The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-12
MORE POLICEMEN NEEDED
1t Is Said by Patrolmen that They Have
Too Much Territory to Traverse.
the Regular Police. It Is Claimed, Would
Greatly Improve the Whole Service.

That the Metropolitan police force "a now
constituted is entirely too small for Iudianapo-
lis is being shown daily by the depredations Of
the thieves who are more numerous and daring
than they have been for years past Under the
law the superintendent is entitled TO thirty
more and it is the opinion of all citizens
who know anything about the duties of police
that the full quota should be allowed. s'Ths
Police Commissioners will have to strengthen
the force, or the thieves will capture the city"
said one of the best officers on the force yester-
day. when the present force was organized
il was large enough, but Indianapolis is q differ
emit city from what IL was then There has not
only been great gain in population. but
from quiet. comparatively dead town.
it has turned into q booming city.
1t is beginning to be known all over the country
as the great natural-gas city There is a build
ing boom, new industries are opening up, the
gas pipelines require hundreds of laborers, and
in consequences of all OF these things We
getting big floating population large part of
which is drawn here out of curiosity. AS
natural consequence. there are bad men among
the crowds who drifting here. and they, I
think. ssfe the people who doing the steal
ing, and committing other depredations As the
city continues to boom this uncertain population
will increase and it is simply nonsense to ask
the present small number of police to guard the
city as 1t should be done Where two men, run
ming together, are required to look after two n
tire wards they are smpiy at the mercy of the
+ shisves; and, besides this large territory for
patrol service. some of the outside districts com
prise more tnan three wards"
What should be done2" the reporter asked.
add not less than twenty more men to the
forces and put At least five of them detective
work The present detective force is the weak
est paid of the system Even Terre Hauts has
fnTIr6 dat yvh1 "a we hag INIT EA hare
So far as our talent goes 1t IS good enough, but
thereissn enough of it. What need Is
regular organized detective force. with chief,
working independent of the regular patrol A
good chief of dateetiyes with five SIX efficient
men could easiiy keep the city free from thieves
and dangerous enemies Of all kinds. AL other
cities have such system and there 10 no reason
why Indianapolis should not possess the same
service If the commissioners do not see fit to
organize the detectives they should by all
means put on at least twenty more patroimen.
That would make ten more districts in the city.
and they would all be so small that the men
could keep very close watch on them. There
is another thing that should be brought to the
attention of the board"
ITO what do you refer9"
ITO the telephone stations. More should be
put in, or the patrolmen should not have to
port 10 headquarters every two hours. The
stations are good thing--one of the best i'm
proveEnents ever made in the forca-but there
are not enough of them AS il is now the pa
trolmen have long distances Co travel from one
telephone TO another and consequently much of
thieves Is spent In running from one telephone
station to another in order to report regularly.
1t would be wise to add ten more districts, and
establish telephone station IN each one
In accordance with the instructions of Super
intendsnt Travis, the pstromen keeping
close surveillance over all the favorite hanntS of
bad characters, and are arresting from twelve
to fifteen suspicious persons every day. An
even dozen sent in Saturday night. and
none of them could give legitimate excuse for
prowling around after nightfAll Some of them
claimed to be lahorers but none could furnish
any proof to that effect. Patrolmen Shiggert
aud Clifford arrested two very pcious looking
characters, who answer very well the descrip-
zion of the men who robbed Mrs. Mooress house
last Thursday night One of them said he was
brakeman the j., III. 81 /. railroad. but
when he taken to the companys Office it was
ascersained that he never had bern in its en-
ploy. Sergeant Quigl@y arrested two local
crooks at the Union Depot late the same night,
but he then gave them their liberty on their
promising TO leave the city. He watched them |
bay ticket for St Louis. and stayed with them |
until the train left There were not many |
minor .hefts Saturday night. and the officers |
feel confident that they getting in some of
the piiferers. That the professionals are still |
at large though was made evident by the blow |
ing of the safe 10 F. w. Smon's grocery at No. |
$50 North Noble street. The job was done be- |
tween and o'clock yesterday morning. The |
doors of the safe own entirely off. The |
BURGLARS took between SIS and 500 in money |
besides some valuable papers, and q few 6ollars' |
worth of cigars out of the store.