The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-19
SOME OF THE FINEST.
The Long, Weary Hours Put In by the
Savannah Police.


Savannah Police.
The city police force consists Of ifty-nins
men, besides the chief and four sergsants.
Three Of this force are known as day men,
and have special assignments during the
day. The remaining hfty-six are divided
into two reliefs OF twenty-eight men each,
which divide the day and night into
watches. and their duties are 80 arranged
that one relief or the other, or one-half Of
each relief, is always on duty.
The day is divided into three watches
the dog WATCH from to sam; the
morning watch, from a. m TO p. m and
the afternoon watch, from l D. m. 20 $50
p. m. There are two night watches, from
$50 p. m. 70 midnight, and from midnight
to a. m
The men who go out with the relief at
$50 .. m do duty until midnight, leaving
their pots at II O'clock for the barracks
add reaching there between IL aud 1880
half of this relief go home until
a. m, and the other half
remain at the barracks until a. M. consti-
tuting the fire detail, which answers the fire
alarm or other calls. The fire detail 90 out
on the dog watch from to a. m, having
come in after midnight, and go on duty
again at p. N. until $3.50 p. H., when they
are at liberty until 1880 p. m, when they
must report at the barracks for duty with
the relief that goes out before midnight.
Though allowed until 1890, the quicker
they get back in aztec supper and get some
sleep the better of they are.
The half Of this relief that go home at
midnight go on duty again at s a. m. until
p. m. They report at tine barracks again
at $50 p. m, when the first night relief is
posted for duty, aud act as fire detail from
Rstl0 l.,k..
with the second night relief.
It will be seen that policemsn's life is
one continual round of duty, and that he
has very little time for anything else He
Is on duty in TIRE street from twelve TO
thirteen hours daily, besidss constituting
part Of the fire detail one half of the re-
mainder of his time II there is a fire or a
call for an extra detail his duties are in
creased proportionately. He also mas to
attend the mayors court In the morning If
he hiss any arrests docketed.
The total number Of city police on duty
at any time, when there are none on the
sick list or of duty for any other cause, is
twenty eight. There is no third relief, nor
any extra men for any emergency, aud,
when the necessity arises, men must be de-
tailed from their regular posts for the time
being.
The policemans lot is not an easy one
again at night. For instance, the squad
that was called out to the row of the colored
Baptlsts in Greene square last Monday
night at $3.50 o'clock, and which remained
on duty in the rain until II o'clock, went on
duty again at midnight, having reported at
the barracks at $50 and performed duty
from a. m TO p. M. during the day.
The second squad that was called to the
church at 2 O'Clock in the morning had just
coma OFF QItV FaidDIOht and had
gotten much over an hours sleep. After
having their rest broken by this call they
did duty on the "dog watchn from TO 3
a. m. we're on duty from to $3.50 p. m. in
the day and went out again at midnight.
La reference to the complaint of lack of
police to enforce order at the thsater Chiet
Green said he had no men to detail there.
II the men who were Off duty wero willing
TO go it was all right, but usually
it was just that much time lost
from needed rest. Manager johnson and a
suffering public are likely to complain of
the disorder in the galleries for some time
TO come, as no increase of the police force
has been aSitated il council Of late.
Aresoution was passed In council some
months ago, re-insEtuting the otice of
assistant chief, but the position has not vet
been filled. 1t would seem that a few extra
men were need on the force, TO act as de-
tails to theaters, fires, church rows and
other emergencies.
The Ocean steamship and the Savannah,
Florida and Western police, who do duty at
the wharves aud yards of the two systems,
are not included in the roll of city police
The Ocean steamship police number twenty
two men, including officers, and the Savan-
nah, Florida aud Western twenty-f five men.
The first force is under the direction of
Chief Green of the city police, but the sec
ond Is entirely independent, having their
own chief, and have police powers.