POMPTON LAKES POLICE DEPARTMENT

The first Chief of Police was Chief Bert Miller. This writer believes that Mr. Miller was a Marshall during the 1890's and that some time after the Borough was incorporated he became its first Chief of Police. During this era if someone had a complaint, they made it to Chief Miller and he hitched up his horse and wagon and rode out and investigated the complaint.

The exact dates of his tenure are unknown by this writer but during his term in office the department grew to 12 men. It is also unclear if these men were all full time/paid officers.

Some of the men who were members of the police department during the early 1900's were Frank L. Ball, William Matthews, William Wood, Henry Ludwig, John Weatherwalks, Louis Carlson, Arthur Gilbert, Oscar Beam, James Fraser, Robert Cox, Robert Marsh and Chief Bert Miller.

The next Chief of Police was Chief Arthur Gilbert from about 1929 to 1942. During this period, the population of Pompton Lakes was some 3,000 people. Two railroads served Pompton Lakes and there was also excellent bus service to Paterson, Newark and New York.

During the 1920's, Officer Frank "Pat" Ball operated the Borough's first motorcycle with side car. Also during this period, 1929 to be exact, Chief Gilbert was given a new 1929 Chevrolet Police car. This was the first motor vehicle purchased by the borough for its police department

Around 1942 Chief William F. Charles took over the duties as Chief of Police. The department consisted of a Chief, Captain and three patrolmen, four officers on call, and, in an emergency, members of the O.C.D. police Corp. Emerging from the constabulary of a much earlier era, the Pompton Lakes Police Department had developed into a modern, efficient organization. Borough Ordinances governed its organization, established rates of compensation and rules of conduct. The officers were members of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, Local #41, organized in 1917. Some of its officers during the 1940's were Pierson Miller, Pat Ball, Mack Lamberti and Special Officer George Jones.

In the 1950's, the department consisted of a Chief, Captain, four patrolmen and four special officers. The police department along with other Municipal Government was housed in the original school house built in 1896. The school remained at this location, 25 Lenox Ave., until 1918 when the new school was built next door and the building with some renovation was sold for one dollar to the borough for municipal offices, including the police department.

Members of the police department during the early 1950's were Chief Charles, Capt. Mack Lamberti, Officer Frank, "Pat" Ball, Officer Pierson Miller and Officers House, Van Ness and Holsher. The department grew and officers were added. Some of these new officers were Sandy Galacio, Robert Fastiggi, William Cox, Lyn Weckback, Paul Klump, John Lamberti, Robert Gordon, Henry Ackowicz and Robert Sisco.

By 1955 the Police Department consisted of 10 members, one Chief, a Captain, a Sergeant and 7 officers. Special officers and 23 Civil Defense Reserves were also utilized. It was during this period that men were hired to man a full time 24 hour communications center. Prior to this time, calls were dispatched from the State Police Barracks located on the Hamburg Tpke., near Mill Street.

Having grown from the Marshall system, it was now cited as an efficient aide by State, County and Federal agencies. The department boasted of having two patrol cars on the road, and a central radio station and teletype service that serviced Pompton Lakes,