After a series of many robberies that occurred in a one month period between April and May, 1925, the leaders of the various communities in the Lykens Valley petitioned the State Police to establish a more permanent presence in the area.
An article appeared in the Lykens Standard, May 29, 1925, describing the petition.
REQUEST STATE POLICE HERE IMMEDIATELY
A meeting of the representative heads of the vaious boroughs and townships in this section was held in Lykens Borough Council Chamber Tuesday evining, with burgesses and supervisors from the Upper End of Dauphin and Schuylkill County in attendance.
The meeting, arranged for by Attorney H. E. Buffington was enthusiastic from start to finish and during the course of discussion, the fact that many robberies thruout this section warrants a sub-station of the State Police to be located in Lykens. A petition was drawn up and is being presented to Major Lynn G. Adams and Capt. Paul B. Stoudt, commanding officers of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Thirty-one larceny acts thruout this territory, almost all of which occurred within one month, is responsible for the action by the heads of the boroughs and townships.
The petition:
To the Honorable Major Lynn G. Adams and Captain Paul B. Stoudt, commanding officers of the Pennsylvania State Police.
The petition of the undersigned citizens of the Upper Dauphin County and the west end of Schuylkill County, respectfully represent;
That their communities are infested with many thieveries, robberies and feloneous entries during the last few months against which the local authorities are seemingly unable to cope.
That to restore peqace and safety to our homes, property and vitizens, it is imperative that State Police be sent here at once to the assistance of the local authorities to ferret out and punich the criminals.
That for a period of not less than five weeks you assign two of your most efficient State Troopers to this section and board, lodging, garage and other necessary expenses we agree to pay free of any charges to your department.
That after a five (5) week test, should you feel that a sub-station ought to be more permanently established, that the same be approved and established by you.
That all the undersigned agree and promise to co-operate, aid and assist your State Police in the performance o their duties in every way, both financially and morally as well as in the fostering good will and public sentiment.
Please act immediately and rescue a crime infested people.
Sincerely yours,
Emergency Expense Fund to State Police Assistance
Edward Jones, Burgess, Millersburg Borough; Harold Romberger, Burgess, Elizabethville; James Kissinger, Burgess, Gratz; William Gangler, Burgess, Loyalton; George W. Troxell, Burgess Lykens Borough; John Beadle, Supervisor, Wiconisco Township; Frank Shadle, Burgess, Williamstown Borough; M. L. Beamenderfer, Burgess, Tower City.
In the next issue of the Lykens Standard, June 5, 1925, a response was given:
STATE POLICE WILL PATROL UPPER END
A patrol of State Police will be assigned to the Upper End of Dauphin County for a period of five weeks without any cost to the people. When H. E. Buffington, Esq., presented the unanimous petition of the Burgesses of the Upper to Major Mayer of the State Constabulary, with the true spirit of the force the Major arose to the occasion, and said, “we will send you our best troopers and your people need not provide a cent for their maintenance. The only thing we ask in return is that your people follow the cases up in the county courts so that the criminals and violators of the law will get their proper punishment after they are caught. Just as soon as the men are free from court as witnesses they will be on the job in the Upper End. The Burgess of Lykens is on the Executive Committee, and all thievery and robberies should be reported to him at once, and he will call on the State Police to assist in the capture of violators of the law.”
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