The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-04
UNGUARDED POSTS.
How the Strength Of the Police Department is
Diverted From The Precincts.
MEN USEI4ESSLY EMPLOYED.
Official Opinions Of the Steamboat Squad,
Harbor Force and Inspection Staff.

regard to the Police Department. The Inspector
piled. "Why. haven't You published enough about
already" But. being assured the contrary. he
continued. "You are right in demanding more
men. know that the precincts short"
Then what do you think about the detail work
and the Steamboat Squad?' queried the reporter.
II don't wish to express any opinion" he replied
with smile, '.but think that there are doing
special duty who ought to be patrol There is no
doubt about it,
The Inspector refused to say more, but another
police official who had great deal OF experience in
the department was shortly after and found to
be in talkative mood and brim full OF opinions In
substance the following the facts Cleaned
from him The Steamboat Squad is not
what 1t is represented to be- Its men,
bers only on the docks in the
daytime, and at night, when protection is most
needed. they of duty. The squad is composed
of young and active men, while the duties they have
perform could just well be filed by the elder
members of the force who unfit for patrol duty.
Al that is necessary said the reporters informant,
''is to have man down there strong enough to
the uniform and frighten boys away. The river
front, when under the supervision of the precinct
captains. far better protected than it is to-day.
THE HARBoR POLICE.
''The harbor police" said he, q useless body,
furnished, they are, with inferior facilities for
and has the department great deal OF money
enough to buy three good boats at least. believe
there that boat about twenty -four
men virtually doing nothing 1t is generally
the that whenever the boat is wanted she
is reported laid up The harbor police
If properly equipped would be good force. Accord
ing to my idea. they should have four small steam
launches. with stationary headquarters at the Bat
terry. One boat should be kept tor emergencies.
remain at the station with head of steam, on,
and the other two patrol the river front. Let each
be furnished with powerful rejecting light on the
PROV that whenever they enter slip its rays would
penetrate the darkness underneath the docks and
enable the police to catch any thieves who might be
done with the old Seneca would be to sinp her. and
thus put and end to further repairs"
After an officer has served on the force twonty
years the same speaker went on, the Commits
sioners ordered by law to place him on the re-
tired list on his own applications but they do not
present time there more twenty year men
nearly every precinct who have made application
seon to receive no consideration whatever.
They are. still compelled to do patrol
physically incompetent In not removing these
men the Commissioners are guilty of double
wrong. They compel man who has earned his
retirement to labor: and then I'LL the responsible
position OF patrolmen by persons incompetent to
tired but it depends altogether upon his record
officer whether the Police Board should SO favor
| him. The Commissioners further supposed to
put twenty year men on tho retired list whether they
HOW s7OoUo COULD BE SAVED.
There is too much red tape and needless expense
| about this department." the gentleman continued.
There nearly hundred rules in the depart
nent that could all be embodied in thrty-six. Now
in separate branch there is needless expense Of
full $4,000 year. 1t is in the inspectors Offices
tire department there are 1--WE heads-the su-
| perinendent and the four inspectors. Each
OF these inspectors has separate Office.
| him. Two of them furnished with horse and
carriage at the expense OF the department.. Those
enough to hire small police force. Their duty is
simply to watch patrolmen. But roundsmen
sent out from the station house to do the same thing.
| The idea OF hiring one man to watch another is
| foolish one, but to hire two men to watch is
worse. The system is too complicated Two
! from each precinct-one for the Inspectors
office and one for the snperintendents.
The captains have now to report to the Inspectors
Office, they not allowed To go to Headquarters
1 unless telegraphed for Taking together the rent
of the inspectors offices. the salaries paid to the
members OF their stan. COAL gas ard stationery and
it will he found that very little will be left Of
| $70,0 at the end of the year."
| Eve longer captains" said one captain of
long standing to T. c reporter; but there time
when we were. When We gave own "details
the man who received deserving of il. Now
political Influence steps in front OF the captain aud
| hands the detail to the man."
BETWEEN.
The Oak street station house. in which all disturb
ers OF the peace in the Fourth ward for short
/
was absent. and would not return for time.
Thine Is money" and as the reporter had not
! cluded to improve the former by taking a stroll
| through the precinct to that no citizens
being unwarrantably punished by blue coats. Walk
ing down Roosevelt street, n ciuttered and narrow
thoroughfare where an officer Is constantly needed
to make way for pedestrians, he paused on the cor
of Water street, and fully hve minutes were
cupied ina carefully scanning the horizon. but not
| gstcning shield deadly stick could be Here
| was one stronghold taken in the cncmy's absence
| and the reporter jotted down the fact. a moment
later he taking observations in four different d
rections from of Water and Dover streets,
but nothing sighted relieve the ibc fore
boding that the finest force" had taken day OF
| and LEFT the city to the mercy OF the Evil one
s.Another stronghold taken aud the enony not Yet
| siguted.' the reporter noted in his little
book. and then retraccd his steps to
but there nothing blue to be
the sky. The reporter then took his way to the
ner oil James slip and Water street. where a half
naked. man was stretched at fun length
and snoring loudly. Judging from the number OF
flies and urchins in the immediate vicinity he must
7 have been lying there fortnight close cAamina
ton of him proved that IL was not policeman. sud
denly a roundslnan with his stripes OF superiority
whisked round the corner at rapid transit gait.
lie, too, looking tor officer. aud his club dan
gel restlessy as his eye failed TO eaten sight of
blue coat. He disappeared as suddenly as he had APP
pcarcd aud the reporter came 10 the conclusion that
Something must be up. While this conviction was
stealing him midtown policeman aI-
pearedr In highly mysterious manner
the opposite side of the street. A deathy
lallor seemed to seize him he discovered
that the reporter taking down his number.
Elated at his success in having found officer
after a march OF half hour the reporter betook
himself TO another part OF the precinct, with the in
tenton OF scouting tor more rare game. After n
weary tramp and prolonged search an officer was
sighted about four blocks distant. and the reporter
was congratulatlng himself upon his ability as
scout when. 20 mis- surprise. he found II to be the
same one. The tact that there was screw loose
some here was penciled and the reporter journeyed
to another part OF the precinct. but only to hnd
himself again confronted by him. Coming to the
conclusion that this officer must constitute the
tire section on duty he was about giving up In dis
gust when tho roundsman previously mentioned
graspod the officer by the hand and under
stood to say, "why, old boy, l thought
YOU going show up last sunday
and 40 ON that racket. 1 haven't seen YOU since"
The reporter whistlcd several bars OF ''Pnafore'
by way OF nourishment and returned to the station
house thoroughly convinced of something, he did
not exactly know what. Two officers were sleeping
In the back room, while % tour-lcgged cat was hob
bling about ON three feet.
How many have you duty to-day. Cap
tain r. asked the reporter.