The daily gazette., 1875-10-20
WILMINGTON, DEL, OCT. go, 1878:
Increase the Police Force.

That the police force of Wilmington
is too small at present there is no doubt.
But We differ with our neighbors OF Ere
~ Evening, who demand that the force
shall be doubled. That paper has made
it point, it seems to Us, to favor every
extravagant measure that has been pro-
posed since it had an existence, and it
would not do for Democratic Council
to undertake to follow its advice.
Mayor Whiteley, in his letter to the
City Council, sets forth very good rea-
sons for an increase in the police force,
but instead of desiring it doubled only
asks for l3 additional; he does not insist
upon even this number if the Finance
Committee find that it will add too much
to the already heavy taxes of our citi-
zens. He is willing to take what the
Council will allow him and endeavor to
keep the city in es good order as possi-
BILE; knowing that very much depends
on the energy and activity of the men;
such as fail to do their duty promptly
and faithfully will be at once discharg-
ed. Nor do We believe that those who
do their police duty as they should ought
to be saddled with the lighting of the
lamps also. If this duty is put upon
the men, it will tend very materially to-
ward the Generalization of the force,
and prevent the city obtaining the
services of the better class of men. The
lamps are now lighted by very small
boys, some Of them colored, and we are
confident that efficient policemen could
not be got to do it willingly, and if they
were required to do it they would want
an increase of their salaries, so that
there would be very little saved in this
way while the moral effect of the officers
would probably be much reduced. Now,
If the police force were three times as
great as it is turbulence and disorder in
various places and in isolated cases would
still exist. This is mostly the result of
drunkenness, and will exist until cured
by some other mode.
The city has about 81, 900 or 81, 900 pop
ulaton, covering an area of eight square
miles. The present police force is one
chief, two sergeants, two specials, and
eighteen men-three for each district.
The specials are on duty all the time at
Police Heodqudrters-one at night, the
other during the day. The eighteen
men and two sergeants are posted as
follows-eight for the day force and
twelve for the night duty.
For city of our population force of
eight men is ridiculously small. And so
also is the night force.
When a disturbance occurs people
complain that "no policeman 1cas IN
sight. How can it be expected when
eight men have the care of so large a
territory? A policeman can no more be
ubiquitous than other persons. One
man. for instance, has charge, in day
ume' OF all that part Of the city north
of.Ienth street, on both sides of Market
street to the Brandywine. Another has
that part west of Market street and
south OF Fourth street. The first being
the present Fifth, and the other the
resent First District
To properly police districts of the size
OF these it would take five men in day
time and double that number at night.
But the districting by the Council,
which was done years ago, is wrong un-
der the present circumstances, and thus
to require the same number of men to
to be appointed from each district makes
the wrong worse, as was illustrated by
the Mayor in his communication tc
Council by the Sixth and Fourth Dis.
tricts. The Sixth has large territory
the greater portion of which is not built
up, and much smaller population than
the Fourth, yet has the sane number OF
men. Where the population is the most
dense, there is the place where there is
the greatest probability of breaches Of
the peace occurring.
In case the Council prefer districtins
the city themselves, the Mayor has sub
mitted new set of districts-nine in al
reducing all of the present districts
but the Sixth, and asking for three mer
for each. This would make the patrol
men twenty-seven. He also ha: asked
for some additional sergeants and spe
cials, altogether an increase of thirteer
men.
This may not be too many for such :
city as ours. The only question is tn,
extra expense-say $4,000.
Good order at certain times require,
men to preserve it. Is it not none,
well spent TO secure peace and prevent
turbulence and crime2 But would i
not be better to give him the incrsas,
and abolish the districtsP Why not le
the Mayor district the city himself. h,
is responsible for its good order?