and South America are expected to attend. Mutual police
problems of small and large communities and rural areas
will be examined, according to Charles W. Dullea, presi-
dent of the Association. Mr. Dullea is a member of the
California Adult Authority and former chief of police of
San Francisco.
Among the headline speakers will be James V. Forrestal,
secretary of national defense; Hugh H. Clegg, assistant
director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Mayor
William O'Dwyer of New York City; Major General
Philip B. Fleming, chairman of the President's Highway
Safety Conference, and James F. O'Neil, national com-
mander of the American Legion and chief of police of
Manchester, N. H.
Sessions on Monday, October 11, will be devoted to the
reports of the committees on international relations, model
police buildings, police communications and professional
standards. Mayor O'Dwyer will address the conference at
noon on that day.
"Police Responsibility in National Affairs" will be the
subject of Mr. Forrestal's talk to the conference on Tues-
day morning, October 12. Mr. Clegg of the FBI will speak
at noon.
The annual lACP banquet will be held Wednesday
evening. Thursday's sessions will be highlighted by talks
by Chief O'Neil and Dr. Alan R. Moritz of Harvard Uni-
versity. Dr. Moritz's talk will cover "Investigation of
Homicide."
The tentative conference program features a full day's
discussion of the traffic problem. General Fleming will out-
line the "Job Ahead" of all governments in obtaining
greater uniformity of traffic control methods and in adop-
tion of recommendations of the Action Program of the
President's Highway Safety Conference. Lee C. Richard-
son, chairman of the State Officials' National Highway
Safety Committee, will talk on "Coordinating the Official
Job."
Judge Alfred P. Murrah, U. S. Circuit Court of Ap-
peals, Oklahoma City, Okla., will talk on "Traffic Law
Enforcement — A Fundamental Responsibility of our
Courts and Police." "Organized Support for Enforcement
Programs" will be discussed by Paul H. Blaisdell, Execu-
tive Director, National Committee for Traffic Saftey.
The traffic session will also feature talks outlining traffic
programs for small and large cities, and for states. The
session will conclude with a roundtable discussion of prob-
lems facing traffic administrators today.
President Dullea will preside at the general sessions of
the conference. Homer Garrison, Jr., director of the Texas
Department of Public Safety and first vice president of
the Association, will serve as chairman of the traffic day
session.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police was
founded in 1893 and now has more than 2,000 police exec-
utives in membership throughout the Americas. It is the
national professional association of police executives for
the U. S., Canada and Mexico.
Earl H. Pence & Co., Inc.
Garden Tractor Sales
and Service
2150 Washington Ave.
San Leandro, Calif.
TRinidad 2-4474
Phone S. C. 2553-W J. Bobso
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BODY AND FENDER PAINTING
Your Satisfaction Our Guarantee
800 EL CAMINO REAL SAN CARLOS. CALIF.
Telephone San Carlos 2747 DELIVERY SERVICE
PENNINGTON FLOWER SHOP
FLOWERS TELEGRAPHED ANYWHERE
Blight Building 3 76 El Camino Real SAN CARLOS. CALIF.
UNIVERSAL CONTAINER CO.
, CORRUGATED CONTAINERS AND BOXES
JUniper 5-6061
SO. SAN FRANCISCO
Tel. Juno 1960
5 39 RAILROAD AVE.
Page 12
POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS" JOURNAL
September, 1948
Roundup and Conviction of Kilroy Gang of Oakland P. D.
Lieutenant Clifford Hatch of Oakland P. D., Directs Long Search for Spectacular Criminal Safe
Crackers and Bandits, Who Dealt in Burglaries, Sex Crimes, and Auto Thievery,
Brings End of a Bad Mob
By B. S. (Sandy) Sanders
Veteran Police Reporter, Editor and writer, now associated with Speed Maddoc\ &" Associates, PuhUc Relations
and Advertising Experts in Syndicate Bldg., Oakland.
It reads like the imagination of Edgar Allen Poe and
just as bizarre!
It is as fantastic and exciting as Jules Vernes' 20-leagues
under the sea.
It is a Shakespearean drama in which the good and the
bad stand out like cameos.
Lieutenant Clifford Hatch, with the various persons involved in
the final round-up and conviction of the Kilroy Gang spread out
on the desk before him, discu.sses the case with one of his right-
hand men — Officer Andrew Genovcsino — in the bandit, burglary,
safe cracking chase which the Oakland Police Department solved
after many months of dogged persistence. More than $100,000
in loot was checked against the Kilroy Gang, a large part of which
was recovered.
