The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-09
OUR SOLDIER P0LICEME IN.
STUDYING UPTON's Tactics TO SUP
PRESS CRIMINALS.
Captain. and sersenn,. who are Isnoran, Of


Captains and scrsenn,s whe are Ignorant Of
the Manual Of Arms to be Dismissed The
tPntrolmen's step the Burglars Warning.
The movements of the pohoe Commis.
sioners indicate that sweeping changes are soon
to be made Ia the Police Department. Those
who profess to know what Ia going on say that
Gen. Smith and his colleagues intend to remove
nearly oue-half Of the captains and many ser
eeaDts, and to reduce to tho ranks several
roundsmen. Eyory captain, sergeant, and
roundsman on the force Is to be examines by n
Board, consisting OF the Commissioners, the
Superintendent. and the Inspectors. 1t Is be-
lieved to be the Intention OF the Commissioners
to dismiss the captains and sergeants. and to re-
duce to patrol duty the roundsmen who fail to
pass a satisfactory examination. The oxamina-
tlon is said to be very severe. Gen. Smith con-
ducts that part Of II which relates to
military tactics. lie requires the ser
eeants and roundsmen to understand the
manual OF arms, and the movements appertain-
ing to the squad aud the company. The cap
talns are Obliged to expl In both company and
battalion movements. Commissioner Voorhis
superintends the part Of the examination that
relates to the excise, gambling and lottery laws,
and to the power Of the police to enforce them.
The questions concerning the ordinary and rou-
tine duty of the police are asked toy INSPECTOR
McDeimott. Inspector Dilks takes tue lead
when the examiners reach the city ordinan.
ces, and Inspector Thorne nsks the questions
on the uolic mems supervising power over tho
men who sweep the streets. INSPECTOR Speights =
mart Of tho work Ia to question the officers to
their knowledge OF cav Try tactics and the laws
against fast driving and cock hghting.
-Four captans have already been examined.
Three OF them acquitted themselves creditably.
Thc other cnptain, although an honest and ek
pericuced officer, was, II Is said, unable TO tell
how to form a battalion into n hollow square to
resist cavalry or to deploy " into line whie II IL
l n. therefore.
A. Incompetent. SO afraid are the officers nd
Il u IN the foico tnat they may not be sable to
- the examination. that they neglect their
police duty, aud spend their time In prep ring
for the ordeal. III you 20 into station
N old policeman, yesterday. you Will
hnd the plains and serseants reading
patrolmen's sitting ROOM you will see officers
doing the manual of aims with the bfooms,
shovels and hoes belonsing to the Street Ciean-
ing Bureau, ana nracilS the broadsword ex-
ercises with their clu6s. When the officer l. on
duti he no longer moves about With his Gus
tomary free and swinging ii. with mead
hands at his side the little fingers touching the
seams OF his trousers, he marches sir,ig
ahead, looking neither to the right nor tho le I,
hi- mind bent on keeIing his step wi,un e
regulation limit OF twenty-eight inches. On
arriving at the end Of his post, he mutteis
Rignt bout, InYch, and turning on his left
heel marches ha% to hi- starting point. h we
policeman, and have served under Acton,
Manierre, Brennan, Hank Smith, hatseil, and
/ Dl~Decker, out never ihoN-ht ln4t l HuoNlu
see the day when Aman must toe "A soldier To be
a policeman. | shouldn't be surprised" he
added, Ito see policemen drawing twelve
| pound cannon through the streets before long,
| " Does not this exclusive attention to military
| science on the part OF the police force enhance
| the burglars chances to commit robOcfies."
"Of course II does" replied the officer. burg
laries have been more frequent than usual.
| since this military business was introduced into
| the department patrOlmen are not allowed tn
saunter on their posts. Tney must march straight
| ahead. and are erpecttd t. do sixty minutes
patrol duty every hour. That suits the crook ID
/ men. Tnty can time the officers SO well that
| they can commit a burglary between the time
he leaves given place ana the time Of mis- re-
| turn"
| A few DAYS ago the Commissioners requested
| the opinion Of their counsel as u the power of
| the board to act on the ses OF Captains VIII.
| hams and McCulagn, both Of whom were tried
| by the old hoard. IL Is expected that the coun
sci wiu decide that the vote taken by the old
| board on tue motion to dismiss Capt. " illtams
estpps tho existing board from acUug ON his
| case. lie viii, however, hold that they may Aci
| on Capt. McCullachs Case, no vote having beer
| taken IL b the former board