, 1862-05-12
THE POLICE BUSINESS OF
CHICAGO.
Annual Report Of the Police Com
misst0ners.


Below, ne present summary Of the First
Annual Report Of the Police Commissioners,
It will be found interesting as giving an accu-
rate and detailed statement Of the police busi-
ness Of Chicago under the new regime its
expenses: the business Of the Police Court;
what it hos accomplished the past year and the
prospects for the new year, providing the su-
preme Court decision, yet to be given, contin-
ues the Commissioners In office. The facts
presented are worthy ofperusal aud considers
ton, and furnish abundant food for reflection
and digestion.
Ne first glye the more Important portions
Of the Commissioners report az subjoined,
and following it the General 2uperIutendent's
report to the Commissioners:
70 the Honorable the Mayor end A1dtry,szss Of Tie
Cayef Chicago it, Common Council assembled:
The Police Commissioners gor the City Of Chi
entitled "an act to eetablish . Boa,a Of Pol:ce
II 9 s9d dg The .n oy soSS ., ehsc:o spa prescribe
1s6i, present herewith thcir fst annual report.
BY the provisions Of the act under which the
Board was created, thc first Commits sioners Of Po:
BY the Goycrnor ii the State, aud b. and with tie
advice and consent Of the Senate. appointed The
first Commissioners are to hold their offices res
successors arc elected their salary Is to b ea:h
ee ehall be determined By the Common Council oE
the city Of Chicago. Their powers and duties arc
! The undersigned were, on the ssa day Of Feb
/ ruary 1861, appointed the first Commissioners OF
Police for the city Of Chicago and subsequent to
that TING accepted Of the Office to which they were
| It was rot the intention Of the Police Commits
sioae1e 70 Interfere with the police organization
first Monday in Mar, A. D: 1861: On tho morning
Of the twcntssixth day Of March, 1851, the under
dlscf argcd all but one Of tie policemen then
in the employ Of the city and this Board Has in.
nedsately BY this act compelled 70 assume and
6rat rcgniar gn meetins q lie boaFd was lsld on %
that aaS. At this meeting the terms q ONCE ior
| pursuance Of the requirements Of section two Of
The act in question, and the Bosrd was organized
! BY the appointment OF A. G. Coyentry Is Presi.
dent ard William Waynan as Treasurer. From
tbat aay tbs police d the city u Chicago have
| been under the charge OF this Boaed.
On the Organization Of the Board, ME: Jlcol
Aeti1g Superintendent. lie confinaed 10 @ peEfsrn
! the duties Of Gcncrai Superintendent until Ma1
lst, 1861, when Nj. Cyrus P. Bradley was an
pointed General Superintendent. Mr, Kehm con
1inued to act as Deputy Superintendent until DC
tober 18th, 1861, when he resigned: and NC deEfrt
here to state that the resignation OF H.. Echm VA
! accepted UY Ills 80aTQ VIII extreme EGiuELAuEf
and that in the opinion Of the underst tgned, nucl
Of the efficiency of the force under their charge
due to the able manner in which he performed th
duties Of bis Office.
| Here follows copy Of the ordinance passct
at the late Constitutional Convention re1atig
to the election Of city officers, in regard t.
Which, the Report says:
At the late election, q maturity Of tie voters {
The city Of Chicago voted For tic CITY OF Chico
! 20 electing its own Of6cets. Grave question
having risen as to the power Of the Constitutions
| foureDtiun to enact the ordinance in question
the undersigned submitted the question to thci
legal advisers for advice and direction. The opi1
| ions Of these gentlemen, in whom this Board ha
! the gr. ateet confidence, will be found in the pan
| phlet herewith submitted {sec Supplement- tn
Undersigned have been at ali times, and still a1
willing and deEiroue to render every aid in the
power to speedy and final decision by the s,
prcme Cont OF the State, OF the question raleet
Until euch decision is rendered, the undersigue'
IN accordance With the advice Of eminent coul
eel will Continue to discharge the duties Of the
| Office.
The undersigned desire to return thanks to tt
Mayor and Conl,tro for The aid they have rct
The General Supcrfut tcndcnt IL well known
attended to the duties Of his Office faithfully ar
r ably To the officers and men under his cbarG
l VIC desire also TO bear testimony. Each and all
| them are deserving Of special notice,
1ours respectfully,
A. c. COVENTRY.
: WM. WAYAAA.
FREDERICK TCTTLE