Harold
Melleby


HAROLD MELLEBY was born and raised in Camden, New Jersey. After serving with the United States Marine Corps, Harold Melleby returned to Camden. He was appointed to the Camden Police Department around 1950. Rapidly advancing through the ranks of the department, he was appointed Chief of Police in March of 1967, and remained in that post until the summer of 1981. He also served in a dual role as Public Safety Director the late 60s and into 1970, when he was succeeded by William Yeager

Around 1959-1960 Harold Melleby had a new home built at 3306 Pelham Place. It was one of the last new homes built in East Camden prior to the rebuilding of McGuire Gardens in the 1990s.

Harold Melleby passed away on October 7, 2009.


Please note that this page was created on October 9, 2009 and is woefully incomplete.

Please contact me with any comments, additions, or corrections you would like to see on this page.

Phil Cohen
October 9, 2009


Philadelphia Inquirer - March 28, 1960

Bought Gun At Work
East Camden Man Ends Life with Shot as Wife Seeks Reconciliation

The 21-year-old wife of an East Camden man, on the verge of a reconciliation after a five-week separation, found her husband dead from a gunshot wound of the head early Sunday in his apartment.

Camden county Coroner Howard W. Creran said Wesley W. Gaylord, 34, of 1026 N. 27th Street, Camden, apparently ended his life with a single shot from a .22 caliber rifle, which was lying alongside him on a day bed in the apartment.

WORKED AT DRIVE-IN

Creran said an autopsy would be performed Monday.

Gaylord, a maintenance man for the Tacony-Palmyra Drive-in Theatre, Palmyra, N. J., was found at 2 A. M. by his wife, Reba, of W. Walnut Street, Westmont. 

She told Camden Detective Thomas Scarduzio she had talked with her husband Saturday afternoon about a reconciliation. She said she agreed to meet Gaylord at his apartment about 11 P. M. Saturday, after he finished work at the theater.

FINDS HUSBAND'S BODY

Mrs. Gaylord said she phoned Gaylord shortly before 11 P. M. at the theater, but was unable to reach him. Later she went to his apartment. He was stretched across the day bed, bleeding from mouth and ears. She called neighbors, who summoned police.

Scarduzio said he questioned Fred Basile, 18, of 356 Boyd Street, Camden, a brother- in-law of the victim, who said he last saw Gaylord when he let him out of a car near his home at 11:10 P. M. Saturday. 

BUYS RIFLE FOR $20

Police reported Gaylord was despondent because of the separation and last Friday night purchased the death rifle from an usher at the drive-in theater for $20.             ,

The case also was investigated by Capt. Philip Large, of Camden county detectives; Lieutenants Harold Melleby and William Neale, and Detective Joseph Hainsworth, of the Camden police.


Camden Courier-Post * February 24, 1965

Donald Watson - Keith Kauffman - William Yeager - George Weber
Harold Melleby - Thomas Kelly - William Neale


Camden Courier-Post - February 16, 1967

Keith Kauffman - Harold Melleby - William Yeager - John H. Watkins - Anthony P. Skolski


Camden Courier-Post - February 16, 1967

Bank Street - Pelham Place - R.M. Hollingshead Corporation - Rose Melleby - North 24th Street - South 34th Street
Edna Ward - Richard Ruh - Robert Norris - Clifford Bill - Wayne Avenue - Van Buren Street


Camden Courier-Post * March 9, 1967

Donald Watson - Keith Kauffman - Harold Melleby - William Neale - Pelham Place


Camden Courier-Post - June 22, 1967

9 Camden Police Earn Promotions

Lt. Howard Clayton, 55, 30 year veteran on Camden's police was named acting captain of the service division yesterday, while five city patrolmen were sworn in as detectives by John T. Odorisio, city clerk.

A sixth patrolman, Isaiah Pitts, 37, of 2920 Berkley Street, unable to attend promotion ceremonies because of illness, will be sworn in on return to duty. He's a 10-year veteran.

