Remembering when police shared one car

John Kropewnicki says officers are busier, but more organized.

By: Donna Lukiw
   After serving Manville for 25 years as a police officer, Alice Street resident John Kropewnicki can still remember what it was like in the old days — and how different today’s Police Department is.
   The 95-year-old spends his days at home, under the care of his daughter, Vivian Davis.
   Mr. Kropewnicki worked as a police officer 1940 to1965, rising to the rank of lieutenant before retiring. He also said as a lieutenant, he was making $7,100 — today, police lieutenants earn more than $110,000.
   But Mr. Kropewnicki notes the work is much different than it was when he was an officer walking the streets.
   "It’s a lot tighter command now," Mr. Kropewnicki said. "There were only five of us (police officers) back then."
   He said when he was a police officer, Manville police had only one car that was shared between five officers. Most of the officers were on foot patrol.
   "We had one man at the desk, one man in the car and one man was walking," Mr. Kropewnicki said.
   Mr. Kropewnicki said nothing interesting or unusual happened during the years he worked but he said there were a lot of domestic calls.
   "A husband would come home drunk and raise hell," he said. "Or you would find the husband laying on the ground drunk and we would take him home. We would also walk around town and check all the doors. We would go around to the bars at 2 a.m. to make sure it was locked up."
   He said for most of the years he served, there were just a few ranks — really just the officers and the chief, but now there are many ranks.
   "It’s changed all together now," he said. "They have assignments and squad leaders. We didn’t have any of that."
   After Mr. Kropewnicki retired he went to work for a trucking company that transported asbestos, and then worked at the Johns-Manville asbestos plant on North Main Street making home insulation.
   "The plant had vents on the roof and on windy days it looked like a snowstorm," he recalled.
   He then left that job to work at home and enjoy his time off.
   "Now, I’m not doing anything," he said. "My daughter takes care of me now."