excerpts presentation of the journal for the NYS Sheriffs Association 1940 convention August 4 - 6 at Niagra Falls: Part II |
As observed in Webmaster Notes #1 and 2, the convention remarks and resolutions, with their pre-WWII focus on safequarding the nation against totalitarian terrorism, resonate with almost eerie relevancy in our own post-9/11 era. This presentation would not have been possible without the good offices of NYS Commission of Correction Chairman/Commissioner Alan J. Croce, NYCHS president, and, of course, NYSSA.
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New York State Sheriffs' Association Hotel Niagara - Niagara Falls, N. Y. Business Session Monday, August 5, 1940 PRESIDENT
CASEY: . . .Are there
any further resolutions?
SHERIFF MANGANO: WHEREAS,
the Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of these United States of America,
did heretofore and on the 6th day of September, 1939, issue a formal statement
as follows:
'The Attorney
General has been requested by me to instruct the Federal Bureau of Investigation
of the Department of Justice to take charge of investigative work in matters
relating to espionage, sabotage, and violations of the neutrality regulations.
'This
task must be conducted in a comprehensive and effective manner on a national
basis, and all information must be carefully sifted out and correlated
in order to avoid confusion and irresponsibility.
'To this
end I request all police officers, sheriffs,
and all other law enforcement officers in the United States promptly to
turn over to the nearest representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
any information obtained by them relating to espionage, counterespionage,
sabotage, subversive activities and violations of the neutrality laws,'
and
WHEREAS,
the respective Sheriffs of the State of New York are required as constitutional
officers to take the following oath of office:
'I do
solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the
United States and the constitution of the State of New York, and that I
will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Sheriff according
to the best of my ability,' and
WHEREAS,
the statutes of the State of New York provide, among other things, as follows:
'Any person
who by word of mouth or writing advocates, advises or teaches the duty,
necessity or propriety of overthrowing or overturning organized government
by force or violence or prints, publishes, edits, circulates, sells, distributes
or publishes, displays any book, paper, document or written or printed
matter in any form containing or advocating, advising or teaching the doctrine
that organized government should be overthrown by force, violence or unlawful
means; or organizes or helps to organize by becoming a member or voluntarily
assembles with any friends, group of persons formed to teach or advocate
such doctrine shall be guilty of a felony,' and
WHEREAS,
the Hon. John Edgar Hoover, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
U. S. Department of Justice, has requested cooperation in connection with
any information received relating to cases in the aforementioned classifications
as contained in the President's proclamation, and
WHEREAS,
the Sheriffs of the State of New York, as constitutional officers, are
most desirous of combating all activities which are contrary or inimical
to our established government:
NOW, THEREFORE,
be it resolved that the New York State Sheriffs' Association in convention
assembled at Niagara Falls, N. Y., on August 6, 1940, do declare as follows:
1. That
in the respective counties of the State of New York, each Sheriff shall
take such 2. That
said Sheriffs shall with determination fully enforce all state statutes
now in effect which apply to such activities.
3. That
said Sheriffs shall cooperate in the most effective manner with the Federal
Bureau of Investigation to assist that Department in its activities relative
to the work assigned to it ,as contained in the President's proclamation
of September 6, 1939.
(with cooperation of:
May 16, 17 & 18, 1940
Administrative &
George A. Casey, President, NYSSA, Westchester, President of the School.
Edwin R. Auer, First Vice-President, NYSSA, Onondaga.
D. Sayre Beam, Second Vice-President, NYSSA, Livingston.
Lewis N. Spring, Secretary, NYSSA, Wyoming.
Milton V. Saulpaugh, Treas., NYSSA, Columbia.
David Dows, Trustee, NYSSA, Nassau.
William C. Stallknecht, Trustee, NYSSA, Monroe.
Albert E. Ellinger, Trustee, NYSSA, Oneida.
Richard J. Lewis, Chairman, Executive Committee, NYSSA, Albany.
Harry D. Montgomery, Executive Committee, NYSSA, Chautauqua.
Frank J. Quayle, Jr., Executive Committee, NYSSA, Kings.
Rudolph L. LaChapelle, Executive Committee, NYSSA, Clinton.
Jacob S. Dreyer, Executive Committee, NYSSA, Suffolk County.
Ira R. Cowdrick, Executive Committee, NYSSA, Niagara.
Louis R. Yaguda, Counsel and Executive Director, NYSSA, Director of the School.
Albert H. Hall, Chief, Bureau of Public Service Training, NYS Department of Education, Secretary of the School.
John B. Hogan, Special Agent, FBI, Washington.
John F. Tremain, Secretary, State Commission of Correction, NYS Department of Correction, Albany.
Lieut. Bryan E. Ford, Director of Training, PD, Rochester.
Donald M. Mawhinney, DA of Onondaga County, Syracuse.
Virgil J. Wolfe, Special Agent, FBI, Washington.
