The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-01
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK.
1854 1875.

During the past year the Police Department Of
New York has undergone many changes in its regu-
lations. The number of msn has been increased,
and . number Of new and excellent appointments
through the honesty and intelligence Of the Com.
missioners have been made. Since April last, the
new and handsome uniforms has been adopted and
the men have undergone drilling exercises, under
the tutorship Of Sergeant Msjor Ricard, AMI to
such proficiency have they arrived in the use of
the club or baton thai 1t can be used with greater
effect in supervising riot than any description OF
weapon heretofore in use. The magnetic telegraph
connecting with all the various stations, and center.
ing At the Chief Of Policies office in the Park, is
perhaps one Of the most valuable and important
additions that have been made, to increase the et
fectiveness Of the police department.. BY this use
full improvement, I've hundred men can bs collected
at any given point In the city, below Fortysecond
street. within the space Of twenty minutes, SO that
any turbulent mob can be easily dispersed before
they can proceed to any acs Of violence Of serious
nature.
The expenses Of the department have, of course,
been increased but that matters nothing If the PEG
pie can be assured it has become twice as esctivs
as it ever has bsen, for it is certainly more econom
cal to pay eight hundred thousand dollars year for
good and reliable police force than to pay five or
six hundred thousand for Q bad and almost useless
one. The inhabitants Of the metropolis, we are
sure, win not grumbe at paying even million dol
lars per year towards the maintenance Of an excel
lent police force, which they have SO long needed
and cannot dispense with. Another important
change that has been made in the disposal Of the
force ia the establishment Of the reserve cops con-
sisting Of fourteen squads each under the comm and
Of sergeant, whose duty it is to report to the
Chief Of Police the number Of arrests made daily
and make such communications to Mr.. Matsell as
they think proper. This fierce, consisting Of about
seventy men, appointed for their capabilty aud in
telligence ara taken from the total fofcs of the diff
ferent wards and are, in point of fact, the picked
men of the department They are detailed to attend
the Law and police courts, to make arrests upon
warrants, to DO In attendance at the public
places Of amusement to prevent the depredatisns OF
expert pickpockets, and to patrol the principal
docks and steamboat landings, to protect strangers
snd immigrants against the ingenious ma limitations
of pocket book suffers, patent safe game gentlemen
emigrant runners and baggage rsmsshcrs, who
hover around our piers from morning till night
seeking by the most adroit to ssindle the
unwMy. A portion Of the reserve corps are also
uSsuAca W hCCp DiUhuWny uMuUStIuCtcuy w Asop
the 0nBibuses in motion, SO as TO prevent any
blocking up Of this thoroughfare, and to help the
fair sex In making their crossings from one side Of
the street to the other. This latter duty we must
say, Is performed In very satisfactory manner, for
the men, dressed in complete uniform, are always
seen OF their posts. Irdeed the rest Of the depart
ment might very well take pattern by the reserve
corps, for the minute one comes in contact with
any of tb. Ssamer In any of the side streets, mark
"a difference in their usefulness is clearly percep-
tible. They win require careful watching and no
little reprimsnding before they can be made as Of
fective as the reserve corps.
The following extract, made from the Comptr,l
ler's report, relative to the sum necessary to be
raised By tax for the support Of the Police Depart
ent during the present year; also referring TO the
various duties they have bsen relieved from, which
has cost the city over one hundred thousand dol.
lars per year to have performed by other servants
and also TO show tho pecuniary effect Of these
changes, and to explain how impercsptibly expen.
ditures sre incurred By these alterations, will be
read with interest," .r nfhl't4
Chief OF Police Of the necessary to be raised by
year 1856 The whole sum required is $Sl9 400. This
u nearly all paid for personal services, and might
properly be classed salaries II is made up fol-