The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-23
GUNST'S IDEAS ON POLICE
He WOULD LIKE TO. HAVE THEM
AS THEY ARE IN THE
EAST.
POLICEMEN SHOULD BUTTON THEFT
COATS AND WALK WITH
DIGNITY.

81 would have the policemen who patrol
Market and Kearny streets and the other
principal thoroughfares of this city as fine
body of picked men as the Broadway
squad of New York-the most celebrated
force of police in the world" said Police
| Commissioner Gunst last night 'sThe
sight of our principal streets guarded by a
lot of large Incorporating men who would
stand erect, walk with dignity and show in
the scrupulous neatness of their uniforms
all the nicity of a crack militia regiment,
would, [ believe, produce a favorable i'm
preston on Eastern visitors, which would
be the best possible advertisement for our
city.
"As it is now many of our officers are
somewhat untidy in their dress. They are
permitted to wear their coats unbuttoned
and flying loose instead of having them
buttoned as is the rule in Eastern cities.
Then, too many of them walk with a
slouchy gait, which is by no means impos-
ing or dignifed.
There are other changes, too, which,
think, should be made for the improve
ment of the force. Now the sergeants
wear no uniforms, and believe that every
member of the force, from the Chief down,
should be forced to wear the uniform when
on duty. If the police are well-trained
BODY of men the sergeants can handle them
well enough without having to sneak
around in citizens dress to spy upon them
Under the present system it is almost
impossible for citizen who may have a
complaint to make concerning an officer to
find his superior without having him
pointed out. This lessons the dignity of
the force, and 1 disapprove of that.
SHOULD the officers wear their clubs
outside their coats2 Yes, l think So
That is done in nearly all the Eastern
cities, and there the service seems to be
more efficient. Whether it results from the
sight of the clubs or not, do not know.
Speaking of uniforms, there is another
reason why they should be worn by all
officers when on duty. Under the present
system the sergeants are given all the
privileges of the detective force. As they
are in citizens dress, they may stand
around in doorways talking to gamblers or
women of the world without attracting at
tention, or may enter saloons and drink
without violating the regulations, since
they are not in uniform. No; if there is
any work requiring plain-clothes men /
favor having it done by the detectives, in
whose department it properly belongs.
Another thing: AT night now the Of
hcers wear peaiackets and ordinary over
coats over their uniforms, simply placing
the star upon the outside. NOW, star
does not convey the idea OF authority
nearly so quickly as a uniform, and there
fore this system is bad. You remember
that Policeman Grant, for shooting whom
Actor Curtis was tried, was not in uniform
when he attempted to make the arrest"
Commissioner Tobin. when informed of
the views expressed by his colleague, did
not entirely agree with him.
In t,a colo mr.
entirely new, for we have discussed them
at different times during the past five
years. The sergeants were allowed to
wear citizens clothes at the suggestion OF
the Chief and captains of police, because 1T
was thought that thus they could more
efficiently perform their duties. The idea
then was that they should not be made
conspicuous.
The men might be required to keep
their coats buttoned. but to that it is
objected that during the very warm por-
lions of each day they would become over
|. heated. Colds, coughs and pulmonary
troubles would follow, and our force,is now
so small that we cannot afford to have any
of the men laid up by illness. For that
reason we have allowed them considerable
latitude in the mode of wearing their
uniforms as well as wearing peajackets
and overcoats during the nights So far as
wearing the clubs outside the coats is con-
coats were to be kept buttoned, as other
wise they could not be easily reached when
wanted. We have, however, endeavored
to impress on the men that the club was
given them only for defensive use and was
designed to be used as sparingly almost as
the pistol.
81 do not think it possible for us to or
ganize squad of picked men on the prin-
ciple of the Broadway squad. Under the
present ordinance the men must be
changed about all over the city during the
course of a year. That was intended, of
course, to prevent corruption of the force,
but it operates to forbid the forming of any
picked body of men.
81 am inclined to see many good points
in Mr.. Gunst's suggestions, though think
that the Chief will not be disposed to agree
with all of them.
Baxter said that he put his entire re-
ligious experience and the whole of the