Carroll E. Mealey, Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, BMV, NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, Albany.
Prof. Victor Levine, Syracuse University Law School, Syracuse.
Prof. W. Harvey Reeves, Columbia University Law School, New York City.
Prof. Samuel M. Hesson, Albany Law School, Union University, Albany.
Prof. John W. MacDonald, Professor of Law, Cornell University and Executive Secretary, NYS Law Revision Commission, Ithaca.
Dated,
Niagara Falls, N. Y., August 6, 1940. . . . (Carried
unanimously) . . . .
PRESIDENT
CASEY:
SHERIFF MALSAN:
We are
ready, Mr. President.
Your Committee
on Standard Uniforms, after investigating the advisability of adopting
a standard uniform for all deputy sheriffs throughout the State of New
York, and after examining materials, colors and designs, submits the following
recommendations:
1. The
Sheriffs of the State of New York should uniform all deputies other than
those performing civil work.
2. That
the standard color of such uniforms shall be Police Blue with gray trim
and with like trim on the trousers or breeches.
3. That
a standard State shield should be imposed upon the coat on the left arm
which shield shall bear lettering designating the respective county where
it is used.
4. That
a metropolitan blue cap of the same material as the uniform be adopted
which shall bear a standard cap shield bearing the words, "Deputy Sheriff."
5. That
the shirt for such uniform be a regulation blue.
Dated:
Niagara Falls, N. Y., August 6, 1940. . . .(Carried
unanimously) . . .
PRESIDENT CASEY: SHERIFF
DANIELS: SHERIFF
SKINNER:
PRESIDENT
CASEY:
The survey,
so far as I know, is not yet complete, but perhaps Mr. Yaguda can give
you a good idea.
MR. YAGUDA:
In response
to a letter requesting information along this line, I received some answers
from 42 of the 62 counties. . . . From that
we find that there are about 473 uniformed deputies; not uniformed 1086;
with military training 387, automobiles 267. That, I think, answers your
question, Sheriff. That survey is not complete. There are still 20 counties
to be heard from.
SHERIFF
DREYER: I am one of the Sheriffs who has a small uniformed
force. These uniforms are of a similar type as has been suggested for all
deputies; a blue uniform. These uniforms are still usable at the present
time, and I think we can get along with them for awhile. I am wondering,
however, whether the Sheriffs have given any consideration to helping the
men so that they do not have to buy their own uniforms. These uniforms
are expensive, and most of the men are getting a salary that is not very
great.
In 1941, a public referendum was held on amending the NYC Charter to, among other things,: Those charter changes were approved by the voters. As we
all realize there are efforts now being made to remove some of our Sheriffs
from office, and if this effort is successful it will serve only as a beginning.
We cannot afford to let ourselves take matters as they come, we must meet
these efforts with counter efforts of our own. We have got to do some of
this work ourselves.
PRESIDENT
CASEY:
SHERIFF
GRANT:
Mr. President,
I would like to say just a word. I have a feeling that the various sheriffs
are not in the close cooperation they should be, and I think that the principal
reason is because of the lack of communication facilities. There is a definite
need for a system which would enable one sheriff to communicate
with another sheriff without the necessity of wasting time placing an ordinary
long distance telephone call. It would be extremely helpful to all of us
if there were some way to standardize a means of communication by telephone,
or some form of communication by any other means, between the sheriffs
of the various counties much more could be accomplished by us and with
less difficulty. The State Police use, as you know, the teletype system
which transmits a message to all of their stations simultaneously, and
for that reason the Troopers are in quicker touch with matters than we
are. I think we should think about this matter.
PRESIDENT
CASEY:
SHERIFF
GRANT:
I make
such a motion.
. ... (Carried
unanimously). . .
SHERIFF
BIGALOW:
What did
we ever do about the telephone number? If every sheriff could have the
same telephone number throughout the State it would help to make the sheriff's
office more active in police work.
PRESIDENT
CASEY:
So far
as I know we took up the matter with the telephone company in an effort
to have the sheriff's number printed on the front of the book the same
as the State Police, but after the company made a survey they reported
that this could not be done. There was nothing further done about the matter,
I think.
SHERIFF
BIGALOW:
Would
you request your executive officers to look further into that?
PRESIDENT
CASEY:
The Executive
officers will take it up at the next meeting, and they will try to find
some answer to the question of putting the telephone number on the front
of the telephone book, like the fire department, police department, and
so forth. If every sheriff will do his part in this matter I don't think
there will be a great deal of trouble. There was also a question regarding
a Shefiff's emblem. The officers took that matter up and decided that such
an emblem would not be official. Every sheriff, as you probably know,
has a right to put a P. D. emblem on his car, and we decided that a Sheriff's
emblem would serve no purpose. If there is no further business, I would
entertain a motion to adjourn.
SHERIFF
AUER:
Mr. President,
I make a motion to adjourn. SHERIFF DUNN: PRESIDENT CASEY: |
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