The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-02

TIVE NEW York PoLIcE-WHAr 1T Island WHAT
IT on CHIT BE.-As this subject is now up for con-
sidera ton before both Boards of Aldermen, and in
fact by the whole community at large, we shall
take this occasion TO show up the whole matter in
its true light, independent of all Political Influences
party interests A great diversity of opinion ex
lists the subject of police reform-not as TO Its
cessity, but the mode of efecting it, Messrs. At
well and Mead, 7of the Board OF Assistants, have
sub lmitted one plan (Doc. No. Az Alderman I'm
derwood is ready with another; Alderman Puruy,
we suppose, with another; and, for ought we know,
Alderman Crolius and the rest of the special CON-
mttee with stll!another AT any rate, Mr.. District
Attorney Whiting and Justice Taylor, who, in our
opinion with all possible respect to the Honorable
the Corp orahon-know more about the matter than
all the members OF both Boards put together, are
ready to submit still another plan.
Now in he midst of all these discordant plans and
systems OF reform, propose to show up the facts
in the premise s. togetherwith few necessary deduc
tons frem them.
In the first place, then, say the present Police
organization, far it respects the detection ap-
prehension, and conviction of rogues, is system of
bribery and corruption, established, and perretuated
it not sanctioned, by the laws of the State In this
city there is certain number of rogues subject from
time TO time, to fuctuatng increase or decrease,
either indigenous or exotic, as the case may be-
The true province of Pslice should be 10 detect,
apprehend, and brny to conviction all these rogues
Now let us see what inducement the laws hold
out to present Police Officers to effect this de-
lection, apprehension and conviction. We have ex-
amined the law, and find the whole basis on which
rests the bribery and corruption alluded to, to be
summarily as folIows:-
Constables and Marshalls (the present police oicers
employed in the police office in the city of New
York. may exact and receive for serving every warrant
uw;.hn mil. cents
For returning the same when party is appre-
hended g.
For going one mile, l2&
Taking q criminal into CUSTODY Ioi
Conveying him to prison. I2f
For going with HIM to procure security, so
Serving a search warrant.
If the goods not found 81 Oh
Iffound, and they exceed in value $50 a sum not
to exceed so
SPECIAL DurY.
When detailed by the day IN
By night OF twelve hours 200
Now let us be understood. Incredible as 1t NAV
appear the face of it, we say that the above sche-
dule constitutes substantially the basis of the New
York police system in this respect, that it comprises
law, and all the rewards given or allowed by our
statutes to New York Police Officers for the detec-
ton, apprehension and conviction of all the thieves
robbers, burglars, swinders, rogues and villains,
who infest this city. The average of the tariff is
perhaps about two and sxpence-a two-and-six-
penny system; or to be liberal, we will call it a
three shilling system Three shillings then, is the
lnducement to go and search the city through to find
the rogue-the same three shiings is the further |
lnducement to risk life and limb to apprehend the
said rogue-and the same Identical, potent three |
shillings, is the browning Involvement to convict
him.
To expect success under such police system, in
eradcatinglcrme, is to expect that your police Off
GERS are going 10 serve an apprenticeship of years
in learning the science of their peculiar business
for it is both science and an art-that they will
then bring their talents to bear upon the detection
of criminals-in theynext place that they exercise a
most unusual and extraordinary amount of phian-
thropy, and regard to public good-whch is to re-
suit in the aforesaid risking of life and limb in
apprehending and convicting the aforesaid rogues
And all for what consideration I? Why, forsooth
for the aforesaid three shilings But does the law
require police officers to feel Ia philanthropy, and
regard for public good, which in other people would
be deemed a weakness! Does the law allow all
other men be governed exclusively by motives of
self interest, but require police men TO be governed
by dsinterested benevolence
The grand defect of the present law is its weakness
we might say folly, in presumng that police Off
GERS will act differently from all other men, in that
their actions will not be governed by sefinterest
And we might add here, that the community are
often weak enough to blame police officers for not
exercising benevolence and philanthropy which
C~.l TIL. NJ W
police system, then, is built upon the presumption
that its officers will be covered by honesty, integr-
| ty, benevolence, and philanthfopy--all of which
are necessary its success-and the due reward for
which will be the aforesaid three shillings.
| Still people complain of the inefciency of the
police-that it does not succeed-that rogues multi
ply, and crime increases and ask what is the diff
Guilty! Well tell You what the difficulty is-we'
| raise the inner curtain-well develope the grand
arsanum, and solve the mystery. So here it goes.
1t is four Ishiaings 1t is public auction-the law
| bids three shilngs to catch the rogue crime bids
four to let him go and as the law will go no high
er, the police officer knocks down the rogue to the
highest bidder, and crime walks of with him.
Thus solve the mystery. Here is bribery
and corruption, legazed Rogues cannot be
caught, so long as they able to offer to go
clear than the law offers to catch them. Let those
without sin cast the first stone at the police officers
we blame them not They governed by self
interest-so all other people.
Thus it appears that crime is made to support the
Police. 1t supports its officers-t sets their table
for them, and gives them their breadand -butter in
fact, it is their meat, ldrnk, and lodging. Abolish
| crime and the police must starve. The more crimi-
| mails, the more bribery and corruption. The more
crime, the more pay. Nor is even this the worst of
it, for the multiplication Of police officers does but
multiply the mischief, inasmuch as there must be a
corresponding increase of crime to pay their ex-
penses and support them. Hence all the well known
anlmosties and hostilitles which exist among Po-