New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-10

HE Deusrmeni Al present cannot refrain express
inc my regret that any attempt should be 'ne 70 o's
changes Several acts have been however Dc
fore the Legislature which in my Judgment carried into
opereion would seriously impair the usefulness ana 81
tGslly destroy the discipline Of the Department Invite
your these in the confident assurance
that you custoans Of the rights and interests OF the
City rTd entrusted with the security OF its cIEes as 10
their lives and TTop,ry will by your ofhcla aenon eA
press your sse Of this unnecessary ana Injurious LIE
si.laticn
The BIZ for The election Of Chief OF Police would in my
opinion il enacted into law strike blow 81 me enS
tncy and discipline Of the Department from which eoad
The Chief Of Police Is now nominated oy
each successive Mayor who has right to Look 10 that
oheer for hearty cooperation in al meas ares win no
may direct for tie security Of life snd property lie Is as
anenabo for any derector OF duty the hubesi mem
Der q the force, and be a. readily removed from
Office The proposed Law divests the Mayor OF the rgnt
les DEEM III OF selecting this important oicer ana 50
divides the responsibility that there Will remain an actual
head TO the Department.
have felt called thus to express ny sense OF these
proposed amendments TO the Law il now stands from
conviction Of the duty to the community aud trust
they will receive immediate attention at your hands
SIR In accordance with Article 3D. section jh Of the
Police Law relative TO TIE City Of New York herewith
present you report OF the operations and condition OF
tie Police Department; avail myself of this occasion to
express my own qualification the present condition. eff
cheney and d eipne of the fore. That these are srb-
uabe in a very grea, measure the operations OF the
law Of 53 recognizing the Department cannot be doubt
Cd The mode OF appointment pre- ous 10 the passage OF
this law deemed favorable TO the true interest OF
the DEPARTING although the power OF continuation
was vested tie Mayor, the selection and nominaonws
h Other IaTties BY the operations Of the present law
any citizen may apply for appointment aod IS all appl
can't are personally examined by the appointing power in
addition 10 /, ing required furnish untoUbod te'tlmo
pels character and fitness for the duties OF P)ce-
man the Con mssonors have in their power 10 select
only such in their united Judgment are most competent
and carable the post; That appointments have thus
far been made with decided advantage over any other sys
TEN abndanty manifested by the superior character OF
the newly appointed men, and the high state OF discipline
ard EFF CLERGY which the department has atalned fully
iuf III, ing the confidence which the community have
RIGHT TO repose in force large aud important. The
Commissioners mmC dately entering upon the die
charge Of their aruOus dutes determined % rentrudg
M ut upon brought before them for trial. immed
ncly after the trial and before interested ndiyd
ua disc cted with the department could have an op-
roruuiiy interfere. The eject OF this rnnaon
moon the Department almost magical. During the
IGs six months but hundred and forty three police
en were cited 10 aprear before the Commissioners tor
trisl being dminuiionOf one fourth "A compared wilh
the rrevious Fix months. This has resulted entirely from
tie certainty and not from the severity o punishment
New rules and regulations have also been adopted by
m. which the faithful and mertorious occr Is as
sured of being aprec and promoted The od system
Of detailing officers for various specia dutes Wh'h was
liable 10 so many obi cons account OF the abuses per
petrated under il has been abolished and reserve corps
fes established into which have been admitted
excer upon the production OF satisfactory evidence tht
tLev have earned the privileges OF tins corps - previous
rood corduct-by strict attention to duty ana oy inc eA
llitiOn superior Illness lot lhe rtsppu-ipe anu -Ve
times de cate duties dey0lging upon members oi thS
CORE Ills IT, in fact virtual promotion as It IS acu
sy an official recognition % faithful services and has
proved decidedly sdvantageou to the depa tnen stimu
Ispo all with audabe ambition to excel aud thus de
serv the privileges Of member of the reserve corps
Ths portion # the force upon whom deYol'e an me du
Tics Of the old detae men, Is divided into squads of four
mer each under the command 81 sergeant; and desire
To express my entire Subtraction not only with le opera
tons Of his new organization but with the conduct OF the
corf which hes meIited my warmest communication;
I6e Commissioners also adopted regulation requiring
ell tie member OF the Department 10 wear blue coat oil
uniform make and cap for night and day Patro duty so
that the nen could be easily recognized by citizens Inc
regulation has been complied with by all the member: oil
tie Department with three four exceptions The Police
men WHO refused to comply have been tried by me Com
msiouors of Police and the carried 20 the Su
rene Court before which Court II is still pending.
