Police Department

62:1 PERSONNEL, BRIEF HISTORY

EARLY DAYS OF LAKEWOOD -- D.A.R. pg. 86 - 87

The safety of the people of Lakewood us under the care of the police and fire departments. The policing of this city of over seventy thousand people is under the direction of Leonard B. Miller, chief of police, and an efficient force of officers, detectives and patrolmen. The actual policing of Lakewood began in 1889, when the trustees of East Rockport selected Charles Townsend as marshal and chief of police. To aid Chief Townsend, eleven special policemen were sworn in. In 1890, Chief Townsend resigned and Francis M. Wagar took the position, only to resign in 1891. John Billington then became chief. (The title of chief was complimentary, the legal office being that of marshal.) Other men who served as head of the police department from the Billington regime to this day are: Toy Marshall, Henry D. Howe, Louis R. Smith, William McQuirk, Charles Coffinberry, William Franklin, Henry C. O'Dell, Peter Christensen and the present incumbent, Chief Miller.

The first city prison was located in the "Halfway House," a tavern on Detroit Avenue near what now is Thoreau Road. The jail was later moved to the farm of C.L. Tyler and still later, offenders against the law were incarcerated in a barn owned by Jacob H. Tegardine. Within the memory of many Lakewood residents, prisoners were jailed in the old home at Detroit Avenue and Warren Road which the city used as its headquarters. The jail and police headquarters were finally moved to 1484 Warren Road, the present modern location.

Crime in Lakewood has been kept to a minimum through the effective activity of its police department. Traffic is well regulated, as is shown by the fact that the Lakewood department was recently awarded the third prize by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the group of cities with a population of from 50,000 to 1000,000, for achievement in traffic accident prevention.

62:2 EARLY HISTORY

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD - F.C. LOWING

The first essential to law and order after the institution os statute enactment is a department of law enforcement. In a small hamlet like Lakewood at its incorporation this law enforcement may be embodied in one man--a town marshal. At the first meeting of the trustees after incorporation held August 31, 1889, Charles Townsend was chosen marshall and chief of police and gave bond in the sum of $50. Four ordinances had been already passed, requiring enforcement at his hands. At a second meeting of trustees, held a week later, 11 special police were authorized and were later sworn in and made subject to the chief.

The fourth meeting was held April, 1890, at which time Charles Townsend resigned as marshal and Francis M. Wagar was named to fill the vacancy. There was very little activity in police circles during the first few years of Lakewood’s official life and on June 30, 1901, Francis M. Wagar resigned as marshal and was succeeded by John Billington.

Because of a lack of police business in the early days of in the incorporated life of Lakewood, few will remember that the two men who first filled the office of marshal ever served; and as John Billington was the first man to make a name for himself in that capacity, many of the older citizens remember him as the first guardian of the peace of Lakewood as an incorporated village. The active heads of the Lakewood police department, then, comprising the men who were in the service in an active capacity and serving a term long enough so that their person and name became familiar to the citizens of the incorporation, were as follows:

John Billington

Toy Marshall

Henry D. Howe

Louis R. Smith

William McQuirk

Charles Coffinberry

William Franklin

Henry C. O'Dell, who has been connected with the service from the start and who has risen from the ranks until now he is the head and acting chief.

62:3 CITY PRISON

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD - F.C. LOWING

In 1895, the hamlet having taken on new life since its incorporation, and the stimulus which such incorporation gave to its growth, an effort was made by its trustees to secure improvements that would still further increase the security and convenience of its citizenship. To that end a committee was appointed to secure a site for a city prison; William Prutton, a new member, was named a committee on site for a proposed city hall. The proposition of jail and city hall seems to have been booted about by council and citizens for several years, sites being chosen and negotiated for but with no stated home until the present home-site at Detroit and Warren Road was purchased in 1910.

In 1896 two steel cages were purchased for a lock-up and a penal institution established in Frank Penny's barn, to be moved from time to time from one barn or shed to another until the erection of the present city prison, at which time these two cells were installed.

