Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-17
THE NEW RULES.
They are to Regulate the
Police Force.
A CATECHISM FOR OFFICERS.
What is Demanded of Applicants
Some Startling Requirements.
A General Synopsis.

The Police Commissioners, at their
last meeting, adopted code OF rules to
be observed by the department. These
are to be printed in small leather
covered manual, together with Quantity
of miscellaneous information OF a sort
which is likely to be useful to the men
when they are on their beats. The rules
are taken, in great measure, from those
in use in the city of Cleveland. They
are about two hundred in number, and
cover every branch of the service, from
the patrolmen to the Chief. They are
to be carefully read and studied, and
strictly observed, Sc the Introductory
mandate sets forth, by every member OF
the force. Any man who shall violate
anv of the provisions is liable to be
called before the Commission.
In the very beginning, the rules detail
a number of offenses, the commission OF
which shall make an officer liable to
reprimand, suspension, deduction OF pay
or dis missal from the force, according to
the nature and aggravation of the Of
fense. These are: Intoxicstior, dis
obedience, profane or harsh language,
disrespect to superior officers, unneces-
sary violence 10 prisoner, neglect in pay
ing debts, lack Of energy, incspacity,
mental or physical, violation of any Grim
inal law, making known any proposed
movement of the force, receiving money
or articles of value, disrespectful lam
guage to or about brother officer. For
intoxication whileSon duty the penalty is
dismissal.
There are variety of the drawbacks
about the business of being policeman
rs appears from these rules. The police
officer may not follow any other calling
in his leisure time, he cannot smoke
when wearing his uniform on the streets
or in public places, and the wearing even
of helmit constitutes uniform. He
cannot belong to any military company,
may not sell tickets to enter tainments,
cannot 60 bail for any of his friends who
may happen to get into trouble and can
not be party to any kind of compro-
mise between thieves and the owners of
stolen goods. He must keep his uniform
and his person always neat and clean,
must put in good deal of time studying
the rogues gallery 80 that he may recog-
nize the tough characters when he sees
them. He cannot play billiards or cards
in q saloon or take drink there when
he is wearing his uniform. He can carry
no weapon except that authorized by the
Chief, that is to say no knife or slung
shot.
Some of the rules are interesting as
suggesting the offenses which must have
been committed to call them into exist
ence. Card-playing is not allowed about
the station house; no presents may be
made to superiors-that is to say, there
can be no taking up of subscriptions for
any scheme of presentation. One rule
declares that no man shall be appointed
by reason of his religious belief, and
that the men shall not engage in religious
discussions. At elections the officer may
vote as he please 8, but he must not make
uee of his influence to help one side or
the other. 1t is part of his duty on his
beat to observe the couduct of all mer-
of them neglecting their duty, to report
that fact.
When the officer is ill he will be al
lowed half pay for twenty days. II he
has met with any kind Of an accident
when on duty that causes him to be dis
abled, he will enjoy full pay and free
medical treatment for thirty days. Be-
yond that time he will receive such pay
rs the Commissioners may see fit to
give, but it can never be more than half
pay.
The rules which will throw a number
of men off the force are those with regard
to eligibility Of candidates for positions.
OF course, if the rules were subjected to
q legal test, they could not be made retro
active; but as the Commission is sole
Judge of its own acts in this particular,
and chooses to make the rules not only
for its subsequent guidance, but also, so
to speak, for it's previous correction, it
can indulge in all the er post fact0 legls-
lation it sees fit. One of the rules of this
sort has already been made public, that
requiring that every applicant should
have voted at the election preceding the
date of his application. There is one
other, which has not been made public
nor commented upon, which requires
that every applicant should be over %
years and under so, at least 5 feet Z
inches in height, and must weigh l5O
pounds without an overcoat. This is
rule 180, and if the present force is keel
hauled to bring it up to that standard, q
number of men who have imagined
themselves dI Tlkut arc idDlC W 10
struck by the lightning which Hervey
Lindley and D. Gilbert Dexter are sup
posed to carry around in their coat-tail
pockets.
There are a number of rules which
relate to the management OF affairs
about the station. No one will be
allowed to speak to prisoners after 5 p.
m. This will be awkward for the police
reporters, unless the Commission sees fit
to make an exception Of them. Loafers
are not to be allowed in the station.
Prisoners are not to be treated to shower
baths, or handled any more roughly than
necessity requires.
The duties Of clerks, janitors, bailiffs,
Captain, Deputy Chief and Chief are
accurately etcribed by rule. The only
people who appear to escape the share of
laws and regulations are the Police Com
missioners themselves, who, by singu-
lar coincidence, framed the rules. The
Chief is compelled to wear a uniform, but
he is graciously allowed to pick out any
style and varsity he plesses,
which is only another way of insin-
Mating that the Chief of Police must
buy himself new suit. Everybody
about the force must wear black neck
tie, which is rough on Captain Harris
who is addicted to gaudy colors. No
officer shall appear on duty not wearing
his uniform. This applies to clerks,
deputy chief and everybody.
The manual containing the rules will