uo-way Radio Al oF O icing ne Kapert

WHETHER OR NOT the newly
installed two-way radio in the Prince
Rupert police van will ‘‘take the place
of another man”’ on the force seems to
be a moot question but there is little
doubt that it will add considerably
to security of the city by providing
split-second response to complaints
is the speculation made in an article
in a recent copy of The Daily News.

The frequency modulation radio
set, which operates between the
Prince Rupert city police office and
the cruising van, completed its first
week of operation this month. Both
constables and police officials are
highly satisfied with its performance.

Those who might have cause to
complain about its efficiency, or
rather, the efficiency with which it
allows the police to function, are
those who find themselves in the
clutches of the law almost as soon
as they have given cause for police
interest.

A reporter from The Daily News
accompanied Constable Gordon Sim-
ons, driver of the van, and his part-
ner, Constable Len W. Turner, on
a routine Saturday night trip which
turned out to be a bit lively.

About the radio hook-up and his
tour of duty the reporter commented
fully in his paper.

Constable Simons and Turner
were working the shift from 8 pm.
to 4 a.m. and, while the downtown
section was active, they had assistance
from three other constables, two of
whom were working extra time just
in case something came up. On duty
at the city office, handling telephone
complaints and passing them along
ia the van, was Corporal A. H. Tay-
or.

They agreed that the radio hook-
up was a big help in their work, but

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they were skeptical of the claim that
it took the place of an extra police-
man on grounds that “nothing can
replace a policeman but a policeman.”
As an aid to police efficiency, it was
a great thing, they felt, but it merely
complemented their work, not took
it over.

“The fact that we have three men
patrolling the downtown area is a
big factor in keeping things orderly,”’
one constable said. ‘“‘The sight of
those uniforms—plus, of course, this
car cruising around—does more to
stop trouble before it gets started
than anything else.”’

But the ability of two-way radio
to give speedy response to complaints
from the unpatrolled residential areas
is “‘a blessing which more than justi-

fies its cost,’’ Sergeant L. A. N. Pot-
terton feels.

Under the pre-radio set-up, if a
call was received at the police office
which justified a visit, the desk con-
stable had to wait until he made
contact with the van, either by a
stop at the office or a telephone call
from some outside point before he
could pass it along.

He would, of course, attempt to
attract the attention of the outside
constables by turning on the warn-
ing light system, which turned on
red bulbs on Third Avenue at the
McBride Street and Sixth Street corn-
ers, but often the car was not in
either of those vicinities.

Now, however, he merely picks
up an ordinary telephone instrument

Equipped with a two-way radio hook-up this van is a great aid to B.C. Provincial Police
in Prince Rupert.

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