The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-18
THE NEW FORK POLICEMEN.
How Our Force Compares with the Police
OF London and or Dubiin.

To THE EDITOR OF THE VS. II Is true
that there are some rufians on the police force
OF this city who should be compelled to wear a
uniform very different from the one that they
now disgrace. But II Is not true. as some people
want US TO believe just now. that the average New
York policeman is a rowdy. On the contrary,
he is a brave and manly fellow. 1t may be that
among the numerous police outrages which are
almost daily reported some are exaggerated.
Certainly We hear a great deal Of the bad things
which the police do, and probably we do not
hear enough of the good deeds which they fire.
quently perform. The number OF lives that have
been saved by policemen during the past few
years would foot up some interesting. II not sur
prising, figures for the prejudiced. Individual
instances OF brutality among them are more
than Offset by instances Of bravery, kindness.
and downright charity.
The trouble is not with the policemen; Il Is
with the police system. That needs reforma-
ton. and the root OF the evil Is in the excess Of
authority. In other words. We give too much
power to our policemen, and the wonder is that
the abuse OF il is not greater than IL Is.
Odious a. comparisons may be. they are some
times wholesome. London Is n wcll-prOtected
kind OF men that we have here. but they do not
walk along the streets fourishing their clubs.
Doubtless some OF them might wish to do so, but
they are not permitted "a enjoy such an Ameri-
can luxury. II a poor man, a tramp II you will,
comes into one OF the, London parks, throws
himself into q chair, and goes To sleep, no police
man would dare TO lay a hand upon him. John
hull has a few good qualities. and the best Of
them all is the jealousy with which he guards
the personal liberty OF the humblest subject.
II q London policeman were %bruially TO has
tinade a tired and fOntsOrc man for the New
York offence Of doing in a park. he would be
promptly arrested. brought before a magistrate,
and severely punished. No doubt many n ruff
tan in the uniform Of the. London police might
he glad 10 amuse himself in that way. hut he
knows very well that II would be very danger
Gus To ATTEMPT IL. This one feature alone is sur
ficient 10 point Ia the difference between the
license OF the police in New York and the limited
authority OF the police OF London.
We have often heard the complaint that there
are too many lrishmen on our police force.
Well. perhaps there are; but New York might
have reason To be still prOudeT OF its finest" IL
Of Dublin. In that city such a thing as clubbing
Is unknown, except In cases Of riot where the
officers are attacked and in danger Ot being
overpOwered. In all other cases the use OF the
weakness. which the big fellows are always
ashamed Of. Certainly the might stick" has a
healthy effect upon our tOthghs ard thugs, but IL
should be kept exclusively Tor their benefit.
10 remember that too much power naturally be-
gets abuse. and II some ~ our policemen are as
black as the testimony of the LeNOw committee
seems to paint them We have nobody but our
throw all the blame on Tammany Hall; but
there is no Tammsny Hall In Philadelphia or
ia the White City" and there Is plenty of
good reason 10 suspect that the uOlice In those
towns are not one whit better than the police Of
New York.
Let Us stand up for our own policemen. There
are black sheep among them. To he sure. bnt
generally they are good fellows. and under diff
ferent regulations they might appear 20 better
NEW YoRK. Nov. ~.