Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-06-17
POLICEMEN AND PIsTOLs-THE DANGER
GUS WAY4 OF PEACE GUARQIANH.

The sad case OF Thursday has awakened .
very doep feeling in the community against the
pistol practice of police officers, while sharp
criticism is made upon tho individual whose
reckless use Of the revolver caused the tragedy
That it is dangerous, to say the least, to place
loaded pistols in the hands Of constabes, in the
midst of crowded city, is very plain, and when
these constsbles, instead of being men of the
greatest discretion, GOODNESS, and respect for
law, are hssty, passionate and reckless, it must
not be surprising if their stray bullets carry
death into quiet households.
The officer who killed the girl ought never to
have been on the police force. But Mayor
simms insisted he should be. Most Of our read
ers will very well recollect the resistance the
City Council made to the confirmation Of three
OF the Mayors appointees, one Of whom was the
officer now under notice. The City Council has
the power to confirm or reject the Mayors ap-
pointments the discretion is placed upon it by
the city charter, and is intended, certainly, to be
used. In that case, the Council did use it, and re-
sisted, for some time, tho nomination of O'Nei
NJ policeman. The Mayor, however, prevailed,
and he, with tho two others who were also OBJ
jected to, was confirmed. The consequence is
before us, result feared always by those who
were unwilling lie should be put on the force,
and who knew that he was not such person az
might be safely appointed there.
1t is well-known rule Of law that tile police
have no right to use their pistols, unless they
are themselves endangered. o'Neill fred twice,
not to kill Salle Doyle but to kill or main young
Wingate. Yet he had as much right to kill the
girl ~ he had to kill the man. That which he
attempted and apparently meant to do WAS ~
unlawful as the fatal hurt which his turned bull
let inflicted. His chase Of person charged with
sIpetty crime, and his deadly fusilade lin the
streets was as outrageous = violation of what he
ought to know il the law. ~ II he had deliber-
Ately used his revolver to shoot Ssllie Doyle.
Such policemen are dangerous. People will
desire to be protested from such protectors and
we doubt il they will feel that the men who
run through the streets emptying revolvers at
running men and killing other people in their
own yards, in any degree contribute to their
safety Of person. They will blame the Mayor
for appointing o'Noill, knowing him defective
in the very qualities which are needed
in q policeman. They will remember that this
officer has been equally reckless in the use Of
his pistol, heretofore, and that while this IL the
first person killed by it, he has MANNED one or
more, with his official revolver, under circumstan-
cos equally dscreditable to his qualifications as
conservator Of the public peace. The present
distressing tragedy needs no heightened color
Ing We do not dwell upon it's features, except
~ they concern the public interests and as they
sharpen the lesson that police force may DO
more dangerous than the other offenders whom
It is supposed to hold in check.