Baltimore Sun Paper

27 September 1931 

RADIO EQUIPPED POLICE CRUISING CARS ARE CONSIDERED HERE

Quick communication with far-flung forces always has been a most pressing police problem. When the Baltimore Police Department a decade ago pioneered the all-around call system of box lights, it was thought that the final word had been spoken; lights at police boxes flashed, and within a few minutes patrolman on every beat were listening to instructions from headquarters. At that time the Baltimore Police Department or proud hosts to numerous official visitors who studied the system with admiration and return to their cities convinced that the police millennium had been reached. Another of the city’s “Famous First” had appeared and almost every city and village in the country adopted the idea.

SECONDS NEEDED NOW

But the millennium had not been reached. Because the criminal is among our most progressive citizens, police officials have come to realize that the second row is just as important in emergencies as the minute was when they led the way with the citywide call box recall lights. The last word now is radio communication with a squadron of fast patrol cars always on the alert and fully prepared to handle any emergency. It was not given the Baltimore to develop this system upon the foundation she had laid, but police Commissioner Charles D Gaither is making a definitive move to obtain this ultra-modern method of split-second communication, which he believes will discourage criminal activity because of its ability to pick up a trail almost immediately. The Commissioner has petitioned the board of estimates for funds with which to equip a fleet of cars and to install and headquarters a shortwave broadcasting set. Accounts of the work of the radio-equipped squad cars and other cities are nothing short of marvelous. Stories of told of stolen cards recovered before their motors are really warm, of criminals caught in the very act, of holdups frustrated rather than a then.

WORK REMARKABLE

If there is one element that stands out more remarkably than any other in successful crimes in the last few years, it is time. Your modern Fallon has developed a sense of timing that has given him a tremendous advantage, and he has used the latest products of science in making his getaway. He robs or murders coldly, with the full realization that so many minutes remain before police can be notified and can pick up his trail. The most successful crimes have been the boldest yet not necessarily the most reckless. Sneak thievery pays small dividends and safe braking is tedious. Broad daylight a crowded street to furnish plenty of confusion, a fat payroll and a get-away well planned is the favorite set up of the modern malefactor.

THE TIME ELEMENT

But time is the outstanding hope of success. The holdup man now must reckon with a precision which police believed to be well-nigh impossible. He must break through a mobile line all while information about him is being spread even as he is trying to penetrate the cordon. Buffalo recently instituted the radio equipment patrol cars, the writer interviewed police Commissioner Austin Roches, who declared that amazing reports come to him every day of the works of his radio squad.

AMONG THE FIRST

Among the first cases to be handled on the inaugural day of the Buffalo system was that of a wife beater. It is recounted that the woman, badly mauled and mangled to reach a telephone remove the Hulk and call for police the telephone operator pass the information along to headquarters, immediately it was placed on the air. The nearest radio car turned quickly into the alley behind the house just in time to see the man descending a fire escape. Alarmed because his wife had called into the telephone, he had abandoned the assault to make good his escape. The radio squad was waiting for him when his foot touched the bottom step.

