The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-12
THE WAR ON THE POLICE.
MAYOR WICKHAM AND THE POLICE
CON MISSIONERS.
The Charges Under Which John Il eliv & Co.
Hove 20 Get Control Of the Ballot Boz
Tue Denior atization Of the Police.

The Charges Under Which John Keliv & Co.
Hove 20 Get Control of the Ballot Boz
THO Demon tization Of the Police.
Mayor Wickham has made public his
letter to the Police Commissioners, aud the re-
plies Of Com rissloners smith and VoOrhis.
The Mayors letter sets forth the many com
plants against the poli'e Department through
the press and other channels Of public opinion,
that had gained emphlsis until they cuimin tied
IN q specific and formal presentmont Of the
Commissioners by the Grant Inquest OF tdo
county, In which the grand jurors complained
Of the alarming increase Of crime In New York,
especially OF murder, robbery. aud burglary. in
consequences of the ine1icicncy OF tho police
force as constituted. The usefulness Of Police
Commissioners, the Mayors letter says, de ends
largely upon the degree IN which they inspire
. blic confidence, tho most crectual Ircvcn-
tive Of crimc Dcing the dread ~ detection. rno
Mayo u letter adds that the Police Commission
ers nave not enjoyed the confidence Of the COM
munitv, ana further cilis attention TO the tcsti-
m0ny before the Assembly Investig tinQ Com
mittcr, especially ~ regard % the condiLion OF
the Eighth and Fifteenth Wards, wherein nave
existed for the last four or nv' wears an M
usually large numuer Ot notorious aud OFFENSIVE
huusea of PROSTITUTION, disordetiy houses, and
panel houses, nuisanCes that the Ponce Com
missiOncrs would not abate.
The Mayors spociao oairle against Commits
sioner Disbeckcr IA tnnt "a Vuiition ui the teyu.
latiOns governing the Police Board he appointed
~ pattolmcn strangers 81 less than six months
resid, nee III the city. solely on the ground 81
recommendation by political allies ~ distant
| patts Of he state.
Commissioners W. +. Smith promptly rendered
his resignation, and replied t. the Minors lot
ter u. he had twice asked permission to retire
| frOn hia % ition "a Police Commission or. lie
| fou nd at the outset ~ his connection with tue
| Police Department that n was necessary tn rely
| entirely upon his own NEGOTIATIONS To arfivo at
any attisf ctnry conclusIO -. lie iOuni 10 fproe
| of over twenty-fOur hundred men, not one of
| VIII IN could bs removed ny tho 80 ,rd Of Police
| wlthodt formal presentation OF charges and
regular tr u, IN tho conduct OF whicn there was
| no power IN the Commissioners ~ compel tue
] attendance OF Witness ss not mem beers of toe
| force. lie learned from experience In the court
| rom, NJ the dep rtment, IN the tri \ OF Gases,
| that 4 lac statements made under o1th were so
| common among the members OF the force as TO
| throw "A DOUBT upon mos. Of the testimony gwen
| tGero, unless supported by other evidence. lie
| saw. IN the streets, nd N view almost NJ the
| Ceptral once every day. open violations Of the
| rules established for TIE conduct Of policemen
| wh1s on duty. His first effort was to throw
open the doors for fresh appointments. and TO
| raiso the standard Of examinations for caDdi.
| dates for the position Of policemen. His second
| effort was TO alter materially the methods OF al.
| ministr ton but his fellow Commissioners did
not work with him. and hia person'l relations
! with hts Official associates. under such clrcu M
| stances, Gee sme embarrassing and unpleas H.
! c1arse and offensive exDressiOn rejecting
upon him was made Nv toe President, from ms
place ~ presiding Ofllcor IN the court room, m
the presence OF members of the force, calculated
to Impair hts usefulness IA a Commissioner; ana
he found 10 necess uy 10 max his relations VIII
that officer, and MS opinion Of MS illness Tor ms
| pl CO, perfectly IN elligioie.
| Commissioner NOOfnis. IN sending IN hts resig
| nation, DtOfcssed To have done all IN his pOWe
| to make the Police 30 ard efficient.