John
A.
Shortell

EARL STOPFER was born in Philadelphia PA in early 1899. In 1910 he was living with his grandmother, Elanine Basert. He married at the age of 19. When the Census was enumerated in January of 1920 the young couple lived at 246 Division Street with their four month old son Earl W. Stopfer. Earl Stopfer was then working at a leather factory. A daughter named Frances would follow by 1922. On April 25, 1924 Earl Stopfer became a member of the Camden Police Department. By 1930 Earl and Alamenda Stopfer owned a home at 114 South 27th Street in East Camden. 

 In the early 1930s Earl Stopfer was at times partnered with Officer William Thorn. Around 1935 he began working with Officer George F. Jefferis. During World War II the two were widely known throughout the city for their work in the sale of $4,000,000 in war bonds, and for guiding and instructing public and parochial school safety patrols. During that period the two men organized safety patrols in 38 schools with a membership of 1058.

The two patrolmen in 1948 ago completed a colored, sound motion picture, "A Plan For Safety", financed by the Atlantic Refining Co. Since then the film has been shown throughout the United States, Canada, Hawaiian Islands, and in the United Kingdom. The picture was filmed in Camden, with the two policemen and Camden schoolchildren as characters. 

Among the cities which have announced they have organized safety patrols along the lines shown in the picture are Vineland, Millville, Akron OH, Cincinnati OH, Springfield MA, Memphis TN, Washington DC, Bloomington IN, Salt Lake City UT, Topeka KS, Richland WA, Boston MA, Lancaster PA, Honolulu HI, and Toronto, Canada.

The film has been shown before hundreds of civic, social, and service groups, and parent-teacher associations. It relates various duties and requirements for school safety patrol members and shows them in correct activities in the event of fire alarms and drills, operation of children's courts, holding of safety meetings, care of children on streets, and holding of program planning meetings.

In the 1940s Earl and Alamenda Stopfer moved to a newly-built townhouse at 15 North Dudley Street. He was still living at that address as late as the fall of 1956. Earl Stopfer does not appear in the 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory.

SHOTS HALT FLIGHT AFTER CAR HITS COP
Policeman Fires from Ground and Liquor Raid Fugitive Stops

 Four men were arrested amid revolver shots after a Camden policeman was knocked down by a police car during a raid yesterday afternoon.

Acting on orders of Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, who is continuing her drive to rid the city of speakeasies, three policemen and two detectives surrounded the home of James Ford, colored, at 1124 South Ninth street, shortly. before 3 p. m.

Patrolmen Edward Shapiro and Thomas Kauffman arrived in a radio car. So did James Brown and John Houston, two colored detectives. Patrolman Earl Stopfer arrived on foot.

Three policemen went to the back door. Kauffman stayed in the radio car at the front. Shapiro knocked at the front door.

The policemen at the rear were ahead of those opt front. As a re­sult four men ran out through the front door .and bowled over Shapiro. The man in the lead, who later was identified as Wilbur "Lackey" Davis, of 821 Mt. Vernon street, raced up the street, a quart bottle of liquor in hand.

Kauffman had driven his radio car behind another machine. He started the engine and attempted to back out to give chase. Shapiro ran behind the car and as he did, the machine struck him, knocking him into the middle of the street. Prone, Shapiro drew his revolver and opened fire on Davis.

Three shots were fired in the air.

Two others were closer to the fugitive, who halted. With the sound of shooting, the other three men yielded to the assembled policemen.

They gave their names as Ford, Herman Hopkins, 21, of 1124 South Ninth street, and Harry McLane, 29, of 746 Kaighn avenue.

All will be arraigned today.

Ford, Hopkins and McLane will be charged with violating the state A.B.C. act. In addition, Davis will be charged with resisting arrest.

Patrolman Shapiro was hurt but slightly."