The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-25
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HOW the Commissioners Ell
fected Reform"
MAKING UP A SLATE.
Inefficiency OF the Present Board
OF Police.
QUEER METHODS OF BUSINESS

That the Police Commissioners hoped that their
action IN removing some OF the neadquarter de-
tectves would be considered BY the public IS
decided reform there can be no question, but the
TACT Is that, governed by personal motives as to
certain members OF the squad, or In utter ignor-
ance OF the real facts in the case, Board have
aot accomplished what they professed TO be so
anxious to 90. The line or action taken oy the
Board on Friday proves conclusively that none OF
the Board have any adequate or Intelligent idea OF
police duty, and the display Of ignorance thus
made Is a lamentable one.
THE POLICE BOARD
Is In reality the mos, important commission In
This city, Tor the department they control 10
responsible Tor the personal safety OF every CITIZEN
besides guarding the millions and millions OF
dollars invested in real ana personal prop
erty. The police supposed to MAINTAIN order
In the streets, repress icentiousness watch all dis
honest and suspicious persons. prevent accidents,
search out aud arrest active and dangerous crm-
inals in fact keep the community in order so that
each individual shall know his personal rights.
and knowing them, have them assured to him and
be compelled 10 respect those OF others without
o police orce no city or town can exist, for lie
and property would not be saie and when police
force Is jealous and wise in the discharge OF its
responsible and manifold duties the community
which supports IL enjoys domestic peace and
prosperity. Here in New YORK our police force has
done good ana honorable service, despite the
changes that have from time to time been made
in Its organization. The rank and die VINO patrol
and guard our streets in uniform composed OF
men who under proper degree OF discipline are
easily kept TO the strict line OF duty. But when
The Board that governs it Is composed OF men
who cannot grasp the aim and scope OF their own
duties the department must lose it effectiveness
and value.
AMErHoD OF CONDUCTING AFFAIRS.
One OF the present commissioners Is an old po-
lice officer. yet ne appart ntly pays more attention
10 looking after the safety OF his position
than TO looking alter hts subordinates, forgetting
meanwhile that as President OF the Board ne Ia
responsible for the efficiency OF the department.
II he attended to his duties be ought there
would probably be no question OF removal which
recent neglect seems now distinctly TO FORE
Ihadow. Another Commissioner, being military
ILudent and oficer OF NO mean reputation, would
he had his way, ruin the force by making the
men soldiers and take away that elastic character
which, as civil o1cers. constitutes each patrolman
responsible agent. instead or q rigid machine
Discipline in the ponce can be maintained without
The musKet and sabre. Another member OF the
Board Is apparently far more SOLICITORS
lbout the return OF gold watches that
nave been stolen from influential poll
Hcians than seeing that the thieves who
prey upon the community are arrested and pun
lshed Tor their crimes. This Commissioner Is said
10 nave bet q basket OF wine In the Filth Avenue
Hotel the night Mr.. Alvord lost his watch taat
The timeplece would be returned within Jour
hours. The Commissioner won the bet, but the
people around the Central once do not say
whether the thief got any OF the wine. Why was
the thiel who took the watch permitted to 60
Tree wbea member OF the Governing Board
sets such an example as this what q comedy It Is
70 see the Commissioners "punDh" men for
doing the same thing. The remaining
Commissioner evidently desires to DO con.
sidered reformer, and, being prompted
by an Inspector who Is himself no honor to the
department., plunRes into all sorts Of 'reforma-
tory" schemes which DO more harm tnan good.
Under these circumstances the reform" made
In the detective bureau with 50 much flourish re-.
solves itself into Iarce for though the Board did
right in sending the chef detective from the post
he mad brought into dishonor there was no sense
IN reversing the duties OF the Superintendent and
Day Inspector. as they really have done.
pIsDANDNo THE DETECTIVES
viii not remedy the evil that existed. What II
needed is o Board who will insist upon the arrest
OF thieves and their arraignment before . magis-
trate, whether the stolen property Is recovered
not. Rewards Tor the latter saouiG not be permit
ted unless the detectives also secure tue criminal.
In fact, let there De more real detective
and less comp ounding OF felony. That Will De real
reiorin, and honest men VIII rejoice tnereat
when ordered to do patrol duty clearly snows
that ne iong since gave up any idea that ne was .
peteeHe has enabled aim n mas, otser 1ns
detectives DID when transferred from the squad.
All OF these men tendered their resgn.uons as
soon as taey found that patrol duty was IN order
Tor mem. Each man that mas thus lett tAe squad
was well able TO take ais name on the de partment
payrols, Tor they were In reality rich though all
were careful not TO put their money where lt
could not De counted; Real estate Is iavorIte
and yet II would ne difficult or any one 10 dnd OUT
how rlcn they are. II was limited yesterday at the
Central once that Dusenbu-y intended TO follow
Fareyis example and leave the Iorce ne mas not
been much credit 10. Down in wall street, where
curioaity was expressed as to the appearance
they would make la UNIFORM, and 1t was q notable
them TO think mat aPhln and ..Dusey" were
expected 10 patrol the street oy day and nign.
and swing baton instead of cou pons. ana Try
doors instead OF looking up handsoms rewards,
was considered rather good JOKE OF the Younger
brokers. older requenters OF the street were
not 30 bolsterous. as they probably knew good
deal about the practices OF the oanlsaed desee-
uves.
THE INJUSTICE DONE
To those VINO Know the history OF Detectives
Eivens aud Fields the treatment dealt out 70 them
appeared 10 De q great injustice. Inc 1rSt named,
"Old George" has been o member OF the squad
for many years. and during his connection WITH
one time be was one OF the most important men,
bers Of the bureau. and in those early days he
The department. 1t was ne WAC unravelled the
Hicks piracy case. ana tue records o. the depart
has worked up difficult cases after they had
been abandoned by other detectives. In all mis-
service As policeman Nvens has not become
susplclousy rich, nor has his name been
nected with the scandals Of the once. Indeed, ne
has renamed SO quiet under the injustice done
him by the ring that new boards OF Commission
ers were not aware that he had a record OF nouor.
New commissioners were more apt to DE attracted
by the men who made 30 much show and dressed
extrayagantly. Yet the present board OF re-
formers publicly disgrace q faithful oficer to save
others who should stand In 1is place. In the case
Of Bennett the Board IS also at ault, Tor his record
Ia almost as good az the other, only one charge
having been made against him that had q serious
look. man OF great experience and one who
Always endeavored TO do his duty honestly, Ben
nett II loss TO the squad and has been sacrificed.
MAKING UP THE SLATE.
IL curious TACT, which mas since leaked out,
that the list sent by superintendent walling 10
the Board On Friday. asking that the men named
therein De retained Tor tue present, vas not pre-