62:4 CITY PRISONS

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD - F.C. LOWING

The hamlet of Lakewood was incorporated six months before the need for a city prison became pressing. April 22, 1890, the trustees instructed Mayor Canfield to have a lockup build under his supervision. Prior to this one or two persons arrested had been shut up in a room in the "Half-way House", which necessitated the arresting officer to keep watch until time to call the defendant in police court. Shortly after, these incidents demonstrating how unfair this was to the arresting officer, the trustees instructed the mayor to build a prison, and a small building, afterwards used as a chicken coop, was erected on the Wagar Property. This however, was intended only as a makeshift to bridge over to such time as a city hall and prison might be erected.

In September, 1895, C.A. Williard was appointed a committee on police station site, and nothing tangible coming of the proposition, on May 18, 1896, William Prutton was appointed a committee on public hall site--presumably the intention being that these two men might be able to thresh out something working in combination. A partial report was made, verbally, and further time given on May 21.

The desire of Lakewood officials was to build a city hall; and with city prison and fire department under one roof, to secure economy in construction and operation. When the chicken-coop prison became inadequate and unstable and the village officials were unprepared to build, two steel cages were purchased and temporarily installed in a barn on Mayor Tyler's property. This, however, was intended only as a second makeshift and to give the trustees time to provide funds and secure a proper site for the combined utility.

The outcome was the leasing, by the city, of the Tegardine property at the corner of Warren Road and Detroit. The barn was turned into a fire station and city prison, and the two steel cells installed. When the Tegardine property was purchased by the city at a later period, and the present police and fire station erected, these same cells were installed in the women's department of the prison.

62:5 REORGANIZATION

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD - F.C. LOWING

The personnel of the Lakewood Police Department at the present time is a follows:

Henry C. O'Dell, Chief of Police

Andrew Kennelly, Acting Captain

H.C. Lang and E.J. Newport, Desk Officers

John Hennie, Peter Christensen, H.J. Swickard, H.J. Amstus, L.B. Miller, Garfield Suhm, R.E. Fuller, Alvin Lincks and Charles S. Fix, Patrolmen.

The present spacious quarters of the Lakewood Police Department were completed in 1913, and were built in conjunction with the quarters for the fire department. Prior to the purchase of the present City Hall site at the corner of Detroit Avenue and Warren Road, in 1910, the Police Department had occupied precarious quarters in old buildings, barns, and in incommodious places, but without any official home worthy the name.

A short time after the hamlet was incorporated--in 1890--two steel cells were purchased and were moved from place to place as was the department; they are now installed in the new Police Station, in active use in the woman's department of the prison.

The first city prison was located in what was know n as the "Half-Way" House owned by Fred Penny, and situated near what is now the corner of Detroit and Irene; from there it was moved to C.L. Tyler's farm, thence to Jacob Tegardine's barn; later it was located at the river side; thence moved to its present site and when the new building was erected it was installed in the wing of the building devoted to the Police Department.

When Lakewood grew to be a city it became necessary to reorganize the Police Department, which was done, and the men in the department were all put under civil service regulations. Under civil service the present incumbents are secure in their positions until retired from old age, incapacity or laxness in service or discipline or unfaithfulness.

62:6 SALARIES RAISED

LAKEWOOD PRESS--February 7, 1918 Pg. 1

Mayor Cook recommended an increase of 5 per cent in the salaries of the police and fire department last Monday evening. He stated that living costs have greatly increased and wages in all employments gone up and unless the salaries of the boys in the police and fire department were also increased, it would be possible to hold them. A 5 per cent increase was granted to the Cleveland forces and he felt a corresponding increase should be made in Lakewood. No objection to the proposed increase was raised by the members of the council, as all felt the men in those departments deserved it.

62:7 SALARIES INCREASED

LAKEWOOD PRESS--February 21, 1918 Pg. 1

Council at its Monday meeting granted the city's guardians and fire fighters an increase of five per cent in their salaries from the chiefs down all along the line.

The chief of police was granted a salary of $2,310 per year, which is a raise of $310 a year, his former salary being $2,000 a year, as fixed by the preceding council.

City officials hope that the slight increase in salaries will tend to hold the men to their jobs for many men have recently left the departments for more remunerative employment.