PROMPT ACTION

“I could cite numerous cases of this kind.” Said Commissioner Roches. “They seem a little hard to believe, it is not difficult to understand how things of this sort happen. It must be remembered that the only delays in our action are dependent upon the information we receive from the scene of the crime. At this extension, the radio broadcast operator is “cut in” on all information. In an instant every patrol car in the city has the information” another incident of buffaloes and all Grove date was one of a housebreaking a neighbor made a report to headquarters and through the loudspeaker and the cars came these instructions, “squad car number three go to blank Street; man was seen entering store.” The car was less than a block from the address at the time. The driver slid to the curb while the others jumped from the car quickly covering all exits, they closed in and had corner deceived almost before he had time to begin his work. Every day, according to Commissioner Roches automobiles are reported stolen, their license number passed on to the radio squad cars and the culprit arrested before they have gone a dozen blocks. From Detroit and Chicago come reports of holdup men attacked before they even have time to start their getaway – taken with their loot and in the presence of those who witnessed the crime. “Take some of our own outstanding crimes, for instance.” Said Commissioner Gaither. “What chance with the Norse murders have had to scatter as they did? Suppose we had had the city covered with radio cars at that time. At the first tipoff of the nearest car would have been on its way at full speed to the scene, while all others would have increased their patrol rate and would have been on the alert for the bandit's automobile. We would have been able to pour additional information into the cars as a came to us, while they were on the lookout for the bandits. As it happened, we round up that gang in time, but at what cost? “The same thing would have applied to the killing murders. The sunny born holdup and many other cases of murder and banditry that has stirred Baltimore. How quickly could we have frustrated the North Avenue bank holdups? One can well imagine how expeditiously the police could act on an automatic alarm if we were able to reach instantly a carload of armed men who are sure to be patrolling a short distance from the scene.”

MONEY-SAVING CITED

“Arab men have done some remarkable work in apprehending criminals after staring crimes.” Mr. Gaither continued “in the cases mentioned only the highest praise is their lot. But think of the time and manpower the money that was spent in clearing up those cases! “I truly believe that the city would save a great deal of money with radio cars. More important than that, I think the criminals would be restrained by the knowledge that such a powerful weapon is being used against them."

WOULD AID SYSTEM

“Our old Pioneer all around system was good as it ever. It is by no means out of date, for there are many things it can do now that are entirely out of the line of the radio quipped automobile. It is necessary for us to keep in constant touch with our patrolman: to give them information and instruction. It would work in splendid playing with the newer idea. But we need some means of swift communication with the force that can act on the second – that can meet an emergency when it arises and yet take care of routine duties as well." - "One of our troubles now an emergency case is that we cannot coordinate our efforts as we would like to. In case of a holdup or murder, armed men get the information over and all around and, not being sure how well the matter is being covered. They hurried to the scene from all directions. Being pulled from their beats when they might do more good to stay on them. In such cases, everyone available is rushed to the scene. Often, when I get the information, I go myself not being sure that someone with the power of direction is present to handle the matter."

MATTER OF MINUTES

“With radio cars we could be assured that the scene is covered in a matter of minutes; that our other cars are on the lookout, and we would use all around to put all police eyes on the watch in their own belly wicks and thus any malefactor” Observation of the radio car system and other cities has shown not that it uses lies only in emergencies but that the cars can cover a multitude of routine duties door in the course of their patrol. Of course, their most conspicuous service has been in holdups, murders, robberies, riots and in recovering stolen cars, but they frequently are used to transmit important information in a hurry. To investigate complaints that would not interfere with their patrol and to serve as an additional link between headquarters and a patrolman on foot.

SERVICE EXTENDED

In other cities where the radio patrol cars are in use the services being extended greatly outside the corporate limits. State, county and neighboring town police are equipping their prow cars with the radio to pick up the broadcast from the larger centers. Buffalo, for instance, sends out its information now to a dozen villages and to the state troopers on patrol of county roads. In this way and the outer cordon is wrong and the evildoer has one more threat to face. The practice generally followed by police using the radio equipment automobiles is to divide the city and to tangent beats. Each car works in its outer circle until it receives instructions to follow up a happening within these bounds. If a crime has been committed. The other cars continue on their beats and faster time. Leaving the machine on the beat to rush to the spot and pick up the trail at the scene of the crime.

