The New York herald., 1879-12-18
THE PROPOSED POLICE CHANGES

HISTORY OF THE BROADWAY AND MOUNTED
sQUADs-EFFoRIs TO PREVENT THEIR ABoLI-
TIoN.
The contemplated abolition OF the Broadway and
mounted squads as reported in yesterdays hERALD.
has been the of bringing all sorts Of
to bear upon the Police Commissioners to recon-
slider their action and to allow these branches of the
service to remain. The Broadway squad is composed
Of the picked men Of the force. They con-
spicuous by their physical proportions and their
attention to duty. The organization of the squad
dates back to the year 1858. The men selected for
this duty all picked patrolmen. At present
their station is at No. "a East Twenty-ninth
street. The squad consists of ffty-six men
all told captain. three sergeants. three rounds
men and fortysix patrolmen. Captain Garland is in
command. Their precinct extends from the south
side Of Thirty fourth street to the north side Of
Bowling Green. Their post is in the street, from
curb to curb. The entire force is duty every day
for eleven hours. 1t Is conceded by the Commis-
slOners that they are useful arm OF the police SER
vice. One OF their sergeants, who has been in the
Broadway squad for twonty-ono years, deprecated
the attempt to abolish the command. ''Our prin-
cipai said he, is at the several
ings. In q crowded thoroughfare like Broadway the
services OF reliable aud officers
absolutely to keep the vehicles in line
and from crowding on pedestrians. Take, for in
stance. the lower part Of Broadway. from Grand
street to the Battery, which IS the most crowded
portion. What would happen daily and hourly to
pedestrians If our men not present to protect
them? No ordinary patrolman is competent to at
tend to the work. 1t requires the presence of per-
manent body OF men who familiar with the
shortcomings OF the general class OF drivers and who
keep them In wholesome restraint We have not
black mark against our record since we were Or
ganized.''
The storekeepers on Broadway With remarkable
unanimity expressed regret that the squad was
about being withdrawn. Merchants and shopkeepers
generally said that the activity and intelligence of
the broadway police have saved them nnumera-
BILE occasions from being victimized by shoplifters
and dishonest persons OF all descriptions
THE MOUNTED SQUAD.
The mounted squad was first organized in 1871.
Previous to that time, however, there had been
mounted policemen in tho Thirty-second pre-
cinct. Captain Williams. who had been roundsman
on the Broadway squad. promoted to
mounted police. This measure he carried out Dur
ing the Orange riots of July, 1871, the mounted
squad. which was then in its infancy. did good
service in assisting to quel the disturbance. Ser
May. 1872 and transferred to the Twenty-irst pre-
cinct. He was succeeded i'll the command of the
mounted squad by Sergeant George f. Westing.
Upon the demise OF the latter William A. Revell was
appointed sergeant and he still holds that position.
There were only about fifteen men in the squad at
hrst they principally patroled Seventh avenue,
from Greenwich avenue to Fifty street. Their
services required this thoroughfare because
1t had been repaved with wooden pavement. which
then novelty. and attracted all the owners OF
fast horses In the city being good roadbed for
the display OF the neetness of their steeds. The
mounted squad Is now doing duty exclusively in the
Thirty third and Thirty-fourth precincts, which
comprise the annexed district. There are other
mounted policemen in the Thirty and Thirty
fifth precincts, but these are separate commands
and not included among the mounted squad men
proper The latter body consists of four roundsmen.
two dOormcn and seventeen patrolmen.