62:8 RAISING OF AGE LIMIT FOR APPLICANTS PROPOSED

LAKEWOOD PRESS--April 25, 1918 Pg. 2

A scarcity of men caused by drafts and resignations to enter war industries has made necessary an increase in the maximum age for members of the Lakewood police and fire departments, according to Mayor Cook. The maximum age for members of the police department will be increased from thirty-three to thirty-six years, and that for city firemen from twenty-eight to thirty-six.

Fifteen men have left the fire department and more are expected to enter the army this year. Two patrolmen are serving the colors and several others are of military age.

Mayor Cook has asked the Lakewood council to enact legislation providing for the licensing of automobile trucks. The proceeds would be used to maintain paved streets.

62:9 PERSONNEL

(Both Departments Short Handed)

LAKEWOOD PRESS--July 11, 1918 Pg. 1

It is expected two small increases in the salary of Lakewood policemen will be reported at the council meeting Monday night as the result of a meeting of the council committee with Mayor Cook tomorrow night. Chief Christensen has recommended that the distinction in pay between the first and second year men be abolished and that two instead of three years be made the probationary period. At present, first year men receive at the rate of $1,159.20, second year men get $1,285.20, and not until the third year do the patrolmen receive the limit which is $1,411.20.

The plan under consideration is to give the first year men the flat salary of $1,200 and to give them the full $1,411.20 at the end of the second year. If adopted, five first year men and three second year men on the Lakewood force will be affected. The salaries of Lakewood policemen have always been adjusted to meet the level of the Cleveland salaries. Recently the salaries of Cleveland patrolmen were changed to give $1,200 to men entering the department and to reduce the probationary period from three to two years. Now, it is proposed that Lakewood shall adopt the same schedule. No change will be made in the pay of the first-grade patrolmen or in that of any other men on the force at this time.

There is much difficulty in finding competent men for both the police and fire departments. The demands of the draft, supplemented by volunteer enlistments, cut deeply into every police and fire department in the United States. Moreover, salaries, while they have been increased in Lakewood, Cleveland and in most cities, have not been raised as much or as rapidly as in industrial lines. Many men have left the force to receive double pay in factories and shipyards. These difficulties promise to increase in the immediate future. Two members of the Lakewood police department, Patrolmen Fuller, 1272 Hall Avenue, and Swickard, Rockaway Avenue, resigned last week.

For some time it has been found impossible to maintain the membership of the Lakewood fire department. There are skeletons of two companies in the Warren Road fire house when the full quota calls for five companies. These extra companies have never been organized, mainly because competent men could not be secured. Moreover, there is always danger that some of the excellent and lively youngsters now in fire service may be tempted to quit by the attraction of better pay or by war draft or enlistment.

Mayor Cook is seeking to make the service of the fire and police departments more attractive, appealing to patriotism and civic pride as well as the possibility of slight increases in pay. Often merit marks and service decorations count more in departmental work, as in the army, than cash bonuses. In the service across the seas, it goes without saying, that men strive hardest for the decorations of war. The Victoria cross of England and the Legion of Honor of France have no intrinsic value whatever; they are rated higher than any possible cash bonus or salary increases that might be given for war work.

In the near future, it is hoped a general and comprehensive plan may be worked out by Mayor Cook, in connection with the chiefs of the fire and police departments, whereby extra credits may be given in promotion examinations by the commission. These are based on the merit system of commendation marks and reports.

For instance, whenever a policeman does a specially meritorious act, such as stopping a runaway horse, or rounding up a dangerous burglar, whenever a member of the fire department makes a gallant rescue; whenever, in fact, any member of either department does any act of exceptional merit, heroic or otherwise, he will receive special credit.

These credits will be totaled to count strongly in his favor in all promotion examinations in the department, and it is possible some plan may be devised to give annual decorations in the way of service stripes or medals, based on these same merit marks. This annual merit distribution might carry with it a cash bonus as well.

It is expected that a combination of the merit system, giving promotions, honors, service stripes and medals, as well as cash bonuses, will prove a spur to the men now in the department, as well as an attraction to bring men of ambition into the department.

There are some interesting possibilities in Mayor Cook's plans for the addition of the merit and decoration system in the police and fire departments that will attract the general attention of civil service advocates and students of municipal affairs.