ANOTHER VIEW

Buffaloes Commissioner had some interesting remarks in this connection on the criminal and his getaway: “it’s almost impossible for men who committed a crime to proceed circumspectly while making a break” said he “  involuntarily they put on speed, whether a foot or on wheels. Ordinarily, a policeman thinks little of a car traveling above the legal rate"  – summary drivers are a hurry. But in one of our motor squads has information about a felony just committed, it is immediately suspicious of any unusual haste. "In the swirl of traffic or in the crowds on the sidewalks, the man in a hurry makes himself conspicuous immediately and he is some quietly subject to close scrutiny. Our ability to disseminate information as soon as we get it right’s guilt on the speeding car or hasty feet.” An intermediate step between the all-around call system and the radio-equipped squad car was taken some time ago by the Baltimore Police Department when installing telephone typewriter in all of its police stations and at headquarters. With this method of inter-communication between all police concentration points, an operator at any point can post all districts immediately on happenings of unusual interests. The operator assisted the typewriter and writes out the information he has on hand. At the same instant the characters form on the sheet in front of him, they appear on typewriters in all the police stations. In this way, follow-up data and corrections can be forwarded to all points at once, while replies or quarries are possible, since an operator at any receiving point may sit at his typewriter and convert his machine into ascending instrument

WIDELY USED

Telephone typewriter idea is being applied throughout the country and many officials believe that eventually the police of the entire country will be linked by this method. New York State had just completed a network by which all police departments in the state and all state police barracks are interlinked by the telephone typewriter. Plans also are being made to connect the system to those of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This compares with the old custom of sending telegrams helter-skelter by hit or miss means, without the ability to provide full descriptions or follow-up information. Baltimore now has an efficient inter-district line of communication and the best possible means of reaching its foot patrol. Commissioner Gaither now is seeking the ultimate in communication a flying squadron instantly informed and ready to act on anything that may occur

58xx is Crime Lab
84xx is Accident Investigation Unit
64xx is Homicide
65xx is Violent Crimes Task Force
76xx-78xx is Tactical (including Marine, EVU, and Canine)
7620-7625 is Foxtrot
7811-7812 is EVU
93xx is Parking Control
95xx is Traffic Enforcement Section (civilians that direct traffic and write tickets)
96xx is Baltimore City Sheriff
97xx is Housing Authority of Baltimore City Police
98xx is Baltimore City Sheriff
99xx is Baltimore City Public Schools Police

 

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The Old Oaken Phone – Desk to be Memory

22 Nov 1948

Frequenters of Baltimore police stations may shed a tear for the venerable oaken desks at which stationhouse telephone men work. The desks, according to late reports, are soon to join the open, horse-drawn paddy wagon and old-time tall helmet in obscurity.

Their place will be taken by shiny all-metal desks, streamlined and efficient. The first, built by the telephone signal division of the Police department, has already been installed at the Southwestern station and is now in operation.

BUILT IN CLOCK

As rapidly as possible its counterpart will be placed in each of the other seven stationhouses.
The new model features fluorescent lighting and a bult-in-clock. It has a simplified twelve-key panel, aglow with lights, by which the telephone man keeps in contact with patrolmen on beats and with other police units.
On the new model, the tape, on which time and signals are recorded when a beat man dials in from his call box, runs horizontally across the desk at eye level. On the old model the tape ran a devious path from the side of the desk down, to the bottom drawer, at which point it disappeared inside.

AGE OF FM RADIO

In this age of FM Police Radio, police laboratories and progressive traffic lights, the days of old oaken telephone desks are numbered.

Perhaps the traditional brass rail before which wrongdoers are haled to be booked will be the next to disappear.

