NEWARK RIOT: NPD'S LOG OF RADIO TRANSMISSIONS DURING NEWARK RIOT

This will be the third of four articles pertaining to the 1967 riots in Newark, NJ. In an earlier story I displayed the above "Communications Officer" badge. It relates to this article so it is getting an encore. Also pictured is the "South District" Station House. It was the location of the "Radio Repair" shop where my father worked for a few years. The old "shop" is through the driveway and on the right (by parked white car). The main door to this precinct was on West Bigelow St. Note how the first floor has its' windows "sealed tight." That wasn't the case in 1967. These pictures were taken this year, but they still look like those that I have stored in my mind. The remaining picture is of an old fire house at Belmont Ave. and Waverly St. IT is no longer active, however it got heavy use during the riot. N.F.D. had trucks fighting as many fires as possible under the worst conditions. At many of the fire locations Fire fighters were attacked by mobs when they responded to a call. The attacks got worse when they attempted to move equipment in to put out fires. Rocks, stones, bottles were thrown at them. At some locations they couldn't work until police cleared the area. When this riot was declared "over" there were twenty-six people dead. Among those who died were: Detective Frederick Toto - Shot by a sniper at Springfield Ave. and Broom St. He died of his wounds in St. Michael's Hospital. Fire Captain Michael Moran - He was assigned to one of the above pictured Fire Houses. He was at the end of the ladder, checking the roof fire of a burning building, when a sniper's bullet fatally wounded him. There were no arrests in either case. The Newark Star Ledger has posted actual notes from "Radio Calls" during the early days of the riot. This drew my attention because of my fathers prior involvement with N.P.D.'s "Radio Transmitter," and his assignment to "Radio Repair." I enjoyed reading several pages the notes kept in the Chief's office. They ultimately lead to the request for backup. Although brief these notes are quite to the point. In the space of a couple hours the notes state: "Looting," "Officer injured," "Use firearms if necessary," to "Man shot..." Newark was in a state of war. These notes present a vivid picture of what was happening in those initial days of the Riot. The original notes were hand written. The section below is a typed portion of those notes.

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A SAMPLE OF COMMUNICATION NOTES

COPIED FROM LOG IN CHIEF OLIVER KELLY’S OFFICE

JULY 13, 1967 PRIOR TO INVOLVEMENT OF

NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

July 13, 1967

9:34 p Store being looted at West Kinney and Livingston. This information received via radio transmission

9:42p Radio transmission advises store at 180 Spruce (liquor store) being looted

9:46p Radio transmission windows being broken at Thomas and Broad.

9:52p Radio transmission looting at Morris and 15^th Ave (Tavern)

9:55p Radio transmission Molotov cocktail being used at Springfield and Bergen

10:00p Radio transmission store being looted at Springfield and Hunterdon

10:02p Radio transmission furniture store going up at Springfield and Morris

11:50p Radio transmission Officer injured

11:51p Radio transmission Hold up and robbery at J & BAvon

11:55 Mayor appraised

July 14, 1967

12:16a Radio transmission Chief …to protect men in field..that is to use firearms if necessary

12:31a Radio transmission request help at Springfield and 6^th

12:48a Radio transmission women shot at Springfield and Plum

3:45a Radio transmission car 45A has man shot and four prisoners. Man was shot by police officer