62:10 PERSONNEL

(More Pay Offered as Inducement to Applicants)

LAKEWOOD PRESS--July 18, 1918 Pg. 1 and 8

Is any live, energetic, ambitious young man looking for a permanent job that pays $1,260 at the start, with a guaranteed raise to $1,482 at the end of twelve months? Added to these sure certain emoluments are the possibilities for war medals, service stripes, honor marks, and a possible cash bonus, limited to $5 per month extra. Yes, all this is now offered to the young man who will enter the police or fire department of the city of Lakewood. The new scale was something immediately to save the departments from depletion and to permit their upbuilding.

These increases in salary were the result of two sections of a resolution reported Monday night. First, there was a flat rate of increase of five per cent to every man in the police and fire departments, from the chiefs down.

Second, the distinction between second and third-year men was abolished and the probationary period was reduced to one year. In the beginners' class, the salary is now fixed at $1,260 a year, or $105 a month. This is a $5 a month higher than paid to any policeman or fireman in the state of Ohio, entering the service; a five dollar inducement more than the Cleveland department is offering. The full grade patrolmen and firemen will receive $1,482 a year, this salary starting at the beginning of the second year.

This is the third increase of five per cent pay that has been granted the members of the Lakewood departments. The first increase came over a year ago, then came an increase of five per cent at the beginning of this year, and now comes a third five per cent increase. These increases have followed the increases in Cleveland and other departments; the initiatory bonus of $5 for beginners is one special inducement that it is hoped will attract the attention of competent men.

It is noted that East Cleveland also made an increase in its police department this week, almost similar to that given by Lakewood. In East Cleveland, the beginners are given only $1,200, or $100 a month, the second year men receive $110 a month and the third year men get $125 a month. The latter figure is $18 a year higher than Lakewood is paying.

Even these increases are not sufficient in themselves to attract and hold men in the fire department, judging from recent past experience. So it is proposed to add the medals, service stripes, merit marks, and a possible cash bonus, limited to $5 a month. At the present time, there are at least 5 vacancies in the Lakewood fire department to be filled immediately if men could be found, while there are openings for a new company in the fire house recently erected on Detroit Avenue, corner of Kenilworth, requiring ten more men. There are only two vacancies in the Lakewood police department at the present time, but there is a possibility the membership of the department might be increased at the beginning of the year, if competent men could be found.

City officials call attention to the fact that employees on the steam railroads are drawing more money than the highest rate proposed for policemen and firemen; that as soon as the new wage schedule goes into operation on August 1, giving fifty cents an hour to all conductors and motormen on the street railway, these men will be able to make $5 a day, about the same wages of a first grade man in the Lakewood departments.

So, there has been delegated to Mayor Cook and Chiefs Christianson and Speddy the power to consider other inducements, including a bonus for firemen, limited to $5 extra per month, in cash. This will permit Mayor Cook to carry into operation the plans outlined in the Lakewood Press last week of creating an honor or merit system in the departments, with the possibility of a cash bonus for the firemen in sight.

Undoubtedly, members of the Municipal Civil Service Commission will be called into the conference to assist in formulating the plans and a system of merit marks for members of both departments will be worked out. These marks will count in promotion examinations in the departments. In view of the large number of prospective appointments to fill the vacancies in the higher ranks of the departments, these honors ought to prove a powerful incentive to the men to work for the extra marks.

The merit marks may carry either annual medals, service stripes, or cash bonuses, according to the plan worked out by Mayor Cook and his associates on the civil service commission. The crux of the system will be to determine what shall constitute a merit mark, how these honors shall be given, by whom the decisions shall be made and what weight they shall have in promotions, bonuses, and medals and stripes on the sleeve.

