The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-22
VISITED THE POLICE
Mayor and New Board of Safety
Make a Call on the Force.
Mr.. Denny Delivers Brief Address, in
Which He Emphasizes the Duty
of Enforcing All Laws.

Mayor Denny and the new Board of
Public Safety visited the police station
last night, during the 7-o'clock roll call,
and were shown through the building by
superintendent Colbert. After the call of
the roll the superintendent introduced to
the officers the Mayor and each member
OF the board. Mr.. Denny read the follow
ing to them:
Mr.. Superintendent and Members of the
Force-Four years ago L retired from the
ONCE oiho to which the people have again again
tions on the force during the whole or a
part of my former service. but our official
our relations now. You were then under
State authority Now you are under the
orders of and are directly responsible to
board, the members Of which are ap-
/ have appointed Nicholas r. Ruckle, John
b. Conner and John F. White as members
and are now in your presence.
them them TO you c4 3he ana
ent to introduce you individually. L
have selected these three gentlemen as your
superiors because have confidence in their
personal integrity, discretion, fairness and
courage. / will feel personally responsible
to the public, both for their acts and yours.
/ know the three gentlemen so well, that L
will not feel much anxiety as to their acts.
for / know that they assume control, fully
understanding their powers and RESPONSE
bilities and with firm determination f mt TO
Their ideas on the general line of policy to
be pursued fully accord with my own. That
policy is embodied in these words; A strict
enforcement of the laws. You will need no
other motto to guide you. But for the
penal laws of the city and State there would
be no need of policemen. With these laws,
the public have constant need of your serv-
ices Laws are enacted to be enforced. 1t
is not for you, or the members of the Board
OF ISG the sa a af og w fse or an%se It
sufficient for us all to know that the chosen
representatives of the people have duly en-
acted them. 1t then becomes our duty TO
respect and observe them. When any citi-
zen fails or refuses to do this, 1t becomes
your duty to see that he is brought before
you should do without fear or favor; not
spitefully nor vindictively, but firmly and
impartially.
1.-THE lives and property Of the people are
largely in your keeping. In proportion to
your watchfulness and fidelity the people
feel secure Your responsibility is therefore
very great You will be judged by your
acts. Justly and without favoritsm. 1t is
my personal desire that the board shall set
a high standard of efficiency for your guild
ance. am sure they will do this, ana you
will be expected to live up to that standard.
If you succeed, your tenure or Office Will be
secure If you fail you will be required IRE TO to
quirements of the rules adopted and the
standard set.
At the conclusion of the reading he said
he had selected Mr.. White as represent
alive of the minority party, and believed
him to be such representative, and would
expect him, at all times, to stand for the
rights of that party in the board of which
he was a member. President Ruckle was
then introduced and spoke briefly, as did
also Messrs. White and Conner. AS the
officers filed out OF the room for inspection
they were each introduced to each member
of the board and the Mayor.