BELLEVILLE — A police officer - identified by posters on the "You Know You're from Belleville" Facebook page as Vincent Cosenzo - handles traffic control at Belleville's Columbus Day parade in 1958. Belleville-nj.org notes that "initially Belleville had no provision for police protection beyond that noted in the Township Law of 1798, providing for the appointment of constables to insure peaceful...
BELLEVILLE -- A police officer - identified by posters on the "You Know You're from Belleville" Facebook page as Vincent Cosenzo - handles traffic control at Belleville's Columbus Day parade in 1958.
Belleville-nj.org notes that "initially Belleville had no provision for police protection beyond that noted in the Township Law of 1798, providing for the appointment of constables to insure peaceful procedure at the annual township meeting. The functions of these constables were gradually expanded to include serving warrants and collecting delinquent taxes."
The site goes on to note that a courtroom and a three-cell jail were authorized by the township committee in 1894, with a police department established in 1907.
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