When Kennedy Praised the Conshohocken Police Department By Jack Coll

When Kennedy Praised The Conshohocken Police Department

It’s Not All Negative

By Jack Coll

It seems to me that Policeman and Police Departments throughout this country are under fire for one reason or another. We rarely get to actually hear from the policeman involved in the scuffle, but we always hear from the party that claims to have been mistreated. The party with claims of brutally from a policeman has rights, we all know about these rights, but what about the policeman’s rights.

I’m not looking for a debate and I’ll admit that I know very little about the law, but on behalf of the policeman they are taught to do a job of upholding the law. When a cop pulls you over to the side of the road, and tells you to stay in the car, well that’s his right, that’s what he was taught. When a cop tells you to show him your hands, he is well within his rights. When a cop tells you to get down on the ground, he has the right to do so.

It’s been my experience that when you listen to a police officer’s commands, you’re not likely to get shot. If you don’t aggressively attack the policeman who’s doing his job, you’re not likely to get shot. And finally, if you don’t pull out a gun and start shooting at the policeman, he’s not likely to shoot at you.

If for some reason you are mistreated by an officer of the law, you have rights, you can get yourself a lawyer and go to town in the courtroom.

I’m just wondering if parents today teach their children to obey the law, or did their children just start carrying a gun on their own.

Anyway, that’s not what this column is about, with all the negativity surrounding law enforcement today I came across a piece that I thought might have some interest with Conshohocken residents.

More than 60 years ago Lucy Torres was traveling through Conshohocken and encountered automobile troubles. You’re wondering who Lucy Torres is, or was, well I was also wondering. It turns out that Lucy Torres was a high ranking staff member who worked in the offices of the Massachusetts State Senator’s office, who in 1953 was the office of State Senator John F. Kennedy.

So as Lucy was traveling through the borough her car craps out on her when an axle gives out. Trying in vain to find a garage that was open on a Saturday morning with no luck Lucy phoned the Conshohocken Police Department, (then located on West Hector Street) and Officer Samuel Cardamone takes the call and listens to her story. Cardamone, not knowing who she was, dispatched Officer Jesse Zadroga to go pick up Lucy Torres and two companion travelers that included a female friend and a Navy official.   Zadroga returned to the police station with his three passengers and Officer William “Pat” Donovan who was on traffic duty got involved in finding them a garage.

The three strangers were stranded at the Conshy Police Station and made very comfortable while waiting on news of the broken axel. When it was learned that the axel could not be repaired until the next day the Conshohocken Police began making arrangements to get the two females back to Springfield Township with friends the trio had been visiting with so they could stay the night. The Conshy Police then made arrangements to put the Navy man up at Zalik’s Hotel on West Elm Street so he could retrieve the car and pick up the two female passengers in the morning.

Officer Cardamone then made arrangements with Whitemarsh and Springfield Police Departments to relay the two females back to Springfield for a good night’s rest.

A couple of days later a letter from the Massachusetts State Senator John F. Kennedy arrived at the offices of the Conshohocken Recorder Newspaper then located at Hector and Forrest Streets. The letter was sent from Washington D. C. Senator Kennedy noted in the letter that he had sent a copy of the letter to Burgess Edmund K. Williams commending the officers. Senator Kennedy noted in the letter to the Recorder that if the letter was to be printed in the local newspaper that Kennedy wanted to be sure to mention the police officers names, Kennedy knew of Officer Sam Cardamone but did not know the other officers names. At the end of the letter sent to the Recorder Kennedy said, “You may indeed be proud of the fine community spirit displayed by these people on Saturday night during these traveler’s time of need.”

The following letter sent to Conshohocken Burgess Edmund K. Williams commending the officers reads in full:

     “On Saturday evening November 28, a member of my Washington staff Miss Lucy Torres, encountered automobile difficulties while driving through Conshohocken and turned to the Police Department in your town for assistance.

     Miss Torres has told me of the courtesy, cordiality and extreme helpfulness of the members of the Police Department in assisting her and the members of her party to resolve their difficulties. The friendly neighborly spirit of the officers on duty as well as the townspeople with whom they came in contact have made a lasting impression.

     May I extend my commendation and appreciation to all who rendered service in this time of need.

                                                                                                    John F. Kennedy

Here’s the thing, I have researched and written about the Conshohocken Police Department many times, and in the 150 year history of our police department that has included eleven Police Chiefs, I’ve found more good natured stories than I care to count. It seems to me that cops trained in Conshohocken are more about providing help and safety then looking for trouble with our residents. As a newspaper photographer for more than 30 years I’ve spent a lot of time around our cops both young and old, if you’re looking for a cowboy story I’m sorry to disappoint, most of our cops throughout the years are just guys trying to raise their own families, do their job, and keep us safe.

     Teach your children, listen to the cop, it’s not likely any shots will be fired.

And That’s The Way it Was!

61 years ago when three strangers broke down in Conshohocken.

Cardamone—Donovan—Zadroga

Now that’s some hero’s

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