Morning journal and courier., 1885-09-02
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.

Little Business Done Hut a Lively
 Meeting Commissioners Cannot
 Agree On The Question of Hiring
 Outside Detectfves-Is Favoritism
 Shown Among The Patrolmen.
 A meeting of the Board of Police commis- sioners was held at 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. All the commissioners were pres ent, Commissioner Hart presiding.
 It was voted on the motion of Commis sioner Johnson to continue the pay of Lieu tenant Wrinn during the ten days he was absent on his vacation last month. This pay way granted the lieutenant a token of re- gard for the faithful manner in which he has done his duty during the past nineteen years.
 Officer Mani. who petitioned for a leave of absence without pay from September 4th to 21st, had his petition granted.
 Dr. Gilbert's bill of two dollars for dress
 ing scalp wound of a prisoner on the night
 of August was referred to chief to inquire
 and report.
 The applications of William Ely and Paul
 Russo for appointment as officers the
 police force were read and placed on file.
 Commissioner Baldwin suggested that the
 officers have their uniforms more of uni
 form color, and that the chief could secure
 samples of cloth for the men, so that when
 the latter procure their uniforms they will
 all be of the same color.
 The petition of Officer George o. Bradley
 for leave of absence of forty-fige days from
 September A was granted.
 On the motion of Commissioner Sheldon
 Commissioners Johnson and Hart were ap-
 pointed committee to make estimates for
 the coming year.
 Commissioner Sheldon said that he hoped
 the resolution authorizing outside power to
 catch criminals would be passed. MT. Shell
 ln,
 new chiefs discretion and that he ought to
 be given this power when rogue could be
 caught by hiring outside help. I have no reason to think that our city detectives are
 not as efficient as any detectives, but some
 times they are prevented from catching 8 criminal by the latter's knowing the detec- tives. That is the time when outside men should be called in."
 Commissioner Shannon said that he did
 not see why the chief with the power he had now could not detail an officer of the regular force to ferret out criminal in cases where the regular detectives would be known. l am against hiring outside help. Commissioner Gallagher said: shall not vote for this resolution as I don't approve of it.
 Commissioner Johnson said: I think we have one of the best forces in the country, and don't approve of outside men coming in.
 The commissioners then voted to strike out the clause relating to the hiring of out side detectives for work. Commissioner Sheldon said an officer in uniform cannot detect crime and we need illegal liquor selling.
 A vote was taken on these resolutions which resulted in tie The resolution read as follows before the clause relating to outside help was dropped out:
 
 Voted, That the chief of police be, and he hereby iS empowered and instruct d to detail from the force two detectives at detectives pay whose spe
 cia duty shall be to secure evidence against all yo- lators of the laws and ordinances which relate to gambling and policy playing, houses of bad repute And he is also hereby authorized and instructed
 to deta in addition to these detectives
 citizens dress at pay for the same me n Pnr as the service may require
 from abroad oU to number not exceeding two at any one time, as in his judgment the service may re- quire.
 Bills as follows were approved: Pay roll, $S 6S0. 70; sundry bills, S54. 59. l Paul Russo was then elected member of the supernumerary force. MT. Russo, be- sides making an efficient officer, will be great help to the detectives of the depart ment, he being an Italian and an inter ! preter, he will be better able to catch crimi- nals among this class of people than any regular officer of the force. Commissioner Shannon, the new commis- sioner who took the place left vacant by the appointment of Chief Bollman, brought up the matter of certain officers having easy beats and staying on them long time. MT. Shannon, who, although new member of the board, expresses his mind freely, said: I would like to know who has the power of detailing the patrolmen to certain beats, and why it is that one man should be shown more favor than another. The beat I refer to is the night beat of Officer Grant at the steamboat. under stand, although I have no proofs of 1 the matter as yet, that Officer Grant salo nearly month ago that he should not go on day duty the first of this month, but should continue on his sssnap' at the boat nights. Now if the officer is having any ''snap," as he calls it, I don't see why other ofhcers should not indulge in the same thing, and the officer must have an easy beat or he would not give up his day duty to stay on nights.
 Chief Bollman in explanation said that there were four or five beats, such as the de- pot and boats, where it was neces- sary to keep men for some length of rime, as, although every man might be efficient, he would not fill the bill
 as could the men kept at these places for some length of time In the case of Officer Grant l. who detail the men after consulting | the higher officers, put him there because the people want him and would complain if these men at the boats and depot were taken away | No man has ever asked as I know of for 8 certain beat and it would make no difference 1 if one did; he would go where he was sent. No action was taken in the matter ana tne Board adjourned.
 ! Byron never uttered truer words than | when he said, ssPhysicians mend or end us " ] But while doctors disagree, all the world has agreed that there is no remedy equal 70 LIT. I