The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-24
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chief Crowley Still Begging for a
Larger Force.
Number of Improvements and Conveniences
Needed-ststistics Of the City's Crime
for Cna Year.

The annual report of Chief of Police
Crowley was filed with the Board of Super
Vlsors yesterday and it affords curious
array of criminal statistics.
In his suggestions the Chief is as per-
sistent as ever in past years to secure what
he believes the city has so long needed
namely, police Station-hOuses 10 different
parts OF the city, fitted with dOrmitories for
the retention OF a reserve force of police on
duty, Such cOnveniences are afforded the
Fire Department, why not the police? He
also again calls attention to the fact that
the city has no police stations provided
with accommodations for officers off dnty.
and reneWS the suggestion that as many as
possible of the rooms in the old City Hall
be fitted up as dormitories, reading-rooms
and gymnasium for the special use of the
policemen. All other large cities do this I;
why should not San Francisco? 1t is really
important, he thinks, that place of rem
devious should be provided, where the
police can be concentrated in case of riot
aud kept in readiness for service night and
day.
A RESERVE FORCE NEEDED.
" A small body of police" says he,
properly drilled and skillfuly handled,
thrown suddenly upon incipient rioters,
will generally quell them before property Is
destroyed and life sacrificed, when, by de-
lay, serious and disastrous consequences
in the station at all tines"
The Taxpayers have TO pay for property
destroyed in riots, urges the Chief, and he
be lleyes the precautionary measures Sug-
gcsled to be the safest possible insurance.
In this connection the Chief returns
thanks to George w. Grannis for the free
use OF n hall in the Montgomery Block
that has been used by the department.as a
drlll-room.
Chief Crowley thinks that the recent
adoption OF the ''p0lice-wag0n patrol was
a great step in advance ana the signal
system that is now being put in operation
will increase the efficiency Of the depart
ment more than can be estimated.
10 keep up with the large growth of the
city In tue last few years Chief Crowley
thinks the Police Department ought TO be
increased. During the last ten years New
York has increased its force SS4 officers,
Philadelphia 345, Chicago 1897, Boston 100
ST. Louis 226, Cincinnati IA Brooklyn GA,
Baltimore 54S, San Francisco o.
A MOUNTED PATROL.
The necessity Of a mounted patrol for the
outlying districts, that the Chief has been
trying for years 10 obtain, grows more
pressing daily, and he is very anxious that
first acquisi0n to the department AT pres
ent at least fifteen mounted policemen are
needed, and a statlon-h0use and stables
provided for their use.
The distribution on the Streets" con-
tinues the report. ''of printed dodgers,
hand-bills or circulars should be proh1b-
fted. 1t has become nuisance"
HE order Imposing increased penalties
Tor carrying concealed weapons has been i'll
force four months and with good results.
The new city ordinance preventing the
indiScrlmlnate use of fireworks las also
been great success as demonstrated in the
greatly decreased number of fire alarms on
the 4th OF July as compared with former
years. AS further precautlon the Chief
recommends that the sale and use of fire.
crackers be absolutely prohibited.
Will state" concludes the Chief, that
the department. is efficient and well discip-
lined, and notwithstanding that the force
is smaller in proportion to population than
any other seaport city Of the United States,
the preservation OF order and suppression
; OF crime VIII compare fayOrably with any
OF The great cities"
CRIMINAL RECORD.
Following Is a summary of the city'S
criminal record Total number of arrests
made during the year, %, 549. OF this num-
Der 1881 were dismissed, 12.510 convicted.
GIG held to answer before the Superior
Court, and 344 cases are still pending.
The otlenses classified show that 10 634 of
the arrests were for drunkenness, 1877 for
battery. 33l for burglary, 9S for assault to
murder, 239 for carrying concealed weap-
ons, "a Tor grand larceny and 800 for
yagrancy.
The property stolen during the year
amounted to So. 5To, of which S44, 400 was
recovered by the department.
Total amount of fines aud forfeltures in
the Police Courts, S54,977.
Number of lost children found by the
police and returned to their parents, 374.
Total value of lottery tickets seized by
the police, $685.
During the year 10 officers were placed on
the retired list Is were dismissed and died.