New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-13
THE NEW POLICE SUPERINTENDENT

The retirement of William Murray and the
appointment of Inspector Byrnes as Police
Superintendent ought to result in swift and
extensive improvement in the discipline and
efficiency of the force. Mr. Murray served the
department and the city with much fidelity
exceptional ability and great deal of energy
for many years but recently his powers have
been so enfeebled, and his physical condition
has been so unsatisfactory, that the effect upon
the department was lamentable. The old days
of prompt decision, conspicuous vlgor ana
heroic leadership were gone. Mr.. Murray, I'M
fortunately, was no longer IN state OF Dou!
and of mind in which he could put himself ao
the head of the force in any time of danger.
With his shattered health he no longer heid
the details of the department within his grasp
and no longer was the source of inspiration
and the handspring of effective labor In the
force.
Inspector Bylncs has been promoted to the
Superintendcncy when he is in the primo OF MS
powers and the maturity of his Development.
He is man Of remarkable natural fitness Tor
this sort of work, and he has enlarged and
improved his Unborn capacity by the most ex-
tcnsve and varied experience. during his
command of the detective corps, life ana prop
erty in this community have been far safer than
under any previous administration. Robberles
have been almost unknown in Wall street, al
though before Inspector Byrnes recognized the
detective department they were frequent. The
financial institutions of the city have felt that
their property was safe under his vigilant
guardianship. Largely through the work OF his
detectives pcaceable persons have been almost
as secure from molestation in the principal thor
oughfarcs of the town at midnight as at noon
day. Never, before he took the position which
he has filled so creditably and brilliantly, were
criminals so swiftly detected, arrested and pun
ishcd. lie has made the chief city OF this con-
tinent which before his time was the favorlte
resort and gathering place of the most deS-
peratc members OF the criminal classes place
which they feared to visit, and in which they
did not dare 10 conSpire against peace and
good order.
Mr.. Byrncs has accomplished much for the
benefit and advantage of this community, but
much remains for him to do in the higher
Office TO which he has now been called 1t Is
his most pressing duty to make it clear to the
inspectors and captains and their subordlnates
that every man of them will be held to a
rigorous responsibility for the existence Of dis
orderly houses of gambling saloons, and of all
sorts of Infamous places. During the latter
part of Mr. Murrays Supcrntcndency, on ac-
count Of the condition Of his health, the in
>pectorS, captains and other officers had little
10 expect and nothing 10 fear from the super
intcndcnt Mr.. Byrncs has a magnificent OPP
portrnity. The people are convinced that out
side of the detective department corruption has
been rife among our patrolmcn and our police
officers. You cannot convince the great ma
jority Of intelligent citizens that gambling
houses dSordcry resorts and poolrooms could
carry on their operations unchecked month
after month unless members of the police force
were bribcd To let them alone IL Will be a
tremendous task for Superintendent Byrncs to
overcome the prevalent diStrust of the honesty
of the force, 10 raise the standard of the Police
Department. and 10 make clean all the foul
places lie has the ability and energy TO
cleanse the city and TO reform the department
as we'll as to protect the lives and property of
lis citizens We shall see whether he will
prove equal to the tremendous task. If he
does. he will expand his already wellcarned
fame TO n marvellous extent he will make his
name memorable in this generation, and will
earn the lasting gratitude OF the most lmpOr-
tant community in the New World.