A bulky man in his late-thirties, Morland is a career policeman with an easy smile whose door is open to any of his officers. Recently he introduced a shift arrangement which cut chronic absenteeism at the station - a problem blamed for the police's lacklustre performance. This means coming down hard on even the pettiest crimes - such as urinating in the street, which draws a public indecency charge. Ironically, Morland believes it is the main product of Meyer Kahn's industry that should take much of the blame for crime. So drunks are routinely thrown into the police cells to sober up in a four-hour internment.
Shebeens are also hot targets.
Last weekend, officers spent eight hours pouncing on several of the region's busiest illicit bars. Deputy station commander David Oliphant, who masterminded the raids, kept the targets to himself until the very last minute - a move mainly driven by his attempts to protect his tipsters. Pick up anyone who looks like a criminal. Williams broke quietly away after the pep talk to pick up an R-5 rifle. As darkness fell, the officers moved swiftly among their targets, apprehending bar-tenders and impounding liquor.