The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-02
rOG-HORN OR MACE, WIFI CHI!
Some suggestions from the SuPer-
intendent of Police.

Some Suggestions from the Super
inteMdent of Police.
The following communication was re-
ceived by the Board of Police Commits
sioners at their meeting yesterday even
ing from the Chief OF Police:
"CINcINNATI, Nov. 1, 1879.
"GENTLEMEN-rh matter OF running
our patrolmen single ON their beats, in
stead of running them in pairs, as we
do at present, and also the substituting
of the baton for the whistle, which Is
now in use, which was referred to me, at
former meeting of your Board, with re-
quest that consider the matter and re-
port on the same, has been under my
consideration, and beg leave to state
that l have written to various cities
upon the subject, to ascertain their GUS
toms in regard to the matter, ana nave
received answers from Pittsburg, Buf-
falo, Boston and Indianapolis. From
the answers received, l VIII
make a few quotations: Pitts-
burg say: sour police patrol their
beats singly, except in few localities
and on special occasions. We use the
baton or mace In giving signals De.
troit says: 'Our patrolmen are required
to perform their duty singly, except the
new appointees, who are sent out Win
the experienced patrolmen until they
learn their duty. We use the whist to
signal in case assistance Is required
Buffalo SAYS: In no instance are patrol
meu allowed 10 patrol their beats In
pairs. The whistle is used when no
hard substance is near to SOUND the
baton on Boston says: AS general
rule our beats are patrolled by men run
| ming single. On some very trouble
some beats we sometimes detall Two
men. Our officers are not furnls hed
| with whistles; If they were every boy In
the street would have a duplicate, which
would be worse than useless indian
apolis says: we run our men single,
| but in calling distance OF each other.
| We use the whistle instead OF the CLUB
| NV ession is that the interests OF
the city and the property of our citizens
would be better protected by dividing
| the beats into two parts ana running
our men single. And il our men run IN
| pairs think it better that they should
run one on either side of the street, as
they would be able as closely to Watch
| both sides of the street as they would tne
one size with the two running Ill PAIRS
In St. Louis and New York they run their
men single, making their beats sum
| Cl6ltlV Bllall Jutt Lu0 SNh
readily call assistance from an adJoin-
| ing beat, In case assistance is needed.
find that in most cities, the baton or
mace Is used instead or the whistle. l
think from my experience the mace is
preferable, as, with instructions to men
using the mace to rap on the curb-stone
at each corner of the street as they
pass, the sound is more easily located
| than that of the whistle. In the
compact part Of the city and
especially wnere the buildings are high
the sound of the whistle seems to be re-
tarded by the heights Of the buildings
or the echo made TO sound in different
direction from where it really is. In lhe
suburbs, or in districts where the build
ings are more sparse and the beats large
the whistle may not be Objectionable
but may even be preferable. Alter con
sidering the matter carefully, and mud
ing that the mace is used in nearly all ou
oluer cities, and especially in those oitlet
where great care has been used to or
ganize police iorce to be used to Tn
Jest possible advantage for protecting
lhe interests OF the city as we'll as tina
of private citizens, l have concludes
that the baton, or mace, Is preferable
except in the case before mentioned.
ALI of which is respectfully submit
fed. IRA WOOD,
Superintendent Of Police"