It unfolds in reality the outpourings of a hundred
gangster films developed by Hollywood script writers.
And yet it is, boiled down, the story of Scotland Yard
and the Northern Mountics and our own F.B.I, whose
motto in unison is: " We always get our man."
In brief this is an introduction to the Kilroy Gang
which after many months was rounded up, sentenced in
court, and every member now either serving .time or
placed on probation.
This outstanding piece of police work was done by the
Oakland Police Department and as Chief Robert P. Tracy
says: "In all my police career I know of no more con-
sistent, persistent, efficient and satisfying efforts than
those that wrote 'finis' to the Kilroy Gang and its op-
erations."
Lieut. Hatch Heads Hunt
Directing the search and final capture of the Kilroy
Gang was Lieutenant Clifford A. Hatch of. the Inspectors'
Bureau and following through during the long months
were Inspectors Norman Deuel, Edwin Bogle, Andrew
Box, Arthur McQuillan, Andrew Genovesino, Joseph
Veretto and other Oakland police officers as well as officers
in a dozen California, Washington, Oregon cities and
counties.
In the 77-page report — typewritten — Lieutenant Hatch
and his associates in the round-up of the most active and
most successful gang of safecrackers, bandits, burglars in
Eastbay history presents a day by day report of the trail
they followed starting back on January 1, 1947, and
MORENO'S
Alex and Joe Moreno, Props.
Wines - Liquors - Beers
Dine and Dance
Phone 837
129 Castro Street
Mountain View, Calif.
FOOD CITY
Castro Street and 101 Highway
Phone Mt. View 3141
Mountain View, California
Entrance to Mountain View on
El Camino Real
September. J 948
POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS' JOURNAL
Page 13
ending with conviction of seven of the Kilroy Gang in
November of the same year.
More than 20 persons were arrested during this period
but in the finale only seven were definitely linked with
crimes from San Diego to Seattle. A number of con-
fessed rapes and lewd and lascivious conduct against the
gang were not pressed.
Walkie-Talkie Used
In cinching the case against the Kilroy Gang, Lieutenant
Hatch revealed that in at least one safe-cracking job a
United States Army Walkie-Talkie used by the signal
corps — and found in the ring-leader's room had been used.
As far as known this is the first time in criminal history
that a walkie-talkie has appeared as an essential part of a
law-breaking gang's equipment.
The complete file as presented by Lieutenant Hatch
reveals that the Kilroy Gang were responsible for 102
burglaries, 7 armed robberies, 11 cases of rape, 3 acts of
lewd and lascivious conduct, and one grand theft in the
San Francisco bay area, and one definite burglar>' in
Bellingham, Washington.
Why Kilroy Gang
For a time the police were mystified as to just whom
they were seeking in the hunt for safe crackers and burg-
lars. But it was a safe-cracking job that gave the gang
Its name. Crudely scrawled on a cracked safe were the
words: "KILROY WAS HERE."
And the amazing part of the story is that the gang
continued to use this synonymous World War II tradition,
started by a wandering American doughboy who wrote the
words from Cairo to the shores of conquered Japan.
In outposts, in dingy dugouts, in swank European hotels,
in battered bulwarks of Nazi and Jap defenses American
and allied officers and men would find the words in ink, in
mud, in paint "KILROY WAS HERE!"
And once, so the legend goes the words were written in
blood!
So Lieutenant Hatch and his able fellow oflBcers had a
slim clue.
They were waiting for that word "KILROY."
It came unexpectedly out of a street-row at 20th and
San Pablo, Oakland, involving a woman of the streets
early on the morning of August 22 nd . . a pretty little
thing who had quarreled with her boy friend.
Someone said: "Kilroy Gang" the name of Donald
Garvey Baker slipped from the lips of Delores Maas.
Alert Patrolmen Douglas Ayres and William Power,
first on the scene, caught the words.
Lieutenant Hatch immediately put two and two together.
And now the story unfolds.
Ex-Paratrooper, Gang Chief
The trail lead to the home and the radio shop of Donal
(correct) Garvey Baker, 26 years old, in Berkeley. Baker,
6 feet 6 inches in his stocking feet, tipping the scales at 265
pounds, splendid jovial sort of chap an ex -paratrooper with
the armed forces who had seen services in many sectors of
World War II's embracing orbit.
