Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on January 10, 1931.
VALPARAISO IS CITY WITHOUT CRIME ’CLOUD’
At Least the Police Department Didn't Find Anything Very Exciting in 1930 to Report About.
Crime with its hazards to life and property failed to hold its own in Valparaiso in 1930 judging by the annual report submitted to the city council Friday night by Chief of Police Robert L. Felton.
Although misdemeanors of negligible importance prevailed in the usual number, the annual survey noted a decrease in the number of persons arrested for intoxication. In former years where the number has run from twenty-eight to forty, this year's count shows but twenty-two.
However, 10 others were arrested for violation of probation laws, five for possessing liquor, two driving autos while intoxicated, one for keeping a house where liquor is sold, and two for manufacturing.
Automobiles gave the police plenty to do during the year. A total of 142 auto accidents were reported. Four were arrested for reckless driving, four for stealing automobiles, one for not having a driver's license, 2 for running traffic lights, one for leaving the scene of an accident, three for not having a tail light, one without a license, two for running through a stop street. Thirty-two cars were reported stolen, twenty-five of which were in Valparaiso. Twenty-three of the latter were recovered. Seven autos were towed to garages.
Other arrests included: Assault, 8; fugitive warrant, 3; petit larceny, 4; non-support, 1; playing ball in street, 2.
Thirty-four cases of property lost were reported, in which recovery was made in twenty-seven, the value of the property recovered being 31,800.
Police in their rounds found 153 doors of business establishments open; answered sixty-eight fire calls, made 1,427 investigations, answered 578 calls, cared for forty-three dogs, picked up four runaway boys, found twenty children reported lost and received seventy complaints. The city jail housed 1,218 wayfarers and a total of 902 lights were reported out.
Chief Felton reported three police traveling beats at night and two days. Allie's traveled after midnight and residential districts traveled in car averaging about 14 miles. All-important correspondence is duplicated and placed on file for future reference. The officer is in the office at all times and may be reached by telephoning 92. The chief is subject to call at all times.
