The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-23
POLICE SHAKE UP.
The Captains and Sergeants to Be
All Shifted-Frank Coles
SQueal.

The Police Board met yesterday after
noon In Committee of the Whole to listen
to Frank O. Coles charges against Po-
lice Superintendent G. P. Smith, whom
he accuses of illegally causing his arrest
for alleged slander and improperly treat
ing him while under arrest.
1t was the response to communication
that. Mr.. Cole addressed to the Board at
it's last meeting that the Commissioners
all present. SO was Mr.. Cole. But Mr..
Cole did not press his complaint. He told
a reporter for the NEWS on emerging from
the Commissioners room at Police He'd
quarters that he wished first to prepare
certain papers, and he would press the
charges against Superintendent Smith
at the next regular meeting of the Board
which is regular trial day.
JUST LIKE THE FINEST.
After reviewing Mr.. Coles case the
Commissioners settled down to more i'm
portant business. More than two months
ago Superintendent Smith realized that
certain members of the department con-
sidered themselves fixtures, and for this
reason were shirking every bit of
duty possible. Tne Superintendent
went to work quietly and in short order
discovered tnat captains, sergeants,
roundsmen and policemen were becom-
ing rusty and careless in the performance
of their duties. To Commissioners
Feeney and Kelly he confdeti mis- lnfor-
alton, and RS IL result the Police Depart
ment is to be given shaking up such as
1t has never experienced.
Captains have learned that they are to
be transferred aud are pulling wires to be
saved from the sweep. but Commissioners
Feeney and Kelly are decided. They will
listen to no appeals and will make such
changes as they consider beneficial to the
dapurCmant
Captain Fred. Farrier of the First pre-
cinct is to lose his comfortable berth. He
will preside in future over the Sixth pre-
cinct. Captain kolly will succeed him in
the Fist. The air OF Greenville not being
congeniul to the health of Captain Jack"
smith, he will be transferred to the
Third precinct, over which Captain
"Mose' Newton has reigned for so many
wears. Captain McKaig Is also to be re-
moved He will preside over the pea
nut" or Seventh precinct Captain Lange
will go the Fourth. and Newton to the
new Second. This slate WAS fixed late
last night, and 1t Is satisfactory to the
commissioners and the Superintendent.
sERGEANTS AND RoUNDSMEN.
The distribution OF Sergeants has not
vet been decided upon. There are SO
many of them that 1t will require consld-
erable time to locate them where they
will be able to do the most effective SER
vice. lu0 yOuuRtI iucH VIII nave Iu6
call, and will be placed in those precincts
where the duties require active. strong
men.
In the ranks of roundsmen there pre-
walls the greatest excitement. These off,
GERS will be scattered far and wide. All
the rouudsmen now in the First pre-
cinct are booked for the Heights. Rounds
man Hopkins, it is said, will come under
Captain Farrier's ruling in the lonely
Sixth.
The transfer of patrolmen is where the
trouble comes in. Some of the men have
been permitted to remain so long in one
precinct that they now patrol about half
the posts assigned to them. The largest
men in the Department will in future do
day and night duty in the First and Sec
ond precincts. 1t is not probable that the
chancemen will be disturbed.
Superintendent Smith in speaking of
the proposed shaking up sald:-"These
transfers are being made for the good OF
the department.. The men have been kept
in the same precincts too long. They are
not doing their duty. A change will have
the effect of benefitting the department
in every particular, and trust the Com
missioners will make the transfers now
proposed.
An unconfirmed rumor was afioat last
night that Captain Kelly would succeed
Jailer Davis in the Justiceship. Intimate
friends of the Captain say that he is not
looking for the office.