The New York herald., 1870-08-19
POLICE DISCIPLINE.
To rnE EDITOR or THE HERALp:-

~ THE EDiTOR OF THE nEkALD.-
Your correspondent has had many years rape
ricnce in the Police Department of the city Of
New York, and desires, through you, to enlighten
the public Of the grave faults committed by the
powers who at present govern the police force
Vi the city OF New York The mode adopted 20
compei each member to observe the rules by III
no'i"s heavy fines has demorazipg effect
Inv P'"ers mat be to think that by
'e'eie Pchaites they. will secure perfect
oo'"'eno0 ahu emciency. Now, why is IT that
'n'y WIN "0'er succeed In Improving the efficiency
VI 'ho 'oiVo oy luis method, but, rather the re-
verse; des'foy inc spirit OF every mau Of any in
teect attached to it? II Is that they seek 70 govern
them by physical force, rather than nv moral
force. They are ignorant of the laws which
govern human nature when they attempt In coercA
the men to such degree by fines, frowninas ana
threatenngs, &C., and other opprobrious means 10
obtain such an observance of the rules az If 10
make them infallible so that violations will never
occur | will tell you, sir, that the Board OF
Police may fine days pay for every violation of
the rules and they would not be any nearer but far
ther from perfection. Such practice would fail in
its purpose with savages; how much more 80 with
civilized beings who have been brought up ana
reared under the constitution aud laws governing
this free country! How very erroneous it is to
make il more important to require an observance
to detect thieves, burglars, pickpockets mid
night assassins, &C., who prowl about the streets at
all hours Of the day and night seeking whom they
may rob, or take life They compel an officer to
thinking being. They require he shall keep
moving at a regular pace, and in given
time walk over the whole OF his post.
No allowance is made for him to observe
any person who may appear suspicious,
nor any other circumstances which may require
his attention; he passes on his route, needless Of
the thieves, pickpookets and assassus who may
be watching him to take their opportunity 10 rob
and kill another Nathan; because, forsooth, he is
more thinking being, but machine to per
form his duty on time. Ii ne fails to come up, 70
time he is fined or dismissed. Such absurd rules
ought never to be enforced.
My experience has proved to me that every
policeman when on his post should be allowed the
largest latitude possible to take care OF his post in
of the superior officers Of his precinct. No
red tape nor technical observance of the
rules should be enforced, but cultivate
in him the spirit of emulation to catch thieves, to
prevent burglary and detect assassins, &c. which
would not only be an honor to them in their pro-
fession, but also qualification for well directed
effort, and thatin doing slight non-observ-
ance of the rules would not subject them to fine
| or dismissal, or even a reprimand l know OF seve-
| raj occasions where patrolmen who were allowed
| to use their own judgment, in conjunction with
the advice Of their superior officer. were success
full in preventing burglaries on their posts; but Al
| a later period, when commanded by another
| officer (who Was a great observer of the rules)
they were not allowed to use their judgment, but
| required to travel their posts by the minute.
Two or three nights after the new orders were
| enforced several burglaries took place. By this
method the thief can time the officer and calcu-
| late to o certainty when to accomplish his pur-
| pose. This should not be. An officer ought not
| to be trammelled by too many rules. 1t ID sum
| cient for him to know he IL held responsible for
\ his post. Give him latitude and good counsel and
he will take the best care OF it. By coercve laws
1 ood md Do ha will hn n
| Many Nathans will be murdered, many robberies
| will not be prevented, many thieves unnoticed and
! remain unknown, as the men will have enough to
do to study the rules without looking after thieves
on their posts. If any time is taken up In looking
after a suspicious person he is liable to charge
from the grand rounds, or from an Ignorant su-
perior officer, who does not understand the moral
| law which governs human nature Sometimes an
| officer wishes to know suspicious parties
| who are in the habit OF frequentng some houses
| on his post, and as they often assume different
disguise, 1t is deemed by him requisite to know
something about that person he gets, as II accl-
dentally, acquainted with him, and converses with
him; he studies his voice, his manner gestures,
| &c. for this he would be liable to fine or dis
missal. Many criminals have been detected by
| their voice.
Suffice it to say, less rules less fines, less
watching of policeman more than thief, no
| grand rounds; but let him receive the advice and
| counsel rather than the command, Of the superior
officers of his precinct let him be assisted in doing
bis duty by intelligent commanding officers, who
take charitable view of his shortcomings in try
| ing to perform his duties. Elevate him, stimulates
| him by respectful and kind treatment as q rule,
and resort to no penalties except in in.
| durable cases and refractory persons Then
you will have police force that will be an honor
to the city of New York; an honor to themselves,
| striving to catch thieves, to observe suspicious
persons, to detect burglars and assassins, and
that will be composed Of thinking men with
brains. and not walking automatons, and which
| will not be failure. CHARLES CATCHEM.
|