Ieent Policeman act az Drill Sergeant whose duty
II to take tie men appointed by the Commissioners OF
Police ard instruct them in the military ART ard IN the
rnles and regulations adopted for the government OF the
Police Department. While under instruction tney are
reduir,d to act rs force to attend at re. &C.
and perform patrol duty in different parts OF tho Ciy
rnder lie direction of their Sergeant After being thus
thoroughly drilled and instructed they are directed to re
ro ht mieyes to their several Captains, and ready
uerfmm any duty he may require OF them.
II has heretofore been the practice 10 place man on
rntro utv the same he appointed so thai ne was
iutrrftd with the custody OF the property and even e
lives of citizens without understanding the Rules ana
Regulations or comprehending the highly important trusts
collded 10 HIM Persons entirely unacquaned wan 20
lice duties constantly connecting themselves with the
lt0partTPnf,
their duties well until they thoroughly instructed
Under the rresen system it ia TO be hoped that the eyis
heretofore experienced will be materially abated
In accordance with Section 80 of the Rules anf Rgu
Ietors the policemen in the different Districts are now
beupthoroue hly inst in the military art and decided
improvement is already visible IN .he iVioe and
in cases of riot they will be able to act win increased
efficiency ard power . -, - -. I.-
The greatest benefit resulting 10 the community under
,b INV Of 1873 Is the separation of the Department rom
roiticl nfuo nee TIE term Of appointment was male TO
dereid good behavior OF the incumoen SO mat
tb,v are e free according to the rules OF the De
rrrtre1t without the favor OF any person Chder
he former Law they veil understood that they hal to enter
The political and connect themselves WIN the Io
core Of partzans in the separate Wards in order to
secrre q reappsinment at the expiration OF the term
for which they appointed 20 that ln'iead oi
b,pg Interested officers at polls during the eIeo'loh'
thew became drteresed pazans striving Tor the success
of their favoye olques Policemen VI re found connected
with clubs committees and other organizations OF pom
r,l character leading them to perform er GUY wan u
s,ifr:ion and sometimes 10 entirely neglect IT. thus exer
ci.inr most bspefu influence upon t1e efficiency ana
Gsrscer Of the Department lnsoe instances polio men
II cir Situations few days prior 10 an eleco
Ia enable Them upon the contest untrammeled
HID ihCir Places purpOsely kept vacant uhtu the
lection was when they were re pponten oE e'
In cher cases policemen sseertainng ha their par,
ti,uIsr clones had been defeated at the ecton wo2l
yes;cu their oCe, and obtain renpp0ntHeht ifom ue
Nis-men and Assistant then in Office for term OF years
vt1pdpc beyond the period Of time for wch their sue
c,Fsors were elected In this way the whole Department
yss kert a. it were IN constant state OF fermentation
;,1rapg its usefulness, AID turning INFO potIcai en-
Inc for the Gdy aucement of particular chiues or ma
yiGuls TO obvate these cilculties Tue OOnil'iI'S'
ndoIt.d tie following rrle; ,c
SIcToy o. The gt. vote is guaranteed by the On
sttution to every oiizen ct the unlied oiaIe: pu, IA
order prevent partial discharge OF .ae .! w. M
5res copftcd to The force member Of The Ponce lie
Tsfent VIII be permitted to connect himself directly: o.
In cnv way with society, club, eonmfee or organic
ton cf ,ny kind he object Of which Is tue adv
CT a parry clique, az individual. -, a.,
Imaeoisely after the Itomulgaion OF the above the
- 1ton rri,h srch or,aniz