New-York tribune., 1890-08-28
PROTECTION FOR DETECTIVES.

A story, simple but touching, is furnished by
the police department of this city. Last Sunday
SO we are told on apparently good authority
valued member Of the detective branch OF the
Police Department., named Feess, Was sent to the
pier at the foot Of West Thirty-ffth-st to watch
for pickpockets. a large excursion was startihs
from that point and it was suspected that the
Woodworking pickpocket would be on hand ply
ing his humble but rcmunerative vocation 1hlS
suspicon wos well-founded and the officer busted
himself for some time in driving away plckpocK-
cts whom he recognized in the crowd. Al last
the boat started, and it swung out into the
river Detective Feess mopped his brow with a
red handkerchief and reached for his 500 watch
to ascertain the time. The watch was gone Some
Door but dishonest piclSpockct had taken II.
This question becomes we believe, one of serious
moment: How shall we protect our detectives and
other police officers from the ravages OF pick
pocSetsp The detectives hours are lpng and his
work is hard His pay is none too generous
If he must be constantly falling a victim to pick
pockets and other dishonest persons, we believe
that he will strongly object, and with justice.
strike of detective force, with the out
breaks of crime which would follow, is something
far from pleasant to contemplate We shall take
il for granted that person can be found who
will deny that our detectives must be- protected.
One method of protection which suggests IL
self is that thcir watches, pocketbooks and other
valuablcs ne securely chained to their clothing.
A moments consideration will, however, show
that this will not answer the purpose. Detective
Feesss watch WAS attached by heavy chain, but
was nevertheless taken. a chain could be cut or
broken, or il could be detached aud taken along
with the object It was intended TO secure. II
none Of these could be done, the garment might
he removed from the crafty detective and carried
away together with everything in the pockets,
despite half a dozen chains Deity ripping a
detectives waistcoat mp the back with sharp
knife. skilful pickpOcket could easily make
way with it and all 1t contained. Another plan
might be 10 hire men 10 90 along and watch and
protect the detective while exposed on the street
in the discharge Of his duties. but this is clearly
4 weak arranrcment. for who would protect the
new man? If another man is employed he will
require still another 10 protect him. and so on ad
in6nitnm. II this plan were adopted, when de-
tectve walked out to suppress crime there would
bc n procession Of men following behind him as
far as the eye could reach each watching the man
ahead Of him and even then the subtle last man
would he robbed down 10 his colar-button and
elevated railroad tickets. Another plan wien NJ
first siqbt appears feasible hut which will not
bear examination, WOuld nc 10 lncioSc thc WY
detective in a sort Of exaggerated Dird-cage His
head might protrude through the top or not, as
WAS found best on trial-if II did 50 protrude
lis hat could of course be fastened on IN some
WAY. so that It could not be stolen. The cage
could bc five or SIX or more feet in diameter ana
bc made Of light but strong steel wire But an
embarrassing probability Immediately presents IL
elf: the pictpockets would provide themselves
with sticks with hooks on the ends of them ana
rea .h through the bars and rob the intelligent &C.
tec,iyc right and left. Increasing the sHe oi the
cage. thus keeping the pirkpockc's further away
yould have but small eject, as they would only
arm Themselves with hShinc-pocs ana clean out
the sly but helpless officer before he had gone a
block. This plan, as we'll as the others, must be
rejected.
What. then. remains? Clearly only one thing
tbc detective must not he allowed on the street
with valuablcs. There must be large safe pro-
yided at Police Headquarters, in which the de-
,cctivc must re required 10 deposit all money
| ,cwclry. etc His clothes can then be fastened on
as securely as possible and lac can be sent out 70
copple with crime in all It's various forms