Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-20
THE COPS WORK.
An Excellent Showing Made
for the Year.
Extracts From the Report of
the Chief.
An Increased Number Of PatrOlmen
Asked For.
Statement of What Has Been Done-Rec-
ommend ations for the Future-A
New Police Station
Needed.

The following extracts are taken from
the annual report of J. M. Glass, chief
of police. to the council:
GENTLEMEN: In compliance with the
custom Of past years, | resp ectfully
make the following suggesti ons of i'm
provements in the arrangem ents and
additions to the force, and the equip
ments thereof, that experience has
shown to be necessary.
Upon consulting the accompanying
roster, it will be OBJ served that the max
imum number of the police force, in
Guiding the matron is rs. Deduct from this
number chief, captain. secretary, 8 SER
geants, 3 clerks, bailif. 2 jailors, 4 de-
tectives, 2 drivers of patrol wagon, ma
tron, 8 men on street crossings and 5
mounted officers, and we have left but
48 patrolmen, to be divided into three
squads, or watches, each watch expected
to patrol this city of $1,000 to 10000
population, and having an area OF fully
36 square miles. AS will be seen by
consulting Exhibit "L," our force is
smaller than the forces OF the other
principal cities OF the United States, in
proportion to population, and in this
respect it is inadequate to the proper
discharge of the duties required OF it,
and I most heartily recommend that
there be an increase of at least ten
patrolmen, and that the mounted force
be also increased. At present we have
but five mounted officers, while the or
dinance authorizes six; but substan-
tial increase above the latter number is
desirable, for mounted officers can patrol
the outlying hilly portions OF the city in
a more satisfactory manner than can be
done by footmen.
During the fiscal year just closed four
officers have resigned, three have died
and four have been removed for cause,
making a total of eleven changes. Two
of the officers who died were of the old
est members OF the force, and the re-
naming officers of advanced years are
much more liable to be unfit for duty
because OF sickness than the younger
men. The duties required of a police
officer, and the exposure he is subjected
to, are too great to be put upon old
men, and l suggest that the pres
ent regulations in regard to the appoint
ment of officers be SO amended that
men, to be eligible, must not only be
fully up to the present requirements OF
height, weight, etc., but must be be-
tween the ages OF % and 35 years.
In regard to equipments, the police
regulations require that each officer
shall carry club, revolver and hand
cuffs. The city furnishes a rosewood
club and leather belt, but the handouts
and revolvers are the private property of
the officers. and are of the make and
style of individual fancy. | suggest that
the city furnish each officer with
baton, revolver, handouts, police
whistle, fire key. all of uniform make
and size, and tirst.class repeating rifle,
other weapons in case OF riot), the said
arms to be owned by the city,
and that each officer be required
to deposit their cost, when issued,
and that the deposit be refunded
when the officer retires from the force,
provided they are returned in good order,
less use. We have a rifle corps of SIX
teen men, who voluntarily armed them
selves with Winchester rifles, and the
commendable degree OF efficiency in the
use OF their weapons that they have at
tanned, is strong argument In favor OF
arming the whole force in a like manner.
The officers have been drilled each
week in military tactics, and have
monthly been subjected to rigid in
spection, and they have much improved
in discipline since my last report. and
If your honorable body will arm the
force in the manner above suggested,
and furnish ammunition for regular
practice, as is done in the regular army,
we can have police department in this
city that will be equal in efficiency to
any department OF like numbers in the
world.
To properly uniform the force is
matter OF great Importance. | respect
fully suggest that the material for the
uniforms be purchased by the board OF
police commissioners, and that compe-
tent tailors be employed to make the
uniforms in our own city, as the uni
forms secured from the east have proven
very unsatisfactory, because of poor
material and faulty work, and each
officer should be compelled to purchase
q dress and fatigue uniform each year,
which plan would result in perfect
uniformity Of dress, and be great saw
ing to the msn.
The police headquarters and city jail