Mayor Cook is much interested apparently in the plan, hoping to instill a spirit of personal pride in both departments, akin to the spirit that animated the gallant fighting men at the front and the men who work for Uncle Sam in Washington for a dollar a year. The local departments have first-class men at the present time, but there are not a sufficient number and there is danger of losses from the ranks. Of course, if a Lakewood policeman or fireman is drafted or enlists to fight, there will be no criticism, much as the loss might be felt. Uncle Sam needs all of the men he can get to fight at the front, and men who are capable of fighting must go regardless of the consequences at home. But the depletion of the force may come from the attraction of men to factories and other work, where the pay may not be permanently so high or the jobs so severe. The mayor hopes to attract at least a dozen new men in the fire department at once, as these could be sued as soon as the examinations could be held to fill up the ranks in the Warren Road companies and to create a third company in the new fire house. Lakewood has been slow in emerging from the village idea, so far as its fire and police in the two branches of public service. Pep, pep, and more pep will be the demand. Both chiefs will receive their own increase of five per cent by the council action, in common with the other men in the department, bringing the salary of Lakewood chiefs up to from $2,310 to $2,426. The mayor is putting it up to them to add at least five per cent more pep in their departments.

62:11 NEW WORK SCHEDULE

LAKEWOOD PRESS--September 12, 1918 Pg. 3

Owing to the scarcity of men in the police department, Chief Christensen has rearranged the schedule of hours of the men in the Lakewood department.

In the future, every man on the force will work eleven hours a day instead of ten hours, and will have every seventh day off, instead of every tenth day, as in the past. This change has been approved by Mayor Cook and is said to meet the approval of the men on the force.

The new schedule is similar to that recently adopted for the police department of Cleveland.

62:12 CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION

LAKEWOOD PRESS--September 26, 1918 Pg. 8

One member of the Lakewood police department has tendered his resignation, effective October 1. He will take a job with the Templar Motors Company at $160 per month in place of the $123 permonth offered in the Lakewood department. Another man is said to be considering the acceptance of a similar job.

It is expected the municipal civil service commission will fix the date for the new examination for the police department, pending the completion of the fire examination held last week. Chief Christensen has recommended to the mayor that the rules be relaxed, as has been done in Cleveland, opening the lists to all residents of Cuyahoga county, on condition that the appointee move to Lakewood when he accepts a position on the force. The Lakewood department is now paying the same as the Cleveland department, $105 for the first year and $123 per month thereafter.

There are two openings already existing in the department and there is a prospect that some addition may be made to the force at the beginning of the year, so the chances are excellent for good men to secure jobs that next year may be much harder to secure. It is generally understood that as soon as the war ends, civil service rules will be changed and preference will be given to veterans, so that ordinary candidates may not have another opportunity for years to obtain a permanent position on the police department of cities that are offered this year.

Opportunities for promotions, too, come quickly in a growing department like Lakewood.

62:13 CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION

LAKEWOOD PRESS--December 19, 1918 Pg. 8

The Lakewood Civil Service Commission has fixed the date for the long expected examination for patrolmen in the police force. The date is Monday, December 30, applications to close not later than Saturday noon. Following the precedent established in the recent firemen's examinations, the field is opened wide. Any candidate who is a resident of the state of Ohio can apply provided he is not less than 5 feet, 8 inches in height, 148 pounds in weight, not less than 25 years nor more than 38 years of age.

There are two vacancies existing in the police department at the present time. George Ball returned to work this week, having been released from service at Camp Sherman, whither he was taken by the draft in August. Two men resigned in the summer to go to work in the munitions trades and their places willnot be filled until after the examination. There is thought to be no difficulty in obtaining plenty of good men for the new lists, as positions in the police department will be in demand in the future. The job is permanent and the chance of a salary reduction is less than in some other high priced trades jobs.

62:14 ANNUAL REPORT

LAKEWOOD PRESS--January 2, 1919 Page 1

Chief P.S. Christensen submitted yesterday to Mayor Cook his annual report as head of the Lakewood Police Department. It follows:

Within the past year we have lost five men through resignations. There have been two men who were formerly members of the department reinstated. One man was drafted into the army and was in training for three and a half months. He returned to duty December 16th. April 6th Patrolman er! met with an accident in which his right leg was fractured. He was laid up until Oct. 1st, when he reported for work, and has been used as a reserve man since. This has caused us to be four or five men short of our full quota of men for the past six months.

Owing to the war it has been impossible to obtain men to take the place of these men as factory employment has been more remunerative.