Lieut. Hatch and his fellow officers Joe Veretto, Art
McGuillan, Norman Deuel, Andrew (Andy) Genovesino
took Baker into custody along with a .38 calibre nickle-
plated army revolver.
Baker was mute but a few days later from the city jail
Donal Garvey Baker. 26 years old, 6 feet 6 inches in height,
weighing 26^ pounds, leader of the spectacular Kilrov Gang,
aid two of his pals (left) Mark Icanberry, 29, and Leo Plunkett,
25, all serving time with several other members of the safe
crackers, robbers and burglars whose trail extended from San
Diego to Seattle for nearly two years and who were brought to
justice by the Oakland Police Department under the able direction
of Lieutenant Clifford Hatch of the Inspectors" Bureau.
asked to see Lieutenant Hatch. Baker, trained as a member
of the U.S.A. to tell the truth spilled everything even to
the fact that he Baker, had suggested "KILROY" as the
nomenclature of his compatriots in crime.
"I saw the words 'Kilroy Was Here' in the Pacific, and
I thought that was a good name for us guys, banded to-
gether for a common cause," admitted the big fellow.
Baker admitted he was the adcknowledged leader of the
Kilroy Gang which had operated from the Southern boot
of California to the State of Washington.
By the day the proprietor of a modest radio shop in
Berkeley, owned by his mother. Baker at night led his
fellows into most every type of business house that offered
cash or mercantile rewards.
Even the self -service ice boxes up and down CaUfomia
were robbed by the Kilroy Gang!
With confession after confession, Oakland police re-
trieved stolen goods from homes and automobiles, safes
from bay waters, deep-wooded ravines, sewer outlets.
(Continued on page 65 )
Page 14
POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS' JOURNAL
September. J 948
Salinas and Its Police Department
Salinas, the county seat of Monterey County, has been
long termed the â– "salad howl of America." No truer
slogan has ever been invented. For from its production of
tomatoes, lettuce, celery, carrots, beans, artichokes, broccoli
Chiff Georcf Wfic.ht
and other vegetables which are major components of a
salad, this rich, fertile and sunkist area of Northern Cali-
fornia, millions of dollars annually roll into the coffers of
the farmers who till the soil that raises these various crops.
Not only are the lands productive of these vegetables
but the surrounding terrain of Salinas brings in additional
millions of dollars from sugar beets, strawberries, beef,
dairy and poultry' products, fruits and nuts.
In fact 50,000 freight cars are used yearly to transport
these crops to the markets of North America. And there
is over $96,000,000 in cash paid for these crops which
gravitates to Salinas and accounts for the prosperity of the
community, now with a population of 15,000. An addi-
tional 50,000 use the municipality as a trading place and
for such recreations as are offered, and there are plenty,
and they are clean.
Of course the big annual event is the Rodeo which
brings in tens of thousands of visitors each year.
Breaking down the income from the never failing crops
we find from the Chamber of Commerce records that
lettuce leads all others with an income for 1947 of
$38,393,000. Other crops in order according to the Cham-
ber's report, are carrots $11,184,520; sugar beets (the
Spreckels sugar refinery in Salinas processes their root
stocks to sugar) $9,186,210, beans $8,078,636, beef
$4,500,000, poultry $2,637,010, broccoli $1,625,000,
strawberries $1,545,218, artichokes $1,386,000. Fruits,
nuts and miscellaneous crops, totaling nearly $20,000,000,
give a total of nearly $100,600,000, and brings to Salinas
prosperity for the farmers, employment for thousands of
men and women.
Salinas has a substantial permanent population but the
harvesting of crops brings to the city many transients of
many nationalities, but with these and the prosperous
standing of the municipality crime is much less in Salinas
than the national average for cities of the same class.
( Continued on page 46 )
Serg. Jack Wright (extreme right) and his five-man motorcycl c detail that keeps Salinas Streets safe from motor accidents.
September, J 948
POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS' JOURNAL
Page 15
Greenfield^ Monterey Co., New Police Chief
Greenfield, a booming farming community, of some
HOO population, situated 13 miles south of Kings City,
Monterey County, on U. S. Route 101, has been ineor-
porated for over a year.
The surrounding area of this thriving new little muni-
cipality is made up of well kept farms that, on account
of the fine soil, ideal climate and plenty of water, pro-
duces a profusion of vegetables and fruits. It is the largest
carrot producing area in the state. Lettuce, sugar beets,
and beans bring in many thousands of dollars to the
farmers. Grains and Alfalfa play an important part in the
district's economy and dairying and cattle raising are also
prominent on the things produced in that section. De-
ciduous fruits thrive and Greenfield has more apricot or-
chards than any other part of Monterey County.