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10 Codes

• 10-1 signal check
• 10-2 signal good
• 10-3 signal poor
• 10-4 acknowledgment/yes/okay
• 10-5 no acknowledgment
• 10-6 standby
• 10-7 out of service
• 10-8 in service
• 10-9 repeat last transmission
• 10-11 meet me at ______
• 10-12 no units available
• 10-14 non-emergency prisoner transport
• 10-15 emergency prisoner transport
• 10-16 backup request
• 10-17 phone station
• 10-18 go to the district/station
• 10-19 call ______
• 10-20 location
• 10-22 disregard
• 10-23 arrived on scene
• 10-25 stopping suspicious vehicle
• 10-26 switch to the citywide channel (talk-group)
• 10-27 drivers license info request
• 10-28 request vehicle registration information
• 10-29 check criminal records
• 10-30 wanted (person or vehicle)
• 10-31 crime in progress
• 10-32 sufficient units on scene
• 10-33 emergency
• 10-34 civil disturbance
• 10-35 major crime alert
• 10-36 description
• 10-37 request tow
• 10-38 request ambulance
• 10-39 police vehicle disabled
• 10-40 request crime lab
• 10-41 request impound truck
• 10-42 request animal shelter
• 10-43A traffic signal out
• 10-43B traffic signal red out
• 10-43C traffic signal not changing
• 10-43D traffic sign down
• 10-44 request permission to ______
• 10-45 permission denied
• 10-46 permission granted
• 10-47 negative
• 10-48 affirmative
• 10-50 helicopter landing
• 10-90 looting
• 10-91 shooting
• 10-92 continued looting
• 10-93 continued shooting

 

Signal codes

• Signal 13 officer needs assistance (urgent)
• Signal 30 property damage accident
• Signal 31 personal injury accident
• Signal 32 accident with fatality
• Signal 34 departmental accident
• Signal 35 departmental accident with injury
• Signal 36 departmental accident with fatality
• Signal 40 Fire Department Needs Assistance

Disposition codes

• Adam No - Unfounded
• Baker No - No Such Address
• Charlie No - Unable to locate complainant
• David No - No Police Services Needed
• Edward No - Gone on Arrival
• Frank No - Abated
• Xray No - Report number needed
• Xray Yes - Domestic related and report number needed
• Zebra No - False Alarm 

911 How It Works
By Public Affairs Office
Thursday, July 16, 2009; 8:14 am
"Baltimore Police 911. What are you reporting?"

1960's Communications

Here are some tips for calling 911. Reading these now may help you when an actual emergency occurs.

• Remain calm
• Be prepared to verify phone number and location
• Be brief · Answer all questions
• Do not hang up
• Be prepared to give descriptions and license numbers

1. Stay calm. Speak clearly. Emergency units (police, fire or ambulance) rely on the information you give to get to you as soon as possible and to be able to help you.
2. Give your address and phone number. Many 911 systems automatically display your address, but most cellular phones do not. Your address is vital information.  We cannot help you if we don't know where you are.
3. Quickly and briefly describe your problem. As soon as we know what you need, we will know who (police, ambulance, fire) to send to help you. Get to the point as soon as possible.
4. Describe yourself. Tell the 911 Call Taker where you are and what you look like, including what you are wearing. We want officers/medics/firefighters who are arriving on scene to know who they need to contact and for police, we need to be able to tell them that you are not the suspect.
5. Listen to the 911. Call Taker, answer their questions and follow their instructions. Remain on the line until the 911 Call Taker says it is okay for you to hang up.
6. Remain calm. And Again remember Your Call Taker, will have a lot of questions, but they will learn quickly in the early stages of your call who you need, and that unit (fire/police/medic) is on the way, as the call taker is briefing them on the situation. Don't become upset thinking help isn't on the way until after all the questions are answered, help is on its way. The reason more questions are being asked is to determine what if any other units are needed. Will medics be needed, will additional police be needed, in the case of a fire, will it be a multiple alarm fire, etc. Often callers will become upset with their call taker; there is no need for doing this, the call takers want nothing more than to assist you, and to have a positive outcome on your call. So he or she will have a lot of questions for you. The more calmly you answer those questions, the more likely we are to have a positive outcome to your 911 Call.

Sergeant LeRoy H. Williams

LeRoy H. Williams, born June 25, 1920, E.O.D. 1946, Retired L.O.D 1976, Passed away on March 17, 1990. He was assigned to the Northeast District, the old Headquarters building, and then Communication when they built the new building. When Major Norton retired he was in charge of Communication Division for a long time. He retired from Communication as a Lieutenant.

His son Paul J. Williams followed in his father's footsteps serving 20+ years with the Baltimore Police Department.