New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-23
CLrBs IN THE POLICE F0RCE.

CLUES ~ IHE CISi''|
Every one who is familiar with the lie OF the
metropolis for the laSi twenty years KNOWS 'ha'
great progress, has been made IN the prevention
and repression Of serious crimes. our f0Iicc
DcDqrtmcnt has sent 20 prison or driven away
from the city many desperate gangs OF hahk-
robbers. burglars, highWaymen ana othcF az
crcSSiyc and turbulent scoundlclS. Inc rowing
hands Of snca, thieves and pckpockc's nave
bcon largely scattered or suppressed. Inc streets
Of This capita are tar safer At all hours OF the
day and night than they were twenty years
ago. and property OF all kinds Is far more Sc
curr. NO stin,cd cr,Git and praise are due
to the Police Department Tor the thorouGhhcSS
with wi ich they have carried out this extensive
and valuable work. In many ways our force
is efficient and admirable. hut there are still
some glarnS defects.
Too many Of the patolmcn, and even some
of the roundsmcn. ScrgeantS, captains ana IN
spctol>. have an utterly wrong conception til
the rights and privileges OF private d'ZchN'
This dclu>iou does net extend TO sup ,IIniend-
emf Murray. Acting superintendent ByrncS. or
~ the members OF the Police Board. But II
i votllllv prevalent in other divisions OF the de-
n,rtmcrt. The assumption that they ouGh; to
lllle ms llNll. anu tD It' l'' h'' i'''-.' ~ -
r,icyou> extent among the w!cldcr> OF the club
and those who command them. below the GIaIe
IF superintendent. We fear that Che great ma
iority OF the patromcn rarely remember
the undeniablc tuh that they are Eo'hlng
bu, The paid servants OF the decent and orderly
people Of Newly oril-pald To- protect hem ana
not paid 70 damage, assault OF insult them. Inc
beliin. OF hundreds cf :hc vcaiciS OF the hlHc
ard brass i, 4 daily offence, and their ARROGANCE
and rulcnc,> are constant outrage upon 'i'Ii
cmplo}crs-thc people. Their commoneNt, most
injurious and incycU>ahlc fault Is their read
mess 10 hrauGi>h their clubs and th"Ir eager
ness to apply them when there Is no necc''ii}
for menace. much less tOr violence. Many
painful instance OF this were seen OH the alter
noon of the funeral of General sherman. HE
multitude, that gathered alone the line Of march
were pat!cut. do lie and submissive almost with
ont exception. No. OF the spectators were
filled with a g,nu.nc >oIfoN ior The loss o; thcll
cider brother. the great war captain. lhc'o
pcoplc were ANXIOUS 20 avoid al cause o. 0Lch'-
ing. DESTROYS 10 o.>'fuc. aS little ~ might bc
the march of the iGr@ia! procession. Bul al
along Fir;h-aVc. for hours the thIon@N had
bccn ma,,nc And when il became nccr>,aI!
10 clear the way it was not possible that ,h'sc
hosts should instantly compress themselves INTO
the narrow,,t Of Bounds. Il va, The or'y u!
the patrolmen To act with gcntlcnc,>. modern
,ion and scli-rc>,raint liz forcing Them back.
But too often the shameful spectacle OF bran
di>hcd clubs of roU%hnc,s violence ana bFu-
tllity was seem Even women with infants IN
their ann, were treated rdcly and coarNcl!
and hurled back with Eo tender touch Inc
writer Of this article saw several instances OF
such IuiiianiSm
The Beard Of Police and the higher polio"
officials should So, about a Igd oou>" oi TAIN
ing and discipline in such things. They have
done well in diminishing crime. NJ" they
should give their day. and NIGHTS 90 the cAtrrl-
ton of Lrutllity in the force. They should
adopt and enforce 10 the letter the London rule
that policemen shall never take Their clubs
from their belts un.cS, in Nclf-d"fcncc or to
prevent 4 felony. 10 put Down a'''|II not
ing clubs and pistol, are lndi>pcn'dhlc 10
keen a poaccablc iuONcnSiyc crowd WITHIN such
limits rs will permit the free passage OF Il Ia
neral procession. neither club nor pistol should
be blandishnd or even raised. Our parolmen
need to be taught thoroughly the important
lesson tina, wncn they strike man, woman 81
| child. except in scH-dc.cucc or 10 prevent 4
felony they are just =, guilty Of IN offence
agairs; the law "a, any man Woud be who
should strike poaceabc policeman with a club
Many Of our pauo'mon have not the iaintcSt
smmciiug Of realization Of this plain and
simple truth. They look upon Themselves rs
superior beings. authorized to club any one Il,
any time in any circumstances Too frequently
| they are encouraged IN this belief by certain
| police justices, whose tastes >ympaihleS and
WAYS of lie have filed them with admiration
of brutality and cruelty, and who applaud the
unjust fablc use Of the club. The Police Com
mission must root out the 81 ubbers and put
stop 20 The clubbing, if it wishes to retain tho
respect and goodwill OF the community.