All these crops pour in many a dollar to the little city,
and the business of the town is very prosperous. Stores
that accommodate not only buyers within the city limits
but a big number from adjacent territory are well stocked
and comparable to those of much larger cities.
When the town was first incorporated the policing was
left to the Township Constable but last March the city
government officials decided they needed a regular Police
Department so they made the necessary provisions for such
a necessary agency to preserve the peace.
They looked around for a man to organize a Police
Department and become the first Chief and they provided
he should have two men to assist him in his important
work.
The city officials looken over a list of prospects and
settled on Thomas Wilder, at that time a m^ember of
Chief Joseph Corby's Kings City Police Department. So
last March they appointed Officer Wilder to head its
Police Department.
The choice was a mighty good one for in Chief Wilder,
Greenfield has an officer who has a wonderful background
of law enforcement.
His grandfather is a retired Memphis, Tennessee, police
officer and his father has been a member of that city's
force for 22 years.
Born in Memphis in 1918, Chief Wilder came to
Monterey in 1941 with the Army which he had joined.
He served in the Monterey area as a member of the M. P.'s
until the middle of 194'!. He won his discharge and joined
the Monterey Police Department under Chief Fred Moore,
remaining there until late 1946 when he took a job with
the department of agriculture.
In 1947 he joined the Kings City Police Department
remaining there until appointed this year to head the
Greenfield Police Department.
Chief Wilder got himself a police headquarters and a
new car which is equipped with two-way radio serviced
by Sheriff McCoy's station. He has been assigned two
men, one of the appointed last spring — Earl Varney.
The second man will be named shortly.
The Chief is married, his wife being the former Belle
Livingston, a native of Chico, Calif. They have a daugh-
ter, Judith Ann, and already the family is very popular
with their adopted city and are active in all social and
civic activities of the tyro city.
CHIEF JOSEPH CORBY
Chief Joseph Corby, of Kings City, the first president
of the Monterey County Peace Officers Association is
on his eighth year as head of the Police Department of his
adopted city.
With three men he has brought the best law enforce-
Chief Joseph Corby
ment of this rich Salinas Valley town of some JOOO popu-
lation, and as many more who come in from surrounding
country.
He has a fine police headquarters and his men are all
furnished two-way radio cars that have a hook-up with
Sheriff Jack McCoy's short wave radio station.
When Chief Corby joined the Police Department on
January 1, 1941, there were but 1,762 people living
within the city limits. The war almost doubled this num-
ber as it has many other communities in this state. You
won't find in any town or city in California a more popu-
lar man with the populace than King City Joe. He knows
every body, men, women, and children and calls them by
their first name as he drives or walks up and down the
streets of the little city, and its mighty good to see the
fine spirit of understanding existing among the people of
Kings City and Chief Corby.
Chief Corby is sergeant at arms for the State Peace
Officers Association of California, and is ver>' highly
thought of by the members of that organization.
Telephone ANdover 1-4368
PETERSON ELECTRIC CO.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES REPAIRED - SALES AND SERVICE
Irons - Toasters - Hot Plates - Washers - Vacuums, Etc.
3530 FOOTHILL BLVD. O.AKLAND I, CALIF.
Page 16
POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS' JOURNAL
September, 1948
Chief Robert 0*Brien, of San Mateo, Opens New
Police Headquarters and a Boys Club Center
The City of San Mateo can well feel proud of its new
Police Headquarters, which the PoHce Department took
over August 1, after extensive alterations of the old City
Hall. The two-story building and basement has been
completely changed, providing quarters for all units of the
Chief Robert O'Brien
Police Department, including a squad room, equipped
with up-to-date lockers, a city prison with roomy cells, a
nicely furnished office for Chief Robert O'Brien, a big
room for the ones who look after the office work, a well
outfitted gymnasium, a police court for City Judge
Francisc W. Murphy; a garage able to handily care for
the Department's ten cars, a well lighted regulation
shooting range of which Sergeant William Anderson, for
four years rangemaster, is in charge. There are ample
storage rooms for all equipment, and private rooms for
interviewing witnesses and suspects.
But the pride of this new headquarters, in the heart of
Chief O'Brien is the portion set aside for the Boy's Club,
consisting of 50x100 feet.
