New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-18
THE POLICE Question:

Tie question at issue in the Police Depart
ment was certain to arise whenever a thorough
policeman became the executive head of the
force, and we are not surprised it has been
raised so soon after the acce gsiOn of Superin-
tendent JOurdan to that position. 1t is of such
vital importance TO the public, and is so gen.
orally and thoroughly misunderstood, that
statement of the case is desirable as a means
of suggesting remedies for the evils alleged
to exist.
AS tie present law ontnued the main
features of the Metropolitan system the head
of the Police Department ~ Board, com
posed OF four Commissioners, which is the
creature of political exigencies, because itself
n political creation. The Superintendent Of
Police has only such powers ~ the Board may
give him, and it has naturally bestowed the
shadow ana kept the substance. The power
of appointment, transfer, discipline, and de-
tailment, il has reserved and the Suporin
tendent, who is responsible for the Conduct OF
the force is wholly without voice in these
most essential matters. If the Board cOald he
relied upon to defer to all reasonable demaIsis
of its subordinate, the evils resulting from this
division of power and responsibility might not
be so apparent but the exercise Of its fDc-
tons is 30 frequently determined solely by
partisan influences that it is not ssranla the
force deteriorates, and aa earnest Official seeks
to escape from an anomalous position.
1t is not to be admitted that q rerAedy for
these ills can be found i'll the consess ion of all
that Superintendent Jourdan is understood to
ask. In the matter Of discipline, by fiction OF
law or actually, he is always the accuser, and
ought never to be the Judge; but the Bosrd
should be obliged % receive and impartnlly
consider every complaint properly made The
Superintendent should certainly not have the
power of appointment but promotion to the
ranks of captain and sergeant, instead of de-
pending on fbe will of the Commissioners,
should be tho result of success ia competitive
examination Of candidates in school of in
struction established for these higher grades
of the service, similar 70 TINT for the fresh
patrolman. On the other hand the Superin-
tendent undoubtedly should have the power of
transfer and detalment. "A captain sergeant
or patrolman may be fit or unfit for special
service, or valuable or/worthless according to
| locality of duty, and no one is so likely TO
have the interest and information required to
correctly place these officers as the Superin-
tendent, who is responsible for their actions
1t must be confessed that even these are vast
powers to be vested in a subordinate, but
thew are only commensurate with the response
bility attached to the most onerOus and i'm
portant of municipal positions.
The present Police force of NewYork is in
many respects admirable, but it is yet capable
of improvement, and we believe the change:
we have suggested would be vital reforms
The letter of Judge Bosworth, in answer to
the resignation of Superintendent Jourdan
does not indicate that the Board of Police il
ready to abandon any of its nerogatives fol
the sake of the general good, but we hope that
in the end public opinion will compel the
adoption of all measures calculated to secure
the best attainable Police. And we are certain
that the Board will find it has made serious
mistake if meantime it does not concedc
enough TO retain an official whose old