The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-08
POLICE FORCE INCREASE,
How the New Appointments
Will Be Made by the
Commissioners.
THE APPLICATIONS ON FILE.
Native Sons Highly Recommended
May Have the Prefer
ence.

The final disposal of the order for the
increase in the police force has given great
satisfaction at police headquarters.
The force as now constituted consists of
the Chief, 5 captains, clerk to the Chief
and Commissioners and property clerk,
each of the last two with the rank of cap
tain, II detectives, SO sergeants, II cor
porals and 412 men-in all 49,.
The increase will make the total 571 as
follows: Chief, captains, clerk to the
Chief and Commissioners, property clerk,
lieutenants, Is detectives, 43 sergeants,
II corporals and 487 men.
"I am very glad" said Chief Crowley
yesterday afternoon, chat the Supervisors
have passed the appropriation. The addi-
tional men were urgently needed. as fear
this will be a bad winter. 1t will enable
me to reduce the length of the beats and
put more men in the outlying districts
Even with this increase / will have none
too many men, as it must not be forgotten
that they have to be distributed over the
different watches, and it practically means
putting less than half of the seventy-fve
on the streets at one time. If | had had
the additional men during the past week
or two ] could have placed them in the
districts frequented by burglars and very
soon have put an end to their depredations.
I'VE cannot establish a new district until
the City provides the necessary station
houses. 1t has been proposed to have
station house in the Richmond district,
and another near Golden Gate Park, but
nothing can be done till the buildings are
provided. The new captain would have
charge of this new district. All these
matters will be arranged as soon as
possible.
Regarding promotions, l cannot say
anything till the Commissioners take
action. presume they will do something
at the next meeting, but | do not know
what their intentions are"
1t was given out two months ago by the
Chief that the three new detectives would
be Corporal Handley and Policemen All
thony and Ed Gibson. who have been
doing efficient detective duty for years, but
as to the others nothing definite is known.
! The sergeants who are now acting as
| lieutenants are Gillen at the Central sta
ton, Hanna at the Southern, Helms at the
Harbor and Esola at California street.
Gillens name was prominently mentioned
as the successor to Captain Short, but the
Commissioners gave the appointment to
| Spillane. Whether he will be promoted to
! captain of the new district remains to be
seen.
! William Alvord, Police Commissioner,
was surprised and evidently gratitied last
evening when he heard that the Board of
| Supervisors had voted to increase the
police force.
Regarding new appointments Mr.. Alvord
said: Nothing will be done in this respect
until the Commissioners meet and fully
consider all the applications now on file
and the recommendations which may be
submitted hereafter. | do not know that
another district will be established. The
~,
be made from the most deserving men
now on the force"
''Is there any general understanding or
agreement by common consent that Ser
geant GiIlin will be the new captain"
''There is not, replied Mr.. Alvord. ''Mr.
Gillen is recognized as good officer, and
| should say that he has as good chance
for promotion as any other officer on the
force, but nothing has been settled, and
nothing can be settled until the Commits
sioners meet and consider the merits of
all the applicants. AS to lieutenants |
cannot say either. The most capable and
trustworthy officers will be promoted"
I'm the appointment of the seventy-five
additional policemen, will men of Ameri-
can nativity who can read and write be
given the preference?"
mo man can be appointed on the force
unless he is a citizen of the United States
and has resided in San Francisco for one
year. There will be no difficulty in getting
men of intelligence, and probably num-
Der of Native Sons will be selected. Some
years ago the Native Sons would not consent
to serve. They preferred to clerk in dry
goods store for $50 month rather than serve
on the police for 500. Times have changed
since and it is now harder to earn money
than it used to be. Intelligent, active and
promising young men will readily serve
on the force now, and we shall have no
trouble in getting men who possess mental
as well as physical requirements for the
service. OF course recommendations will
count largely"
'In allott!ng the patronage OF the sew
enty-fve new appointments will each of
the three Commissioners recommend
twenty fve?"
'.Oh, no; the Commissioners as board
will consider the recommendations OF each
applicant. The influence that applicants
may bring in their favor will heavyweight.
For example, if Senator White should ask
to have man appointed the board would
probably give the recommendation great
consideration. l should say that the Com
missioners will endeavor to get the best
men, and not knowing one applicant from
another will be guided largely by the char
acter and standing of the men who indorse
the man applying for a place on the force"
Robert Tobin, chairman of the Board of
Police Commissioners, remarked: 1.-The
numerous applications on file will be con-
sidered, and the Commissioners will be
governed in the future, as they have been
in the past, by the character of the recon-
mendation. No agreement has been
reached in regard to promotions.
II thought at one time that Gillen would
be chosen. He is a good man with an ex-
cellent record, and is in every sense worthy
of advancement, but there are two others
who stand on an equal plane of advance
ment with him, SO the Commissioners will
settle the new captaincy with full Difference
to the record of each.
at would not be for the best interests of
the force to mention the names of the
other two for publication. 1t would only
incite the applicants and their friends to
the work of bringing influence to bear on
the commission. As to the division of
patronage among the Commissioners, that
cannot be DONE 1t never has been done.
The Supervisors will expect some consid-
Grafton, and it is presumed that recon-
mendation from Supervisor ought to
carry weight"
Commissioner Moses Gunst was seen at
his place of business last evening. He
was delighted to hear that the Supervisors
had decided to allow the increase. He