1970-1979 - the Borough of Wyomissing

1970
1970 brought the preparation and opening of the Berkshire Mall for the eight-member police
department. The population of the borough was 7,000 residents. A record number of three
hundred six (306) traffic accidents occurred. The police department’s Communication Center
dispatched over 30,000 messages for fire, police, and ambulance. The police department was
preparing for the new Pennsylvania citation to be implemented. The Communication Center
has a direct dedicated telephone line to the Berkshire Mall. Officer Robert B. Angstadt retired,
and three new officers were added to increase the complement of the police department to 10.
The new officers were Robert C. Baum, Larry D. Hummel, and James S. Melcher, Sr. The
Communication Center monitored 42 alarms during 1970.
(Pictured L-R) Officers James S. Melcher, Sr., Robert C. Baum, and Lawrence D. Hummel.
Chief Jacob L. Weber speaks with Berkshire Mall Security Captain Wally Woytovich.
Department Shoulder Patch 1970 to 1978.
1971
A “new data reporting process, known as incidents reports” was introduced to “more precisely
and clearly document the direction of energies and expenditures of time by the men on the
force.” The Communication Center added 600 pairs of cables to allow for monitoring of
residential and commercial fire and burglar alarms. It was noted that the first Halloween parade
was held, which kept the normal calls for service down because of the residents and juveniles
being busy with the parade. The increase of miles travelled was directly related to the use of a
third patrol unit. Officer James S. Melcher, Sr., resigned.
Chief Jacob L. Weber in the Communication Center in Town Hall.
1972
The police department consisted of a Chief of Police, Sergeant, seven Patrolmen, and one
recruit Patrolman, Donald G. Hoshauer, who was the first officer to attend the basic police
academy. Officer John Lee resigned. The police department’s Communication Center handled
approximately 4,000 extra calls because of Hurricane Agnes in June. A new patrolman was
added, George R. Bell, Jr.
(Pictured L-R) Officers Donald G. Hoshauer and George R. Bell, Jr.
(Picture L-R) 1st row: Officer Kent M. Quinter, 2nd Row: Officer Thomas M. Moll, Officer Richard
A. Zepiora, Officer Grant A. Goeltz, 3rd Row: Sergeant David Y. Bausher, Officer Donald G.
Hoshauer, Officer John Lee, Officer Robert C. Baum, Officer Lawrence D. Hummel, Chief Jacob L.
Weber.
(Pictured L-R) Sergeant David Y. Bausher, Officer Richard A. Zepiora, Officer Thomas M. Moll,
Officer Donald G. Hoshauer, Officer Grant A. Goeltz, Officer Kent M. Quinter, Officer Robert C.
Baum, Officer Lawrence D. Hummel, Officer John Lee, Chief Jacob L. Weber.
1973
The traffic patterns were adjusted for the construction of the Warren Street Bypass. A new
station wagon was purchased as a police patrol unit. Training was attended for the new
Pennsylvania Crimes Code. The Town Hall was moved to 22 Reading Boulevard originally built
for borough founder, Ferdinand K. Thun. Chief Jacob L. Weber noted to Borough Council, “that
we have one of the best, if not the best, police department in this area and probably a lot
further that we know…and this would be his last annual report because of his upcoming
retirement in 1974.”
The Borough Hall and Police Department at the present location, 22 Reading Boulevard. The
police department originally occupied the basement and first floor until the police department
rear annex was added in 1990.
(Pictured L-R) Sergeant Kent M. Quinter and Officer Donald G. Hoshauer assist at a fire in the
1500 block of Delaware Avenue in January. Two unidentified firefighters assist borough fire
chief and police Sergeant David Y. Bausher.
1974
“60 Years of Service”
During 1974, Chief Jacob L. Weber retired, and Sergeant David Y. Bausher was promoted to
Chief of Police. There was reduction of traffic congestion near the Berkshire Mall due to the
traffic ramp being opened to the Warren Street Bypass. Officer Kent M. Quinter was promoted
to Sergeant. Dean P. Kurtz was hired as a new patrolman. Chief Bausher suggested the need for
an officer assigned to investigate and follow up on complaints as well as a part time “typist” to
assist the police department. The police department offices in the new Borough Hall at 22
Reading Boulevard provided space needed for records. The Communication Center monitored
57 burglar alarms from borough businesses and 15 from borough residences. The police radio
repeater will be established shortly on the reservoir in the Greenwood Mall area.
Upon Chief Jacob L. Weber’s retirement he passes the Chief’s badge to the incoming police
Chief David Y. Bausher.
Officer Donald G. Hoshauer assists Wyomissing Fire Company No. 1 firefighters, Thomas Shirk,
William Jenckes, an unidentified firefighter and a civilian, and at the scene of a vehicle crash
into the Schuylkill River.
Command Staff (Picture L-R) Sergeants David Y. Bausher, Thomas M. Moll, Kent M. Quinter, and
Chief Jacob L. Weber.
