The Evening critic., 1883-05-28
"pHYsIcALLY INCOMPETENCE

How the Police Examining BOARD
Determined That Men Were So
A Type of Many Cases showing
the Gross Injustice Perpetrated
Under Present Police Manages
ment.
In justice TO the honorably discharged
policemen who now labor under some dis
advantage in seeking employment of hav-
ing been pronounced physically incompe-
tent by an examining board, a fair state
ment of the manner in which the commit
tee determined the strength and health of
these men, against whom they reported,
should be given to the public the authori-
ties have failed to furnish it and The
CRITIC will give one example of the modus
operandi of this Examining Board"
Police Officer Grant was middle-aged,
well-built, muscular man, of very fine
physique and great strength. About the
time Of the examination, he had an attack
of sickness, the first 10 years, and when he
recovered, went before the committee,
backed by the recommendation of his
lieutenant, that he was one of the best,
strongest and most competent men in his
precinct.
Tho surgeon who sat In Judgment had
not attended Mr.. Grant for years. and
knew absolutely nothing about his physical
condition, except what could be judged
from the broad shoulders and strong arms.
The learned physician asked the officer how
old and how tall he was, and how long he
had been on the force.
Mr.. Grant happened to be some inches
taller than men recently appointed under
the new Chief, nearly twenty years younger
and had served faithfully for twenty long
years.
Are you physically strong and sound ?'
queried the surgeon.
/ can safely say that am perfectly so,
but you had better see DR.. Elliott, who has
been my physician" responded the officer.
Do you perform your duty satisfactorily
to your lientenant2" was the next question
81 have every reason to believe that
do, but you had better consult my lieuten-
ant as to that"
"That will do"
This was all. Without q further examina.
tion of any kind, without anything on
| which to base it the committee recon-
| mended as follows
"Finding--I think that Mr.. Grant is break
ing. think Mr.. Grant could do duty II 1t wa'
| not for the exposure to the vicissitudes o
| weather and going on duty at night for these
| exposures are disadvantages. don'tthink tina
Mr.. Grant is really able TO do police duty sat
isfactory to the Commissioners and the Major,
| and we recommend that he be retired"
| Ibis neeuS no comment DOCTOR Wn(
| knew nothing about it "thought Mr.. Gram
was breaking;' thought he could do duty il
| it was not for several of the most import
ant parts of said duty that hard work ant
night duty "dre disadvantages" The abso
Lutte falsity and injustice of this recommen
dation has been shown by subsequen
events. Mr.. Grant is now and has been 70
weeks doing duty not during few hour
Of alternate nights, but every night and al
night, and from p. m. to q. m. in ever,
kind of weather acting as watchman in ont
Of the principal city parks and undergoing
the most constant and trying exposure
despite the learned decision that "Mr
Grant could do duty if it was not for tn
exposure to the vicissitudes of weather an'
going on duty at night"
This case is but a type Of many. One o
the disabled and physically incompetent
men has succeeded one of the most power
full men in the city as custodian of til
peace in the Theatre Comique, position
where courage, strength and activing ma.
be required at any moment. Other mel
are watchmen and filling positions requir
ing all the qualities that constitute an eff
cient and good policeman.