The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-20
THE SPECIAL POLICEMEN
Chief of Police Crowley Tells
What He Knows About
Them.
Harry Morse Explains the Differ
enCe Between Watchmen
and Specials.

Referring to the complaint recently
made by Dr. Albert Hitler of 1011 Sutt.r
street in relation to special policemen and
watchmen Chief Crowley said yesterday:
That is the complaint OF a man with a griey-
ance. Whether he has ground for complaint
or not am unable to state, as the facts have
not been laid before me, but this do know
that he is mistaken when he makes charge
OF inetficiency against all the special watch
men. 1t is true no doubt that there may be
few who neglect their duties and go into bar
rooms or grocery stores To play poker, but once
in a while you'll find some regular who is not
attentive to duty.
The majority of these special policemen or
watchmen who wear special stars, particularly
those in the mercantile districts, are hard
workers. They attentive to the interests
OF those who employ them, and they render
great deal of assistance TO the Police Depart
ment. There are also great many good and
faithful men in the Western Addition.
As to the Police Commissioners, the law does
not give them any control over these men. 1t
simply provides that on the application of citi-
zens who are willing TO employ man to watch
| buildings or property in a particular district
the board may grant such person authority to
wear a star But | viii say this, the board
will not grant q mar special star unless it
appears from his petition that he can make q
fair living.
If the people who employ Waterman are
not satisfied with the service rendered they
have the remedy in their own hands They
can stop paying him and he will have to quit,
i
| the mere glory AS l said before, there may be
some men who might do wrong, but in all
large bodies OF men there are some who are not
perfect.
The fact remains however, as DR.. Hitler
says, LnaJ these men who wear special
stars are entirely independent of the Com
missioners and are not called upon to re.
port on or off duty, and that if they do
report on they can report off just as soon
thereafter as they wish.
The Chief also stated that the class of
men appointed as special policemen within
the past few years is much superior to that
formerly employed.
Captain Harry n. Morse of Morse 8
Merchants Patrol was of the opinion that
DIR. Hitler, in his complaint, included his
men. He said:
His remarks do not apply. My men are en-
ployed in the mercantile district; they are
informed and are responsible to a sergeant
and captain. The men are watched by the ser
geant, the sergeant by the captain and the
captain by myself; so you see that my men
who are simply watchmen, not special police
men, are responsible to some one, and they
have regular hours of duty when they must
remain on their beats.
have declined police authority for the rea-
son that if my men wore stars they would have
to arrest DRINKS and those who engage in
street braWls, and in making such arrests thew
would leave the property under their care un-
protected. Now, you know, if thieves wanted
to get into place they would have some of
their friends start fight, and while the watch.
man was walking those up to the lookup the
thieves would have time to break in. NY men
have, however, instructions to assist the regu-
! lar police IN every way and to notify the Off
GERS OF any suspicious characters. They have
instructions also TO make arrests for any crime
committed in their presence and to turn the
prisoner over to the nearest regular officer
But there is one thing / do not understand
and that is why man who has been removed
from the regular force for cause should be
given specials star. 1t seems to me that if a
man is not iii TO be on the regular police force
he certainly is not fit to be a special policeman