Orville Got a Raise, and KC Reduced the Vice Squad.

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Old newspapers are fun to do genie research in.

Here is an excerpt from a 1940's paper:

From the Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, January 5, 1940

"VICE SQUAD TOO IDLE

LID ON SO TIGHT HERE POLICE DETAIL IS DROPPED.

The Men Get Other Assignments Because There Has Not Been Enough for Them to Do - - Other Changes

Kansas City, once among the nation's wide-open cities, is closed so tightly now there is not enough work to keep a vice squad busy.

Chief Reed has dissolved his 8-man vice, gambling and liquor squad and assigned its members to other duties.  It was the first time in as long as headquarters veterans could remember that there has been no organized vice squad.

FIGHT TO GO ON.

The chief emphasized that his move meant no slackening in the fight against vice and gambling.

"The men in the various stations will still be alert to move against violators", he asserted, "but there is not enough for a permanent vice squad to do.  The emergency in regard to commercialized vice has passed."

…

CAN BE REORGANIZED

"If we need a separate squad, we can always organize one again," Chief Reed said.

…

These other police changes were announced by the chief today:

…

Patrolman Orville Lashbrook, promoted to rank of detective, with rise from $150 to $175.

...”

I research Lashbrooks, Orville is in my data base.   Over the years of researching Orville and the Lashbrook clan I found a few other choice little tidbits:

From the September 10, 1945 issue of the Independent Record, Helena, Lewis & Clark County, Montana:

     "Curious Policeman

     Finds Fortune

     In Stolen Bonds

     Kansas City, Sept 10 --(AP)--Orville Lashbrook, a Kansas City policeman, grew curious yesterday when he stumbled across a paste-board letter file lying in a vacant lot.

    So he opened it.  And inside were $39,750 worth of E war bonds, which had been stolen a week ago from the E.E. Carpenter home in Kansas City.

     But the 400-pound safe in which the bonds were kept still is missing."

From the November 9, 1945 issue of the Norwalk Hour, Norwalk, Connecticut:

     "Kansas City - - Patrolman Orville Lashbrook brought in a tough customer after a still fight.  The boys around the police station say the tough customer brought in Patrolman Lashbrook.  At any rate, the culprit is jailed and Lashbrook can vouch for the fact that the prisoner resisted the strong arm of the law.

     The culprit was an apple stealing opossum with sharp teeth. Lashbrook captured him and then didn't dare let go.  He was forced to dan??e (dangle?) the animal from the patrol car window while his partner drove eight blocks to the station."

Yes, newspaper research can be fun and more than engagement announcements, births of babies, marriage announcements and obituaries.  Sometimes you get opossums, safes and vice squads.

*  Clip art of the dice from openclipart, by badaman.  Safe from openclipart as well, by algotruneman

* Opposum from allthingsclipart.

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