Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-28
OUR POLICE FORCE.
Inspection of Mayor Rice-Address Giving
Some Good Advice With Pertinent Re-
minders OF Their Duties.

Some Good Advice With Pertinent Re-
minders OF Their Duties.
At 5o'clock yesterday afternoon Mayor Rice
inspected the police force in front OF the City
hall. There were thirty patrolmen present, in
addition to the commanding officers. Seven
patrolmen were absent. The men presented
neat and manly appearance, and bore the
scrutiay in most admirable manner. After
looking over the force Mayor Rice delivered
an address, bearing upon their duties and de-
pertinent as guardians of the public peace
and safety. After the address he con-
graduated the officers upon their appearance.
The following is the address of the mayor in
full:
Oficers and Patrolmen OF the Police force:
The Mayor Is by law instituted the chief execu-
tive officer and head of the police department;
such he is responsible to the city for the efficiency
aud good conduct of the active police force It is
my desire to i'm press upon you that thorough dis
cipne constitute one great element OF efficiency and
that there cannot be proper discipline without due
respect for superior rank aud for each
other, and speaking i'll or dis
parsgingy OF each other, either among yourselves
OF to Others is breach Of discipline and demoraliz-
ing to to the service.
The ranking officers should be civil and courteous
to their subordinatss, and the lat
rous to their superiors: without such mutual rea-
tons the force cannot be efficient but with item it
can be SO In all emergencies.
You are t. bear in mind that all citizens Of
the United States, though of different nationates
and races, but the law knows only citizens, and
one flag protects us alike
National and social prejudices, so far as our
official relations concerned, must be buried out
of sight.
Race and religious prejudices must give way to
reason, to right and to justice.
The rules laid down In this book for the guidance
Of the force if read ard understood by you, furnish
about all the information required to enable you to
discharge your duty properly.
If any Of you il dissatisfied with their require
ments. with the relation you sustain to each other
as to natonates or creeds either religious or po-
litica, or CASTE you may hand me your resignation
and it will be promptly accepted. :.
You, hks myself, are ths servants OF
the law, which means that we are the
| servants Of the people to whom We must perform
our duties as defined by the law.
We are paid for the services We are to render and
are responsible 20 the supreme authority, the
people, for the manner in which we Lerform or
| omit them. But above all things chickering's and
petty jeaouses are what the people OF sense do not
desire expect made known to the public gener-
oustrvsly is proper but the private expression Of
grievances in the public ear is unmanly demorazing
has grivsnce he should report it to his supe-
rior officer the chief, to the mayor, but it is
not fit subject for public ventilation.
What I most desire is that you shall perform
your duties to the best of Your abilities, that you
should in concert and be support to each other.
That you should conduct yourselves that the ct-
zens shall take pride in you; that criminals and the
disOrdery classes will respect your authority and be
in constant fear of your vigilance aud ability to OBJ
struct any infracton Of the laws; that you will be
above the dirty practice of receiving presents which
brides, and on this point let me caution
you mist strongly. put many q
fine young officer has been ruined for life by the
bandishments, favor and largesses bestowed upon
him. profu ely at times, by those wishing to gain ia
vor, escape from arrest, punishment or the priv-
lege of carrying on some occupation in derogation
of the law
While you officers you must not forget that
you gentlemen You to be civil and Keep
your temper cool i'll al emsrgen les If you II q
person Frustrated f ON any .ause, do not assume,
without and investigation, that it is from Ill
texication. Many Pc son has been arrested and
locked up upon that suppositon OILY 10 die from
other causes. such as apope1y paralysis, sunstroae
etc. In all cases of doubt give such u person tue
benefit of the doubt, aud have him examined by the
city physician, or in If emergency, ~ a phys1
clan most readily procured.
1Othe newly appointed members Of the force,
will say that have selected from large number of
apple ants, nearly all OF whom consider very wor-
thy and good meu. have great confidence IN your
voar honor Dravs your o5o ssss and
manhood, aud if you do not d, credit
to the positions you occupy shall be mortified and
disappointed, and SO will your good friends be, who
have voached for you. If you meet my expectations
you will honor yourselves and the eli aud be
constant source of pride to NE, but you must not
think that your appointments wtre made as a J00of
that you in the slightest degrse under
obligations to me. I appointed you and
each of you upon the s'ie idea
of fitness, and YOU recommended by your
friends up thar idea also. You are on probation,
and If at The eud of six months it is found that you
untitled for the positions you hold you will not
longer be retained, and you may be remGved at
any time for cause; the power is vested in the
mayor 10 suspend You, and with the consent OF
the committee police you will be discharged,
power which shall not hesitate ment to exer-
else if your CT nduct sha justify it.
Study the rules carefully and if you do not under
stand the meaning Of all of them apply to the Chief
or other superior officer, for explanation
OF them. and take counsel of The cider
members of the force ut al tunes when attainsbe In
will read to you rule Is, page II; also rule g., pag
26. Other rules, particularly relating t, drinking
beer spirits while on duty, are equally important
and drinking freely to while off duty is an-
other practice against which desire to caution you
will add further that you will be Iled at stated pc
RODS inaccordane with the rules II the exigency of
the service will admit Of it, In order that you may act
wrh greater efficiency in Vt great
emergency,
And now, gentlemen, dismiss you with the single
remark tn At have the fullest confidence in your
determination and ability to be honor to the city
and credit to yourselves.