Aspinock Memories
1938 marked a new era for the Putnam PD
By Bill Pearsall, 
Putnam Municipal Historian
As I was looking through the 1938 Putnam Patriot Newspaper for an interesting topic for an historic article, an article written on September 3rd caught my eye: “Common Council Empowers Police Committee to Purchase car to Increase Efficiency of Department.”
Up to this point in time, the Putnam Police Department was using only foot patrols for their officers.  It is important to remember that this was during the Great Depression.  Despite the current economic conditions, the Board of Aldermen agreed to allocate a total of $800 to purchase a car to be used exclusively for police activity.  They agreed that motorizing the Police Department would contribute to modernizing the Department.  More people were using personal automobiles and the Aldermen thought that it had become essential for the department to keep up with the times. 
Although foot patrol would still be used, a whole new era was beginning.  And it all began with $800.  The Putnam Police Department has grown considerably over the years and now has a fleet of police cars.  If they only cost $800 each today, we would rejoice.
Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam’s history alive.

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