Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-25
DISCIPLINED POLICE.
Keeping the Efficiency of the Force
= Up to the Highest Notch.
ONE OFFICIAL WHO is KEPT BUSY.
Numerous and Varied Duties Of an Inspector
of Police.
TIE ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU


the First district, are being kept up to a
high-water mark Of efficiency. Inspector
McAleese, in referring yesterday to the
dropping of an officer from the rolls because
he had made but four arrests in seven
months, said that the man who took the
same beat had made 10 arrests in the first
four days he was on duty. The officers are
closely watched, and if any one fails to per-
form his duties properly, the Inspector is
eognizant of the fact. ss.-s-.
An Inspector of Police has plenty to do
beside drawing his salary. The latter part
does not require great deal of strength, as
the salary is but S110 month, and for that
the city expects to obtain man with an
iron constitution, undoubted courage,
boundIess capacity for work and willingness
to perform it; thorough knowledge of hu-
man nature, good and bad; administrative
ability, any amount Of common sense, ca
pacity enough to solve knotty legal prob
lens, and, above all, he must be a gentle
man, as he comes in contact with all classes
Of people. from the highest to the lowest,
strangers and residents, and as he treats
them, SO will they spread good or evil re-
port about the city and its officials.
HE FILLS THE BILL.
Perhaps few police officials in the coun-
try fill the bill better than Inspector Nc
Aleese, Of the First district, who has
already obtained an enviable reputation for
ability and courtesy among the officials of
other cities. Mr.. McAleese, owing to the
fact that his offices are located at the head
quarters of the Department of Public
Safety, gets the bulk of the police business
Of the city. When officers or citizens come
here from other parts of the country in
search of criminals or information, the first
person they seek is Inspector McAleese,
and 80 per cent of kilograms coming to the
city asking for the arrest of persons are
turned over to him.
Mr.. McAleese's daily routine is similar to
that Of the other two Inspectors, Messrs
he has more to do. In the morning
he attends the police magistrates hear
ings at 8 o'clock, and these very often last
until 10 or II o'clock. Then he has
his mail to read, and answers to dictate. A
daily conference is held with the police
captains and detectives of the district, and
matters pertaining to the welfare of the
force and the preservation of peace are dis
cussed. Hardly day passes without one or
more special hearings in important cases be-
fore police magistrate, and these the in
spector must attend. He also watches the out
goings and incomines of his detectives, and
assigns them to special work, such as the
investigation of robberies or murders, and
the recovery of lost or stolen goods or miss
Ing persons.
ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.
Every few minutes somebody drops in
with q complaint of some character, and
usually expects that the Police Bureau will
drop everything else to attend to the mat
ter. They usually preface their remarks
with the statement, "Tm taxpayer" as If
that gave them the right to the exclusive
service Of the officials. Whatever their
grievances, they are courteously treated and
the matter attended to, unless, as sometimes
happens, they become abusive, when they
are promptly arrested and charge of dis
orderly conduct placed against them. It is
bad policy to become noisy and abusive in
police officials Office. The day has passed
in Pittsburg when the man with "pulf'
could abuse an officer to his hearts content,
and the latter had to bear it meeklv.
Many cases arise which the Inspector
must investigate personally, and these
sometimes keep him all night. That SIM
ply means one nights loss ofsleep, as he has
to keep up with his regular routine business,
Under the most favorable circumstances he
is seldom able to leave his Office before II
p. M, and as he begins work at A. NJ. he
manages to get in a full day. and that seven
times a week.
The Bureau of Police consists of about $50
men, all told, and is under the control of the
Chief of the Department of Public Safety.
are made BY the Chief and
by Councils. To obtain position |
on the force it is necessary that the ap- !
plicant shall pass a thorough medical ex-
animation, be above five feet eight inches, |
properly proportioned, and able to read and |
write.
OFFICERS AND SALARIES.
The officers of the Police Bureau are as |
follows: Superintendent, Gamble Weir, |
who was Chief Of Police when the new char |
ter went into effect; Assistant Superinten-
dent, Roger O'Mara, whose ability as de-
tective is recognized all over the United |
States and Canada; Inspectors, McAleese,
W hitehouse and McKelvey, Of the First,
econd and Third Police districts respec-
lively. The First district embraces the first |
l3 wards; the Second, from the Fourteenth |
% the Twenty-third, inclusive, and the |
Third takes in the entire Southside.
The salaries paid are as follows: Superin-
;endent, $500 month"; Assistant Superin-
,endent. S125; Inspectors, $110; captains.
b100 month; lieutenants, SO a day; SER
,eants, ~ 70; patrolmen and detectives,
q 30 day