The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-16
THE PROPOSED POLICE LAW.
An Act In Relation to the Police Department
In the City and County Of New York.

nants OF ponce sergsahs - PoiiOes f".i0eiSn eiN
Sec. p Each ward in the city of New York shall
be a patrol district. The Common Council shall
provide in each patyol district suitable aceommodl,
ton for the patrol of such district TO be designated
''police station house The patr~ Of each district
shall consist Of captain OF police first ana Sc
cond lieutenant of police two or more -ergeants OF
police, and such number OF policemen ana aoornen
as shall be apportoned t. the district.
Sec. 3. The chief OF police, captains lteutenants
and sergeants of police and policemen, mi ana tor
the CITY and county OF New York shall possess al
the power now possessed by the constabes OF SAID
city and county except they shaI nos nc cntIed "
execute civil process
Sec a. The captains, lieutenants and sergeants o
police, policemen and doormen IN accordance witt
rules and regulations prescribed by the Mayor in con
formty to the laws of the United States of this State
and the ordinances of the Common Council, anIl
watch and guard the city day and night anc protect
the polls at elections.
Sec 5. The chief Of police, captains heuienants,
sergeants OF police. policemen and doormen, shan
wear suitable emblem or device by which they may
be known. ,..
Sec. g. Captains Of police shall be doc kmasters
within their respective districts and aided ana Us
sisted by the leutenants Of poiice ana ponoemeh'
shall do and perform all the duties heretofore per
formed by dockmasters
Sec 4 II shall be the duty OF seISeants, police
men and doormen, TO obey such orders as they may
from time TO time receive from The chief OF police,
captains and lieuenans OF police, respecting their
duty; to report through the captain and eutenants,
C.
ordinances to preserve the public peace; to render
every assistance and facility to ministers and officers
of justice; to report all suspicious persons, bawdy
houses, receiving shops, pawnbrokerss sale JUNK
shops second hand dealers shops, gaming houses al
places where idlers tpplers, gamblers, and other
disorderly and suspicious persons congregate; TO
caution strangers and others against gong into such
places, and against pickpockets watch suffers,
troopers mock auctoneefs, burners, and other VI
cious persons; to direct strangers and others to the
nearest and safest way to their places OF destination,
and when necessary, to cause them 10 be accom-
panied to their destination by of the police and
perform all other duties which shall be prescribed TO
them by the mayor or chief OF police
Sec. 8. Punctual attendance shall be required OF
every officer, sergeant policeman and doorman CON
nected with the department on all occasions but
vent the mayor from relieving captains lieutenants
sergeants, policemen and doormen from duty for a
limited time. No compensation shall be allowed
such officers, sergeants, policemen and dOormen for
duty without permission except in case of absence
consequently upon disease or injury contracted in the
public service.
Sec 8. In case of the absence of the captain Of
police the duties required of him shall be performed
by first lieutenant OF police, and in his absence, by
second lieutenant, who, while acting in such capa-
city, shall possess and exercise the powers and
rights of such captain. In case OF the absence OF
lieutenant by reason Of sickness or disability, the
captain may with the consent Of the Chief Of Police
substitute sergeant, who SHALL for the time being,
possess all the powers OF a ueutenanL OF ponce.
Sec To- Any person or persons who shall falsely
represent any of the members Of the police depart
ment Of the city OF New York, or who shall, with in
tent TO deceive, use or initiate any of the signs sig
mails or devices adopted and used by the police de-
partment, shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanOr,
and shall be punished by fine not more than five
nor less than two hundred and fifty dollars by i'm
prisonment for term not exceeding three months.
Sec. H. At any alarm of fire, it shall be the duty
Of the captains OF police nearest the of cona
grafton forthwith to proceed to the same with one
platoon of their command to be digent in preserv-
ing order and protecting property. In case of riot
Or any sudden emergency requiring the services of
the police the captains of the police shall forthwith
proceed to the of the riot with the whole police
on duty or any part thereof and be vgilant in sup
pressing the same
men sufficient number to attend upon and to serve
the process of criminal courts in said city and
county.
ARTICLE II.
Sec. l. The Chief OF Police shall be appointed by
the Mayor, with the approval of the Board of Alder
men. he must be citizen OF the United States
citizen Of the State Of New York and an actual resi-
dent Of the city and county Of New York. His re-
moval from the city and county shall vacate his
ofice.
Sec. 2. The chief of police shall possess the pow
ers OF police justice to entertain complaints in all
cases when crimes have been committed, and to is
sue precept Tor the arrest OF the persons charged
with having committed crime, and to examine
such person or persons In all such cases he shall
proceed in the same manner, and be governed by all
laws relating to police justices In like CAGES, except
that the Mayor Of said city shall carefully review
the affdavits made in the case, and also the ex-
animation of the prisoner; and if it shall appear
that there is probable cause to believe that the of
fence stated.in said affidavit was committed by said
person or persons, the Mayor shall, by mittimus,
commit to the city prison, or take bail for his or
their appearance at the next court having Jurisdic
ton over the case.
Sec g. He shall Subordinate to the Mayor) be the
chi ntlvn Of ollra ,arfu I'M
obey, and cause the police department under him
to obey the rules and regulations prescribed by
the Mayor in accordance with the provisions Of this
act.
Sec 4. He shall repair to the scenes Of fires and
with the assistance OF the police force use every
exertion to save and protect property, and remove
or cause to be removed all idle and suspicious per
sons from the vicinity of the fire.
Sec. s. He shall repair to the scenes of riots, and
all tumultuous unlawful assemblage5, and, with
the aid of the police force every exeron to dis
perse arrest such persons he may find engaged
In breaking the peace, or who may aid aDet others
10 to do.
Sec. 6. He shall direct any or all of the police
force to perform such duties as he may deem neces-
sary for the preservation of the public peace the
prevention Of crime, and the discipline and efficen-
cy Of the department.
Sec. 7. He shall be aided and assisted by the
members of the police department be the superin-
tendent of cabs and cabmen hackney coaches and
hackney coachmen, stages and accommodation
coaches, or omnbnses and their drivers; carts and
.cartmeD, and all persons employed TO drive carts
through the streets and lanes of the city OF New
York; public porters, hand-cartmen, vendors OF
charcoal, frewood, hard coal, and boats and boat
men. He shall also be inspector of pawnbrokers'
shope, second hand dealers shops, junk shops, and
intelligence offices, and also Keeper Of lands and
places.
Sec. g. He shall, with the approval of the Board Of
Aldermen. appoint clerk, vino shall be known and
designated as 'clerk to the chief Of police" and who
shall perform all such duties as the chief of police
shall direct.
Sec 8. All vacancies in the office OF chief of police
shall be filed in the same manner prescribed in
section first Of article second Of this act.
ARTICLE III.
Sec. i. The Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen of
each ward shall nominate to the Mayor one captain
one first lisntenant, second lieutenant of DO
lice, and az many policemen and doormen as the
ward may be entitled to by ordinance of the Com
mon Council. The Mayor may appoint all or any Of
the persons thus nominated Should the Mayor re-
ieot any such nomination, other persons shall ID ike
manner be nominated for such MACS Each of said