Officer Dean P. Kurtz
Calls for Service
3,659
Stolen Property
Recovered
$51,178
Arrests (include
Borough Ordinances)
312
Police Pension
Balance
$283,923
Traffic Violations
N/R
Complement of
Officers
10
Traffic Accidents
308
UCR Clearance
Rate v. National
N/R
Miles Patrolled
114,641
1975
The school traffic detail at Park Road and North Wyomissing Boulevard of a police officer was
discontinued with the hiring of the first borough crossing guard, Helen Woytovich. It was noted
22% of all police activity is related to the Berkshire Mall, not including the accidents in the area.
Operating cost for the police units was $9,880.70. Vacancies in the Communication Center were
filled from the part-time ranks by Kerry R. Powell and Theodore O. Nowak. There were four (4)
fatalities from accidents in 1975.
(Pictured L-R): Sergeant Thomas M. Moll, Officer Grant A. Goeltz, Officer Richard A. Zepiora,
Officer Donald G. Hoshauer, Officer Lawrence D. Hummel, Chief David Y. Bausher, Officer Dean
P. Kurtz, Officer Robert C. Baum, Officer George R. Bell, Jr., and Sergeant Kent M. Quinter.
1976
During the school year of 1976, two additional borough crossing guards were hired for
Wyomissing Elementary School. The “Iron Bridge” was closed, which caused traffic to be
detoured over North Boulevard to the Warren Street Bypass. Traffic congestion was lessened
when Penn Avenue was opened to Clayton Avenue. Court appearances continued to average
thirty-five (35) per month since 1974. Two (2) “pocket pagers” were acquired for the Chief of
Police and one of the Sergeants to be reached by radio by the Communication Center. There
were three (3) traffic fatalities during the year. The police officers, excluding the Chief of Police,
began to bargain under State Act 111 for the first time with completion in 1977.
Plymouth Fury, circa late 1970’s, unmarked patrol unit.
(Picture L-R) Communication Center Staff- 1st Row: Thomas M. Dougherty, Terry E. Royer, 2nd
Row: Theodore O. Nowak, Kerry R. Powell.
(Pictured L-R Top to Bottom) 1st Row: Sergeant Kent M. Quinter, Officer Richard A. Zepiora,
Officer Thomas M. Moll, 2nd Row: Officer Robert C. Baum, Officer Lawrence D. Hummel, Officer
Grant A. Goetz, 3rd Row: Officer Dean P. Kurtz, Officer George R. Bell, Jr. and Officer Donald G.
Hoshauer as pictured in the Stop a Thief booklet (3).
1977
A new concept of traffic observation enforcement, “TOE,” was instituted to observe a certain
location during the officer’s shift to watch for traffic violations. The decrease in calls for service
from 1976 was due in large part to eliminating bank escorts for borough businesses. Traffic
congestion was reduced when Penn Avenue was opened to West Lawn, but Chief David Y.
Bausher reported no “real relief” would be noticed until the Warren Street Bypass was opened
to Lancaster Avenue (which would not be realized until the late 1990’s). A fourth police unit
was added to the fleet. Officer George Keating was hired and later resigned.
(Pictured L-R) One of two new school flashing signals is shown to Mrs. Robert N. Loudin, Chair
of the Parent Teacher Organization by Chief David Y. Bausher, and Wyomissing Elementary
School Principal James Derr. The signals, which were a partnership between the borough,
school district, and seven (7) civic organizations, were located on Wyomissing Boulevard and
Dauphin Avenue and Wyomissing Boulevard and Reading Boulevard. (4)
(Pictured L-R) Chief David Y. Bausher, Officer George R. Bell, Jr., Officer Donald G. Hoshauer,
Officer Robert C. Baum, Officer Lawrence D. Hummel, Officer Dean Kurtz, Officer Richard A.
Zepiora, Sergeant Thomas M. Moll, and Sergeant Kent M. Quinter.
The 1977 railroad derailment near Penn Avenue and Clayton Avenues.
1978
In the last ten-year period since 1968, criminal complaints rose from 77 to 891, and criminal
arrests from 41 to 347. The first police department contract was negotiated for 1979-1981.
Officer Jeffrey R. Biehl was hired increasing the complement to 11. During the year, Thomas
Dougherty resigned from the Communication Center to become a police officer in Muhlenberg
Township. The following is the breakdown of officer time analysis for 1978, including the
Sergeants who spent 60/40 between administrative/patrol supervision:
Officer Jeffrey R. Biehl
Department Shoulder Patch 1978 to 1992.
Chief David Y. Bausher, circa late 1970’s, unmarked Ford Torino station wagon.
1979
On February 20th, a natural gas leak explosion completely destroyed the Wyomissing Post Office
building while members of the police and fire departments were receiving first aid and CPR
training at the Wyomissing Fire Company No.1. There was a 90% increase of stolen property
from $238,028 to $451,132, which resulted in a 233% increase of recovered property as a result
of an arrest from the armed robbery at Sears Roebuck store at the Berkshire Mall, which alone
was $121,000. A speed timing device was purchased to record speeding violations. Officer Dean
P. Kurtz resigned from the police department, while a new patrolman was hired, Robert F.
Johnson. A midyear decision was made to only prosecute retail offenses over $10. The
Wyomissing Borough Police Labor Organization (WBPLO) was recognized as the official
bargaining unit of the police officers, except for the Chief of Police.
Officer Robert F. Johnson
The evening of the Wyomissing Post Office explosion at 1061 Penn Avenue and the following
day.