Norwood Bars Ordered To Hire Special Policemen-October 17, 1973

Selectmen Crack Down on Washington Street Establishments

Just one week after issuing a public ultimatum to local tavern owners, the Norwood Board of Selectmen took decisive action last night, ordering two South Norwood establishments to hire special-duty police officers for weekend patrols. Following a tense, one-hour closed-door session with Police Chief James M. Murphy, Board Chairman William F. Butters announced that Dealer’s Cafe and the Ponderosa Lounge, both located on Washington Street, must fund dedicated officers to patrol in and around their premises from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Rising Tensions and Growing Police Problems

The strict new measure was enacted in direct response to mounting public safety challenges and escalating incidents tied to the two bars. Town officials noted that the local situation had deteriorated further over the preceding week. Reports surfaced of street fights occurring near the establishments on Saturday night, during which several windows were broken, though selectmen pointed broadly to an ongoing pattern of trouble rather than isolating a single incident.

While last week’s public warning included the ultimate threat of rolling back closing times for troublesome bars to 11 p.m., the board stopped short of immediate closures, opting instead to enforce mandatory paid details. Framinghan South and local nightlife corridors have increasingly tested municipal resources, prompting a firmer hand from town leadership.

Bolstering the Police Force

Beyond targeting individual establishments, selectmen moved swiftly to strengthen town-wide law enforcement. Prompted by Selectman Joseph W. Wall, the board voted to request the civil service police eligibility list earlier than originally scheduled. The goal is to immediately onboard five new police officers, with the potential to add two more if ongoing retirements and medical leaves on the force demand it.

Though Mr. Wall had previously advocated waiting for a list featuring local candidates before expanding the department, worsening local conditions forced a change in strategy. When asked if the current municipal budget could absorb the expansion, Board Chairman William F. Butters confirmed that sufficient funds were available to support the new hires.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger