The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-01
WANTS 4 GOOD SHIKE- UP.
Superintendent smith Says the Jersey City
Police DO Not DO Their Duty.

1t was expected that the Jersey City Police
Commissioners at their meeting yesterday
evening would give the department n general
shaking up. 1t had been whispered for sew
era: days that there was to be q transfer OF
CAPTAINS. Sergcants. detectives and patrol
men. and that number OF now appointments
would be made Superintendent Smith sent
in n communication to the Board OF Police
Commissioners in which he said:
Il desire to call your attention to tho fact
that con,mandants of precincts in this DEPART
m ont have fallen into q rut and seem to have
lost MI interest in the business OF the depart
ment. They neither attend to duties them
selves nor require their subordinates to at
tend TO them. There is a lack OF energy on
the part Of these Captains which has commu-
ncatcd itself to tho Sergcants and ratrolnen
under their command. and which is seriously
detrimental to the efficiency Of the depart
mert. In the majority Of cases when m order
is sent out from headquarters, it is read once
t. the men. Then II is put away. Tho Cap
tains forget it. The men have no recollection
Of it five minutes after it was read to Thorn.
ard it might as wei! have never been issued.
Il know Of cases OF rohneries or other cri mes
having been reported. The SegGean,s make
tst E 49He a 81 it IT, tick f"d adf u
mado TO capture the criminal or recover, the
property in cases Of robbery; As said before:
hnvc been going through the same daily rou-
the for SO m%apy,years that they do it now
AS your honorable body must be aware.
this condition Of affairs is highly detrimental
TO the efficiency Of the department. There arc
Captains who seldom If ever go half dozen
blocks beyond their station houses except for
meals or on private business. In my Iudg.
thoroughly acquainted with his precinct with
the people W no I've in it. the good aud bad
characters who frequent it. and with such
other details as will aid in the maintenance OF
law ard order and the suppro Ssion of crime.
lie should also patrol his precinct occasionally
both day and night. to SEQ for himself that his
men are doing their duty. Something should
DO done. and done at once. TO stir them up and
reawaken an interest in their duty. would
respectfully recommend that II transfer Of
Captains 10 made in order to promote the eff
cheney OF the department
Il would Il SO direct your attention to the
careless and indifferent manner in which
some members OF the detective force perform
their duty. A robbery is reported A detective
is assigned to the case. iIa obtains from tho
report made n list and description OF the prop
rrty stolen. He goes to the IcrsoD robbed
gets another list and description Of tho prop
erty stolen. reports that no has investigated
the case and let's tho matter drop there.
" would respectfully recommend that some
OF the detectives he assigned to other duty,
and INTELLIGENT men. There are Very many OF
this kind in tho DEPARTMENT. II | am to he
held responsible for the maintenance Of cf-
tccncy and discipline In the department it ia
but .nir that should hnye tho best aids tho
department affords.
Tho communication was referred 10 the
Committee OF the Whole.