The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-24

in our police system, look to the reorganization of
the force upon plan similar to that adopted by
the people of New York Whether the Metro
politan Police Bill passed in 1857, by the Legisla-
ture of that State, is the best that can be devised
may admit of question; but it cannot be doubted
that it is, in many particulars, worthy of our
imitation, and, at all events deserves to be atcn-
lively considered by those upon whom the duty
will so soon devolve of providing some adequate
protection for our rights and persons As very
many of our citizens have no opportunity of seeing
and studying for themselves this now celebrated
Act, present here brief abstract Of some Of its
provisions, its length precluding us from publish
ing it in full in our columns. The four Southern
counties of the State which, of course, include the
cities OF New York and Brooklyn, are 'constitued
'ior the purposes Of the act, into one district -
The GOVERNOR, with the consent of the Senate,
appoints for the district give Commissioners of
'Police," and these, with the MAYORS of the cities
above mentioned, form the F'Board of Police" of
which n majority constitutes q quorum for the
transaction Of business. When originally appoint
ed, it was arranged that three should 90 out of
office at the end of one year, and two at the end
of two years, and "each Commissioner appointed
"to fill term succeeding an expiring one, should
'be thereafter appointed for n full term of three
''years." Any vacancy is to be filled by the re-
naming members of the Board for the residue of
the unexpired term, and any Commissioner who
accepts "any place ofpublic trust and emolument,'
or neglects to decline nomination to office within
ten days. is deemed TO have vacated his seat, and
they are also removable by the GOVERNOR in the
same manner as Sherffs are. The Board elects a
President and Treasurer from among the Commits
sioners, and appoints chief Clerk and six deputy
Clerks for the district who hold office at its plea
sure. 1t is made the duty of the Board cat all
Chimes of the day and night to "preserve the
public peace to protect the rights of persons
'and property ''to prevent crime and arrest
offenders, 4" and, in brief see that all is done
that thoroughly efficient and resolute
police force could be called on to perform; and
they are authorized to pass such rules and regua-
tons as they may think to be necessary for the
''proper government and DISCIPLINE of their sub
ordinates. The police force-which is to do duty
in any part of the district, without regard to county
lnes-conssts of General Superintendent" two
deputy Superintendent, give Surgeons" and
$50 many Inspectors or Captains" not to exceed
forty, and $50 many Sergeants'' not TO exceed
hundred and fifty and $50 many police patrolmen''
as the Common Council' of Brooklyn and "the
supervisors" of the counties of New York and
the other counties of the district may severallv de-
termine on quotas of the police force to be paid
for by said City and Counties respectively. and
these authorities may, from time to time. increase
or diminish the number of patrolmen. The MEM
bers of the police force to be appointed by the
Board and no one is eligible ''who can not read
land write the English language" or s'vho is
'not a citizen OF the UNITED STATES or "who
''shall not have resided five years next preceding
CHS appointment within the police district. " or
who has ''ever been convicted of crme;u and no
one can be removed except when written charges
have been preferred against him and an 'oppor-
'tunity has been afforded him of being heard in
his defence" In case of vacancy among the
captains it must be filled from the listo sergeants
and vacancy among the latter is to be filled from
among the patrolmen. The members of the force
possess, in every part of the State all the common
law and statutory powers of constables except
for the service of civil process,'' and they may
execute in any part of the State "any warrant for
search or arrest issued by any Magistrate of the
State of New York; and the general and deputy
superintendent and captains, having cause to sus-
pect felony has been or is about to be committed,
may enter any building or vessel in the district
Eat all hours of the day and night to take all
necessary measures for the efectua prevention or
detection of all felonies" The General SUPER
ntendent supersedes the Mayors of Brooklyn and
New York as head of the police, but he is subject
to The orders and regulations of the Board. The
Board may suspend members Of the police force
for thirty days without pay; and may, whenever
it sees fit, 'on the application of any person or
"persons showing the necessity thereof appoint
'and swear any additional number of patrolmen,
'to do duty at any place within the district" at
the ''charge and expense of the person or persons
making the application; these special patrolmen
however to be subject in all things to the orders
of the Board and removable at its pleasure; and
upon any emergency or "day of public election or
celebration" the Board may appoint ''as many
special patrolmen, without pay, from among the
citizens as it may deem advisable No member
OF the force can resign except on giving one
months notice. and no one who has ever been re-
moved Tor cause can be appointed. The Board |
may call out the military TO quell riots, protect
property and preserve the public tranquility: and
may summon and attach witnesses and admins |
ter oaths. The Commissioners receive ssaigbt |
dollars for each day of actual service, the
General Superintendent receives a salary of
three thousand dollars, the deputies two
thousand. the surgeons fifteen hundred. the
captains twelve hundred, the sergeants nine hum
dred and the patrolmen eight hundred each. No
member is permitted to take or share in any gift,
tee Or emolument other than his pay except by
consent of the Board All the re-
wards allowed by the Board to be given to any
member, and the moueys arising from the sale of
unclaimed goods, are to be paid into bank and
are to constitute fund called the 'Police Life