During the past year our department, besides its regular police work, has investigated more than 250 cases of slackers, beside special investigations which have been made at the request of the different army camps and naval training stations. These investigations have covered all of district No. 19, and have taken us to Berea, West Park, Olmsted, Rocky River and surrounding country.

In these investigations the addition of our new car has been of material service in covering the territory quickly. But all of the department while on these cases have at times been compelled to make some of these investigations after they had completed their regular tour of duty.

During the past year traffic has been regulated by two motorcycle police, and on Sundays and holidays by patrolmen stationed at the Rocky River bridge, Cove and Lake avenues and Belle and Lake avenues.

With the paving of Detroit avenue and Clifton Boulevard our speeding problem will be tripled, for, instead of having one speedway to watch, we will have three.

During the past year Lake avenue, has, on Sundays and holidays, been too crowded for speeding, but with the traffic divided, this will not be the case.

A number of citizens have complained, and justly, too, of speeding on side streets, but with our present force of men and equipment it has been impossible to entirely eliminate this violation.

Many times citizens have reported that are lights were out for a number of nights, and think patrolmen are not on the job. This is more often the fault of the Illuminating Co., who gives their men orders to take care of inside troubles first.

The opening of Lakewood’s new park, parades and carnivals have all contributed to make the past year a busy one and has often made it necessary for patrolmen and officers to do overtime work. At such times minor complaints have of necessity been neglected.

In addition to our other work we have had the registration of German alien enemies, male and female, which has been a considerable clerical task.

Last April and May, when our Friday night burglar was working, day and night men were detailed on special duty to try and locate him, but the breaks were against us and we failed to land him.

I wish again to call attention to the condition of our signal system. The entire system has been out of order for at least half of the time. This is a great handicap, especially after midnight, as patrolmen have to travel long distances to make their hourly report.

During the last year building has been at a standstill and this has worked to our advantage, for with the other work we have had to handle, it would have been utterly impossible to take care of it. With the coming of spring building activities should come up to their former records.

During the past year seven new bicycles, two new motorcycles, to replace the old ones, a new automobile and new filing cabinet have been added to our equipment.

The discipline enforced has been of a character that fully accomplished the results desired.

Our efforts have been to give police work the same dignity as any well conducted business, and the result has been harmony in the department and efficient service rendered.

During the past year the system of days off has been changed from one day in ten to one day in seven. This conforms to the system in force in Cleveland.

With your approval the Golden Rule, or so-called common sense policy, has been adopted for speeders and other minor offenders. That it has proved successful is shown by the fact that of 165 speeders released on waiver only two were brought in as second offenders.

It is hardly necessary to call attention to the fact that our police station is inadequate, as you well know. There are no lockers for the men, nor room to install same; neither is there room for the installation of an up-to-date signal system.

Lakewood has a population of approximately 40,000 people, scattered over a territory six and one half square miles, With our limited number of men it is utterly impossible to cover the territory and give the people the protection to which they are entitled.

I wish to call your attention to the high wage that has been paid by industrial enterprises, and the fact that with the coming normal times and the inevitable cut in wages, workers will take exception to having wages cut, and the coming year is liable to see a number of strikes in our manufacturing industries.

After carefully considering the present existing conditions and the immediate future, I offer the following recommendations:

That a new police station be built.

That a complete police signal system be installed.

That examinations be held and permanent appointments be made for two sergeants the first of the year.

That two new motorcycles be purchased.

That ten new patrolmen be added to the force.

Figures are submitted showing a total of 127 crimes committed in the past year, the most serious being 2 murders, 6 robberies, 81 burglaries (the majority of which are to be credited to the energetic Mr. Raffles.

There were 325 arrests for violation of the state laws, including 165 speeders released on waiver and 39 speeders held for trial. There were 273 arrests for violation of city ordinances, including 90 cases of drunk and disorderly conduct. There were 27 arrests for other cities and 30 arrests for juvenile court.

The total arrests of the year were 655, of this number 602 arrests were made by uniformed patrolmen and 53 by the detective force.