Within the confines of this important unit of the new
headquarters there are pool tables, refreshment stands,
various mechanical games, and a gymnasium with all the
paraphernalia that afford opportunity for healthful exer-
cises and learning to box, wrestle and gymnastics. Punch-
ing bags, parallel bars, wrestling mats, and other apparatus
have been installed.
Chief O'Brien has long been recognized for the splendid
interest he has displayed in juveniles. For years as a
member of the Police Department he has fostered the
forming of the boys of the city in a constructive organiza-
tion, but he had to work with their activities at other
locations.
He has for some time thought that if he could bring
the boys of the town in closer association with the mem-
bers of the Police Department, he would do a great deal
to dispel the fear some boys have for a police officer in
uniform, and at the same time give the boys an insight
of the working of a police department and its aims to help
all law abiding people.
He has at last realized his dream. He has the Boy's
Club, right in his Police Headquarters, and if one thinks
his ideals were fantasy, that one should go down to San
Mateo and observe the operation of the new set up. There
is probably no other Police Department in this country
that maintains a Boy's Club in conjunction with the Police
Department and in the building set aside for the De-
partment.
Though the Club has been open only since August 1
its popularity has exceeded the wildest expectations of
the men who have done so much to make it the big success
it has turned out to be.
From 10 a. m. to 5:li p. m., most every day all boys,
and from 6:45 p. m. to 10 p. m., boys 12 to 18 years of age
troupe into the center. There is a regular member of the
Police Department in charge at all time. During the
month 250 boys have been present during the day time
hours and 50 additional for the night enjoyment, and the
register shows that 3000 boys took advantage of the recre-
ational provisions of their center.
Many of them had never had a boxing glove on their
hands, and but few knew the rudiments of wrestling.
There is an instructor in these sciences, in charge of the
gymnasium — Elbert Green, a light weight boxer of note in
1923, and he has imparted knowledge of self-defense to
a lot of boys, using rare judgment in selecting partners
in the matches. The boys are aiming to have a boxing
tournament. Green with four other prominent men are in
(Continued on page 64)
Pho
391
Fred H. Hover, Prop.
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W'ATSONVILLE CALIFORNIA
September. 1948
POLICE AND PEACE OFFICERS' JOURNAL
Page 17
BAY COUNTIES'
Peace Officers' Association
MEETINGS EVERY MONTH
Chief Walter I. Wisnom, President
Captain Bernard McDonald, Secretary-Treasurer
The August meeting of the Bay Counties Peace Of-
ficers' Association, held on the fifth of the month, at
Coyote Point, San Mateo county, was, as is the case of
previous meetings at this beautiful place, well attended.
Following the custom innovated by the late Chief
Thomas Burke of San Mateo, it was a barbecue feed and
Chief Walter Wisnom
the hosts were Chiefs Robert O'Brien, of San Mateo, R. C.
(Jack) Teuer of Burlingame and Walter Wisnom of
Hillsborough. There was deep sorrow among the many
peace officers and their friends gathered there to partake
of the bountiful supply of food and refreshments and
enjoy the program set up for the occasion. Chief O'Brien's
mother had passed away earlier in the week and her son
was unable to participate in the meeting, but members
of his staff were on hand and they pitched in with boys
of the Burlingame and Hillsborough Departments to make
it the big success it was.
Captain Martin McDonald of the San Mateo Depart-
ment took over the duties of Chief O'Brien, and beside
serving refreshment welcomed the guests and introduced
a number of the city's officials, when President Wisnom
called the meeting to order after several dozen chickens,
and many pounds of beans and other dishes had been con-
sumed by the hundreds of men gathered at the picnic tables.
Chief Theuer followed with appropriate remarks and
presented his official family and President Wisnom did
likewise when Chief Theuer concluded.
All three speakers thanked Henry Lemberg of the
Rainier Brewing Co., William J. Noyesen of the Spreckels
Dairies! and Watson Bros, of Radio Station KVSM, who
furnished loud speakers, for their contributions to the
meet.
Other prominent citizens were also introduced, including
Chief Joseph Corby of Kings City, the new Chief of
Vallejo, Jack E. Stiltz, L. L. Feathers, former Chief of
Police and now Constable of Los Gatos, Foster A. Brown,
public relations of the State Peace Officers' Association
of California and former Chief William J. Quinn of
San Francisco.
Chief R. C. Theuer
President Wisnom said the by-laws and constitution
committee, consisting of Sheriff Dan Murphy, chairman,