The New York herald., 1866-08-24

EXTRAORDINARY REVELATIONS CONCERNING THE
POLICE DEPARTMENr.--The jealousy existing
between the detectives Of the federal govern
ment and the detectives of the Metropolitan
police, which has led to charges and counter
public in possession of some very curious
facts. which confirm the opinion generally
entertained for u long time past, that many of
our police force were tho agents Of crime rather
than the conservaiors of public safety. The
afiiiavits sworn 10 before the Recorder on
Wednesday show the modms Operandi adopted
by the police in levying black mall under
shelter CT their official position, TO be as inge
nious as il is bold and infamous. II is
alleged, on the oath Of several witnesses,
that certain officers of the police force,
assisted by accompliccs, wearing the shields
Of the Police OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES men,
bcrs of the force or not remains to be
provcd-caused certain goods to he sold to
dealers, and almost Immediately upon the sale
being effected, entered the stores of the pur-
chasers, declared that the goods were stolen,
and compelled the parties who bought them,
by threats OF arrest and other fearful consc-
quences in case they were brought before
Judge Bowling. TO compromise the matter by
paying the officers sums Of money varying
from one to five hundred dollars. Fortunately.
the policemen implicated in these nelarious
proceedings have been fully identified by the
victims in two instances. aud, as their cases
are in the hands Of Recorder Hackett, II is not
likely that they will be whitcwashed after the
mild and paternal fashion of the Police Com
missioncrs. We may expect thorough ven
tilation Of the whole system of corruption
which il is said prevails in the Police Depart
ment and the public will look to the Recorder
for protection. They have long since ceased
TO hope for anything from the Commissioners,
for those gentlemen cvinced no desire TO bring
to justice, or even TO receive evidence against.
members OF the police force charged with
offences against the law We have seen good
deal OF apparent vigilance in hauling up pa
tromcn for being absent from their beats for a
| few moments when the roundsmen or sergeants
prowlcd around to catch delinquent; but il
seems questionable, in the face OF recent de-
vclopmcnts, whether this was not cloak to
hide the loosencss permitted in other ways
We have observed also extraordinary activity
in using The club and otherwise exhibit
ing unnecessary violence upon intoxicated
wrctches aud unoffending citizens, for which
| policemen were never held responsible. The
| question now suggests itself whether all this
| superficial show of energy was not a blind 10
cover the evil deeds Of which the police force
now stands accused. We think that the public
win be very apt TO regard II in this light, and
| Il may require good deal Of ingenuity ON the
part OF the Police Commissioners 10 convince
! them TINT Tie most dangerous parties TO tho
| safety Of the community are not 10 be found
among those very individuals who are EN-.
ployed to protec, ms.
We are gratiicd TO know that these charges
against the police have been entrusted to the
courts of law whore jury of citizens will
probably have an opportunity of passing upon
them. II The facts stated in the afiiavits made
before The Recorder can be sustained. we shall
have clue TO the whole vicious police system
under which we have been living and suffering.
| We hope that the whole affair will he thorough
ly siftcd. II the police are really the most
dangerous class in the community, "a alleged
the ins,igators Of crime and the accompiices o.
criminals--it Is time tAsi the public Should
know IL. n they car. clear tlemsclvesso! tn
charge, let them do, 40 In open court, and no
shirk the question In q sar-chsmbcr, investiga
tioa