There were 10 automobiles reported stolen in Lakewood, valued at $6,000. The value of Lakewood autos recovered was $4,200, with $5,00 value in autos recovered for other cities. The total value of property stolen in burglary, larceny and robbery jobs was $5,741; of this sum $2,870 was recovered. The total value of property recovered was $12,070.

Detectives H.J. Amstus and A. Kennelly submit reports through Chief Christensen, showing a total of 53 arrests, with $3,250 property recovered by them.

The total disbursements for the department were $26,846.66, of which $24,870. was for salaries. Fines to the amount of $1,438.45 was turned in.

62:15 HAVE A MATTRESS ON BED AND CREAM IN THE COFFEE

LAKEWOOD PRESS--July 22, 1904

Prisoners Are Well Treated While They Are Guests of the Young Marshal of Lakewood

Out in Lakewood--called beautiful Lakewood by all the Lakewood real estate agents--they decline to take seriously the East Cleveland village police force, which consists of Marshal Stamberger and a bloodhound.

Marshal Stamberger, it is related, had his choice between two policemen and a bloodhound to help him keep the peace in the village, and he chose the bloodhound. The bloodhound hasn't done much of anything yet but wag her tail and eat dog biscuits, but Stamberger declares he is very well satisfied with his choise. Lakewood and East Cleveland are about the same size. Lakewood has no bloodhound, but it has four policemen besides the marshal.

Marshal Chas. W. Coffinberry, of Lakewood, smiled Thursday when asked what he thought of bloodhounds as burglar catchers.

"No, I really don't think I'd care for a bloodhound," he said. "Give me policemen who can scrap. All our policemen are good fighters. The bloodhound might run down burglars all right, but I don't think the dog would be much good after you had found them.

"Then again one might get the dog on a wrong trail and follow it all over the township while the burglar

Was Getting Away

in another direction."

Marshal Coffinberry when he declared himself on the bloodhound question sat in his office at the Lakewood police station. The police station is three rooms in the town hall. The town hall was until a few months ago the "Sunnyside club house." It's an attractive building set back from the street with a lot of shrubbery in front. The jail is a two-cell steel cage. The bunks in one cell have mattresses. If a prisoner is good he gets this cell.

Three policemen are on duty at night and the marshal and another policeman work days. An important part of the Lakewood police workis to chase the thieves who try to steal fruit from trees on the broad lawns and from the orchards on the outskirts of the suburb. Lately druggists and others suspected of violating the Beal law have come in for some attention. Coffinberry says he has stopped the sale of "Dr. Kennedy's bitters," which Mike Kennedy, proprietor of a drug store and a bowling alley, made and sold, saying that it looked, tasted and smelled like whiskey, but wasn't intoxicating. He is now preparing to stop the sale of the 2 per cent "temperance" drink known as "Bishop's beer" or "Swankey."

Marshall Coffinberry was 24 years old when he was elected marshal a year ago. He doesn't look half as much like what a detective is popularly supposed to look as does Marshal Stamberger, who's got the bloodhound. Marshal Coffinberry, with his

Well Trimmed Van Dyke Beard,

might pass easily as an architect or a young doctor.

If one of Marshall Coffinberry's trim young suburban policemen arrests you in Lakewood, he takes you to the neat little jail in the pretty club house town hall with all the shrubbery infront and locks you up in the cell with the mattress on the bunk. You get cream in your coffee with the excellent meal Marshal Coffinberry buys for you himself if you happen to have no money. Then you are given something to read, and the next morning Mayor Rowe comes down to the pretty little town hall and tries your case.

"I want to treat prisoners just as well as it is possible to treat them," says young Marshall Coffinberry. "A man is not necessarily guilty just because he is arrested, and one can never tell when he himself may be locked up, though innocent. That's why we do all in our power to make prisoners comfortable."

Early Thursday a Lakewood policeman found a stranger on the street near a store that had been burglarized. He locked up the young man on the charge of suspicion. Detectives Gibbons and Madison, from central station, went to Lakewood to quizz the prisoner. The prisoner grumbled because they wouldn't let him go. Madison looked his astonishment.

"Great Scott!" he said. "What possible objection can you have to being locked up here in Lakewood?"

[See the Fourth Annual Lakewood History Walk, page 10, for photos of the house and marshal.]