The New York herald., 1877-03-17
CROOKED" PATROLMEN.

FIVE DETECTIVES SUSPECTED or coLLusIoN
WITH THIEVES PUNISHED % M BEISo rur
ON PATROL DUrY-Is THIS JUST TO THE
PUBLIC?
Tho Board OF Police Commissioners held two meet
ngs yes,erdayone the morning and another In the
afternoon At tho first meeting the resignation Of De-
tectve George W. Elder, who has been the force
for twenty-seven years. received and accepted.
and Patrolman Finnerty. OF the First precinct and
Patrolman Shea, were rcnstatcd Dy order Of the su
prcmc Court
In the afternoon the Commissioners transacted tho
important business OF the day. They transferred
to patrol duty Detectives sillcck, Doyle. Larue
Riley and McDougal This action was not altogether
unexpected, although the Comm issoners IRON time to
time within tho past few days positively denied any
knowledge Of malpractice in this bureau Of the depart
mont Nothing more crushing than the following
resolutions which adopted by the Board ycser.
day. has emanatcd for years from the Central Office
rulers BY them the men are charged with ncfnciency
and collusion with thieves in such language as would
leave them little chance OF employment outside OF tLc
Police Department
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved, That the Iowing-namcd patrolmen be
and they arc hereby remanded TO patrol duty and
transferred to the precincts hereinafter named rcspcc
lively, to wilt
pairolman Joseph snlcck, Detective squad, to tho
Patrolman Chris. b. McDousal Detective squad, 10
the rhirty-hrst precinct
Patroman PhIlip Riley, Detective squad, TO the
Thirty-ourlh precinct
Patroman John d. Larue. Twcnty-third precinct, to
the Thirty y-secOnd prcciuct.
patronan Thomas Doyle, First precinct, to the
Thiriy-third precinct
These police officers have been for some time
signed TO- detective duty In tho lower port'on OF the
city where were the largest financial interests. Their
duties have not been difficult TO perform nor multa-
riouR fhe results OF their labor have been most
discredtuble. IL the arrest 0i few thieves Tor peity
offences be excepted the services OF some oi them to
the public have been worthless. Large robbcrics
have been committed and forgeres perpetrated and in
almost every instance either tue real offender
been brought TO justice or when he has bcen the cvi.
dence presented would be sufficient for convc-
tiOn and there Is scarcely an instance on record at
these headquarters WHERE II there was large amount
victed.
Not only these officers failed generally in these
respects but. December r. 1876 this department
fluids that $20600C, cash and securities, nave been
stolen by sneak thieves IRON banks and bankers Vhe
avais Of four rooberes only and the offences not
properly reported At headquarters, and not ono
dollar recovered the criminals arrcseda state OF
affairs which needs no comment.
Especially may be added the TACT that the men who
pepetrato this class OF offences arc not numerous and
well known by sigh and reputation to all Of these
officers transferred, and that interviews with them
tho oi and previous TO a robbery their imme-
date ana subsequent ASSOCIATION with them after the
offence II it does not furnish evidence OF completely
least Is ground Tor severe criticism. Thoy should
have been driven from the city by detection instead
OF being permitted TO remain for punder II Is also
clear that the attitude OF the thieves and their
catcs since these robbcries has shown confidence
resulting from satisfactory arrangement with some
The daily reports OF tho detectives show tnem to
have been constantly on duty, but months sometimes
pass without their having scep according to their own
showing moro than TWO suspicious characters
This Board has information, however, that during
such times they have seen many OF them and con-
vcrsed with them under circumstances which they
will IN time be called upon 10 explain. They now
transferred 10 post duty to prevent more mischief,
whether resulting from incapacty, willui negligence
collusion.
All this undoubtedly grows out OF the reprimand
that the denqucnts with George Elder received from
the Com mssioners at tho time Of the disappearance
OF tho tin box from Nassau street. Elder worked IN
the district with SiIleck, Doyle and McDougal;
but Philip Riley and Laruo did not therefore these
two were included in the shortcomings OF tho
officers who looked utter 'hc street." rho Commits
soners however, have been inquirng into tho opera
tons Of the Detective Office for some tmc and have
resolved things right there Other removals
Ouitc pOssibIC.