The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-02
Few Yo.k Police Law,

AN ACT IN RELATION To THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
APRIL Is, 1858.
The people Of The State OF New York represented in
Senate and +mbly, do enact as folows:-
AyteieL
Fec. l. The police department Of the city Of New
Yuk SHAH consist OF the following named ofcers:--
Chief OF police, captains of police, leutenants OF
police, serseants OF police, policemen and doormen;
but the present assistant captains shall be known ~
euterants after the passage of this BILL and shall
continue 10 held their offices until the xpintion Of
the teIms for which they were appointed such assist
ant cal tains.
Sec. 2. Each ward in the city Of New York shall
be patrol district The Common Council shall
provGe In each patrol district suitable acoommoda-
ton fo the patrol for such district 10 be designated
'polce station house, The patrol Of each district
shall coLtst Of one captain OF police, first and Sc
cond Lieutenant Of police two or mere sergeants Of
police, al such number OF policemen and doormen
rs shall be apportioned to tie district.
Sec 3. The chief of police, captains, lieutenants,
and sergeants of police and policemen in and for
the city and county OF New York, shall possess all
city and county, except that they shall not be ent
tied TO execute civil process.
Sec. 4. The chief of police, captains, lieutenants.
and sergeaDts Of police, policemen and doormeo, IN
conformity to the laws OF the United States, OF this
State, and the ordinances Of the Common Council,
shall watch and guard the city day and night, and
protect all general and primary elections.
Sec 8. The chief OF police, captains, lieutenants
and sergeants of police, policemen and doormen,
shall wear \ suitable emblem device to be pre-
scrlbed by the commissioners Of police.
Sec. 6: Captains Of police shall be dockmasters
sisted by the iieutenants of police and policemen,
shall do and perform all the duties heretofore per-
formed by dockmasters.
Sec Z. 1t shall be the duty of sergeants, police
men, and doormen, to obey such order. ~ they may
from time to time receive from the chief OF police,
captains and lientenants OF police, respecting their
duty to report through the captains and eutenants
to the chief Of police all violations Of the corporation
din alces who shall report the same forthwith to
the corporation attorney; to preserve the public
peace TO render every assstaHce and facility 10 min-
listers ard officers OF justice; to report all suspicious
perons, bawdy houses, receiving shops, pawnbro
kers shops Junk shops secOnc hand dealers shops,
gaming houses, all places where idlers, tippers
gamblers and other dscrde,y aud suspicious persons
congregae to caution strangers and others against
gcng into such places, and against pickpockets,
watch suffers, troopers, mock auctoneers, burners,
ard other vicious persons; to direct strangers and
others to the nearest and safest way to their places
OF destination, aud when ecessary to cause them to
he accompanied to their destination by one Of the
police and perform all other duties which shall be
prescribed.
Sec. s. Punctual attendance shall be required Of
every officer sergeant, policeman and doorman
connected with the department, on all occasions,
prevent the Mayor from relieving captains, lieu
tenants, sergeants, policemen and doormen for any
period during which they may be absent from duty
without permission, except in case Of absence con-
sequent upon disease injury contracted in the pub
lie service; and in all cases. such officers, sergeants,
policemen and doormen who are absent from duty In
consequence of disease injuries contracted in pub
lie service, shall receive full pay.
Sec. 8. In case Of the absence OF the captain OF
police the duties required OF him shall he performed
by f3t 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
subs titute sergeant who shall, for the time being
possess all the powers Of lieutenant Of police.
Sec. 10. Any person or persons who shall falsely
represent any Of the members Of the police depart
nent Of the city Of New York, who shall, with in
tent to deceive, use or initiate any of the emblems
signs, signals or devices adopted and used by the
police department, shall be deemed guilty Of mis-
demeanCr, and shall be punished by fiue not less
thar two hundred and fiIy dollars, or by imprson-
ment for term not exceeding three months.
Fec IL. At any alarm Of fire, it shall be the duty
Of captains OF police nearest the scene of conagr
ton, fui thwith 10 proceed to the same with the
serve force Of the command, to be diligent in pre-
serving order and protecting property. In case OF
riot or Try sudden emergency requiring the services
Of the police, tie captains OF police shall forthwith
proceed TO the scene Of riot with the whole police of
duty, or any part thereof, and be yigilant in sup
pressing The same.
Sec IL. The mayor shall detail from the police
men sufficient number to attend upon and to serve
the process OF criminal courts in said city and county
4drticle II.
Sec /. The Chief OF Police shall be nominated and
appointed by the Mayor. with the approval of the
Board OF Commissioners first named in the third ar
ticle OF this bill.
the chief executive Of the police department, and
shall obey ard cause the police department under
him TO obey the rules and regulations prescribed in
accol dance with the pro visions Of this act.
.1.n- - Ap0o and
with The assistance Of the police force every
erion TO save ard protect property and remove, or
cause to be removed all idle and suspicious persons
from the vicinity Of the fire.
SEQ T. He shall repair to the scenes Of riots and all
tumultuous or unlawful assemblages, and with the
aid Of the police force, every exertion TO dperse
or arrest such persons as he may find engaged In
breaking the peace or who may aid or abet Others 70
to do.
Sec. g. 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 pre-
veIton Of crime, and the discipline and efficiency OF
the department.
Sec G. He shall be aided and assisted by the mem.
bers OF the police department be the superintendent
Of cabs and cabmen, hackney coaches and hackney
cnachmen. stages and accommodation coaches or ON.
Dibtaes and their drivers, carts aud cartmen and oil
persons employed to drive carts through the streets
and lanes OF the city Of New York, public porters,
hand carimen vendors of charcoal, irewood, hard
coal, and boats and boatnen. He shall also be 10.
fpector Of pawbbrokers shops, second hand dealers
shops junk shops, and intelligence Offices.
Sec I. He shall, with the approval of the board OF
aldermen, appoint clerk, who 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.
se. s. All vacancies ia the Office Of chief ofpolice
shsl be flied in the same manner az prescribed in
sec ion first Of article second Of this act
Sec 8. In all cases where persons are arrossed mp
on criminal charges they SHALL with little delay
as possible be conducted before magistrate, to be
dealt with as the law directs.
Article ILL.,
Sec. l. The mayor recorder and city Judge shall
constitute q board Of commissioners for the trial Of
officers, policemen, and doormen Of the police de-
,ariment and all officers, policemen and doormcn,
shall be appointed by the same board, In the man
ntr herein provided; but no member OF the police
department shall be reapponted who shall have re-
sigred before the expiration o. his term Of Office.
Sec 2. Every officer, policeman and doorman
must he citizen of the United States, OF the State
Of New York, and resident of the ward for which
lie may be appointed and previous to his appoint
ment slall present to the mayor certificate signed
n. = cll c,ti1 (txunt pf vrloru