The daily gazette., 1882-09-29
The {" Models - In a New Role.

Heretofore the members of the " model
police force, which the people of Whining
ton secured through the change of admins
tration effected at the last election, have
contented themselves with occasional
drunkenness, Illegal arrests, fayoritism to
party friends, and general incompetency but
during the past two weeks they have shown
up In new role, in which one or two mem
bers have made themselves unpeasanuy
conspicuous.
This latest evidence of the great blessings
derived from our municipal "change,' is
nothing less than deliberate attempt to
extort money from an innocent victim, and
the most favorable construction that can
be placed upon the affair was that
given in yesterdays GAZETTE, where
it was stated that the travelling salesman
who was arrested for not having
his license with him presented Sergeant
Decker with five dollars, as a recompense
for the " trouble incurred by that officer
in going around with him until he found
his license ut a store where he had left it.
This is the policeman;s side of the story, but
the salesman has siDce declared that the
money was demanded of him as the consid-
Grafton Of his release, and that he did not
give it voluntarily.
No matter which statement is correct, the
affair is a gross outrage, entirely unwar-
ranted by law or the facts of the case The
salesman was not liable to arrest in the first
place unless he positively refused to show
his license, and the policemen who first de
manded this of him were bound to give him
every reasonable opportunity TO find it,.
Tho very accommodating Sergeant, whose
al.crity in accompanying the prisoner
on searching expedition for the stray
license is fully explained by the subsequent
developments, was doing no more than the
duty for which he is paid by the people,
and he had no right to accept penny from
his victim, even If it was offered with the
utmost freedom and cordiality II any OF
the parties in the affair was entitled to re-
muneraton it was the salesman, who was
unjustly put TO such annoyance and expense
by few blundering, ignorant policemen.
A good many well meaning people found
fault with the last police force on variou,
pretenses, and finally made up their mind,
that they must vote for "change" in thi
branch of the municipal government Tn,
"change" has come with a vengeance, an,
we hope these discontinued parties will fee
fully satisfied with their work as the
learn of the many shortcoming
and general incompetency of til
" models " who now look after the peac
and dignity Of the municipality. With
few exceptions the members of the presen
force are practically worthless, lacking i
physical and mental capacity, and display
ing even more aptitude for blocking elet
tion districts and attending to other poltica
work than was complained of b
few Republican partisans as a seriou
defect in their Democratic predecessors.
fact the majority of the "modes" are q
linear nothing" as can be, and the soon,
Mayor Wales displaces them to make roor
for men of sense, courage and muscle, I'll
better it will be for his own credit an
the interest of the city. At an
rate he should at once investigat
this latest charge, which has every appear
ance of a case of blackmail or compoundin
a felony, and discharge the offenders withou
delay.
The people have had enough of "models
for policemen, and would certainly prefer
have men on the force again.