid 40's. He was thought of so highly, that Mayor Art Holland appointed him Chief of Police. Regards Mike Kuzma
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