As acting captain of the service division, Clayton will head the identification, traffic and communications bureaus.

Patrolmen promoted yesterday were Augustus Balzano, 31, 3165 Merriel Avenue, and David Del Rossi, 27, 1466 Mount Ephraim Avenue, both three year veterans; John Phoenix; 35, 1333 Princess Avenue, Robert Mentz, 30, 2608 Baird Avenue, and Gilbert Upshaw, 36, 1525, Wildwood Avenue, all six-year members of  the force.

The six men will earn $6625 a year as detectives; a $200 increase in present salary. All have been acting as detectives.

Deputy Police Chief William Yeager also announced the appointment of Sgt. Peter Paull, 42, a 16-year man on the force, as acting lieutenant. Paull will be in charge of the communications section.

Frank Senatore, also 42, and an 18-year veteran, will be transferred from the patrol division to the detective division Monday morning, Yeager said .

Present during the swearing in were Police Chief Harold Melleby, Yeager, and Captain John  Watkins, head of the detective division..


Camden Courier-Post * August 16, 1968

...continued...

Ronald Angemi - Charles W. Arzillo - Sage C. Russell III - Glenn H. Moore - Michael J. Shue
Richard C. Arensberg - Thomas J. Boody - William B. Swan - Ronald C. Rovegno - Henry F. Stypinski

Jerome J. Watson - Daniel J. Galasso - William H. Huelas - Ronald J. Boyle - Robert G. Boyle
Robert C. Welch - George S. Szychulski - George R. Abbey -  Marvin W. Bendy - Samuel Battle Jr.
Beideman Avenue - Atlanta Road - Winslow Street - North 32nd Street - Pleasant Street
North 33rd Street - Mt. Ephraim Avenue - Kaighn Avenue - South Merrimac Road - Ormond Avenue
  Oak Walk - Harold Melleby

Camden Courier-Post * September 20, 1968

...continued...

...continued...

James R. Asher - Harold Melleby - Spencer Smith Jr. - Leon Puszczykowski
Elizabeth Hawk -
Alfred R. Pierce -  John Marini

Camden Courier-Post * October 14, 1969
...continued...
Harold Melleby - John H. Kolessar - Frank Deal - Peter Carbone - Edward V. Michalak
John Giuliano - Robert Briggs - Alfred R. Pierce - Engine Company 9

Camden Courier-Post * September 23, 1979

...continued...

Albert Handy
Bailey Street
Benjamin Shablack
John Barrett
The Tavern
North 6th Street
Eifonio Lopez
Samuel Benson
Harold Melleby
Helen McHugh


Camden Courier-Post - October 9, 2009

MELLEBY, Harold 
On October 7, 2009, age 82, of Cherry Hill, NJ. Harold was predeceased by his parents Natvig and Anna Melleby and his beloved wife Rose M. (nee Mongo). Surviving are his children Michael, Ted, Harold, Jr., Diane, Patricia, & Linda. Loving grandfather of 9. Dear brother of Alex Melleby, Pastor Carlyle Melleby, and Blanche Melleby. Chief Harold Melleby was born and raised in Camden, NJ. He was a Marine Corps Veteran of WW II. Chief Melleby served thirty years in law enforcement with the City of Camden, NJ. Police Dept., fifteen years as the Chief of Police. Relatives and friends of the family will meet for his viewings on Sunday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Monday morning from 8:30 am to 9:30 am at the BOCCO FUNERAL HOME, 1300 North Kings Hwy, Cherry Hill, NJ. Funeral services will be held Monday 10:30 am at the Erial Community Church, New Brooklyn & Jarvis Rds., Erial, NJ. Entombment at Locust-wood Memorial Park Mausoleum, Cherry Hill. 


RETURN TO CAMDEN'S INTERESTING PEOPLE PAGE

RETURN TO DVRBS.COM HOME PAGE