The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-03
POLICEMEN'S HEALTH.
Chief Child Says They are. Sturdy
Lot of Men.
OUT DOOR AIR GOOD FOR THEM.
A Pleasant Gossip About the Members Of
the Forcs-The Question of Police PEN
sions-Hot Weather Difficulties.

Ihe poilce service anu heaiou Vi Jul W
Hcers? Well, don't know that there is
anything of special interest about either
that can tell you." said Chief Child OF
the PROVIDENCE police force, to NEWS
man.
In spite OF the fact that the Chief at
tached no special interest to what he said,
he gave the reporter great deal OF infor-
nation about the force which was new TO
him aud doubtless will be to many OF the
NEWS readers.
How about the health OF the ofiicersi
Is there greater tendency to disease
among them, being exposed as they are
in all kinds OF weather."
"No; they are as a rule a remarkably
healthy class, Notwithstanding the expos
ure aud the severe physical strains
often incurred. OF course, their be-
ing obliged to travel. especially
in such hot weather IS we
had last week, had tendency to bring on
bowel troubles aud other summer Ills, Dut
the average Of sickness upon the force is
very small being but two per week out
'otal of two hundred and eighteen
men,"
"iou spoke Of the physical strain out
SIDE of the regular work; l suppose you
referred to extras and places where police
protection Is needed"
"Yes, more especially fires, such as tho
one which occurred here aoout two
weeks ago. At that time men were on
duty sometimes for eighteen consecutive
hours, and this you can readily see is
great tax upon mans endurance. But
as we have none but perfectly sound ana
healthy men they can generally stand IL.
by the way, speaking OF your having
only strong men on the force what are
the requirements for admis siong
"A man must be between twenty-one
and thirty-eignt years of age, must weigh
not less tnan l55 pounds and beside TINS
must pass a rigid physical examination. Ii
he fails To come up To the required stand
and he is rejected. Beside tails he must
be a voter OF the CITY,"
80 return to the nealth again and the
danger To life-what Is done with man
who has served long and faithfully, aud
what becomes of a man who Is Injured Oh
dutyih
$40 the first part of your question 1
been on the force for "a long term OF year,
it often happens that he Is unable to act
longer as potrolman. liz possible. We
then put him upon one OF the call wagons
and his only duty then is TO go with the
team when call is rung in. We are
nopng too that some action Will be taken
before long granting pensions tJ tLose
who have served for definite period OF
years Ia relation to injury while on
duty, full pay Is given "a nian until able
To be at work again. Ii an ordinary case
Of sickness occurs the pay runs ON for
seven aays, after which time the city $
responsibility ceases, and 81 day Is
given to the sick man by an ASSOCIATION
formed by the members of the force"
las far as you have observed has the
service tended to shorten the LIE OF the
men ?n
IL do not think that such has been the
case. We have men upon the force to-day
who have been Oh Tor twenty-five years
and quite number of our officers have
served between twenty years and quar-
ter Of century. The only difficulty with
such loug period Of patrolling is that
the muscles OF their feet and legs become
strained aud partially inactive but this Is
overcome by the wearing OF bands.
"Can you give me the names OF some
of the older officers or some who are not
now doing active service on account Of
agef':
"Iwould do SO but for n special reason.
l wish to withhold tnem just nov. They
will appear, however, IL the movement 10
secure pensions meets with the approval
of the city. OF the active officers, how
ever. Mr.. Baird aud Mr.. Colwell have
been members OF the department for
twenty-six years, while l have been on
twenty-five"
This seems to show that business
often regarded as so destructive to vital
ity Is scarcely more SO than ordinary oc-
cupations. To be sure the work is wear
ing and when man has done long ser
vice he is incapacitated for most other
kinds OF business, but being compelled t.
travel whether the snow Is foot deep or
whether the summer moon Is shedding | .
soft light they become Injured to such
labor and find the work less irksome than
the casual observer would think.
In the matter Of pensions, however. it
is probably the earnest wish Of most citi-
zens that man who has devoted the best
period of his manhood to the protection Of
their properly and lives should, when he
becomes too old to be In active service, re-
ceive due recognition for his fidelity.