Salt Lake Telegram | 1951-01-30 | Page 14 | Retiring Marshal, 70, Proud of Crime Prevention Week

Service to Utah Youth Retiring Marshal 70 Proud Of a Crime Prevention Week After more than 30 years as a peace officer Gilbert Mecham 70 year old United States marshal for forI I Utah who will retire Wednesday j jis Is proudest of the dozens of youths he has helped avoid a life I of crime Soft spoken kind faced Marshal Mecham has served nearly 18 IS I years in m his present position His I public service includes eight years as chief of police of Logan Before that he was a deputy sheriff of Cache county Six SL years year's as a railroad special agent or policeman were the most rugged of his long career Mr Mecham recalled Tuesday er Never Lost Prisoner During that time Ive I've never personally lost a prisoner and I think Ive I've handled some of the toughest characters an average peace officer is ever er called upon to handle Mr Mecham said Ive put scores of law violators behind prison bars But Im I'm proudest proud proud- est of the dozens of youths whom I feel I was responsible for putting on the right path Risking the wrath of so-called so reformers and well meaning but apparently misguided Mr Mecham tried early in his Career caleer ca- ca leer reer to master the technique of distinguishing between I I and sealed deep criminality criminal criminal- ity in youths Most rost Unpredictable A youth who has landed in the toils of the law is usually the most unpredictable of all prisoners Mr Mecham added You can rarely determine at first or second meeting whether he might blow I your head off or 01 whether hes he's just justa a mischievous ous kid with a lot of zip Grave mistakes es have been made both ways by peace officers judging youngsters I feel I have been fortunate in the part I played in several such cases avoiding the issuance of a formal complaint and imposition of sentences that would send a mischief child to jail or prison where the forging of the first link in m a life of crime clime would be completed William Villiam senior deputy marshal is slated to succeed Mr Mecham as marshal Mr a native of Salt Lake City who now resides at Coatsville ave has served in the U. U S. S marshals marshal's office of Utah for the past 17 years