The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-26
POLICE FORCE INCREASE,
Chief Crowley to Ask for One
Hundred and Twenty-Five
More Men.
THE LIMIT ALLOWED BY LAW
AssembIyman Devine's Bill Passed
by the Last Legislature Was
Unnecessary.

1t is the intention of Chief Crowley to
ask the Board of Supervisors to include in
their estimates for the next fiscal year the
amount necessary to meet the salaries of
125 additional men on the police force.
The force at present consists of 475 men
of all ranks, which is 125 below the num-
Der authorized by an act approved on Feb
ruary "a, 1891. Section 1 of the act reads
as follows:
The Board of Supervisors, Board of Trustees
or Common Council of city, or city and
county, or town of this State of the first, sec
ond or fourth classes are hereby authorized
and empowered to increase the police force OF
their respective cities, and cities and counties,
or towns, from time to time as may be deemed
necessary ! by said Common Council, Board OF Of
Trustees or Board of Supervisors; provided
that the police force in any city or city and
scounty shall not exceed in the aggregate at
any time one member for every 500 inhab1t-
ants OF such city or city and county; provided
further that in cities of the third class the
police force shall not exceed in the aggregate
at any time one member for every 1000 inhab-
itants of said cities according to the latest CELL
sus of the United States: said additional police
force to be appointed by the Board of Police
Commissioners or other board or authority
now by law empowered to appoint police Of,
ficers in their respective cities, or cities and
counties and towns.
The population of this city, according to
the last census, was in the neighborhood of
100000. This, in accordance with the pro-
visions of the act, would entitle the city to
police force of 600 men.
A bill was introduced in the last Legis-
lature by Assemblyman Devine, providing
for the appointment of not less than fifty
or more than 100 additional policemen in
this city, and it was passed. The bill was
unnecessary, as the act of 1891 covers the
ground.
In speaking of the matter yesterday,
Chief Crowley said: "At the time the act
of 1891 was passed, we were entitled to
have 1875 additional men. Since then
seventy have been appointed at different
times. leaving us still 125 short of the num-
Der allowed by the act.
at was the intention then to increase
the force to the full limit, but for the sake
of economy / did not insist upon it. Now
it has become an urgent necessity, the
more so as the population is steadily in
creasing.
'EIn regard to population and area, we
have the smallest police force of any city
in the United States. We have larger
area than New York by quarter of mile
and there they have police force of 1000
men. In Chicago there were until recently
$500 men, but now l believe the force has
been reduced to 1900. In Brooklyn there
are 1000 men. OF course the population in
these cities is much greater than here, but
in proportion we have considerably less
| men than any Of them.
81 believe San Francisco is rated as the
| fourth commercial city in the United
| States. 1t is, without doubt, the most
| cosmopolitan. Therefore it is most de-
sirable that we should have all the men
| the law allows US. We are equipped for
| inside work for force of 700 men. That
| is work that must be done owing to the
large business done by the small force at
my disposal.
''Our force may be called protective and
detective. | am often obliged to put patrol
men on special duty and that reduces the
number of men for street duty. Within
the past two or three months these men on
special duty have broken up several gangs
of petty thieves and daylight burglars.
They have done very effective work
81 could put 120 or 122 out of the 125 adj
ditional men on street duty at once. Then
there would require to be two more SER
geants and the property clerk urgently
needs another man in his office.
1T must not be forgotten that there are
three watches daily, so that the increase
would only mean forty additional men on
duty during each watch. That should not
be overlooked.
"Grand Juries have been recommending
the increase in the force all the time and
/ understand the present Grand Jury will
make similar recommendation.
THE bill passed by the last Assembly
was unnecessary. | pointed that out at
the time and urged its withdrawal"