New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-21


one OF the Assistant Commissioners Is author
lied under the hand and seal of the Home
Secretary 10 do all such acts as II would De
competent for the Commissioner to do
SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.
Noxt IN order OF rank come five Chief Con-
stables. appointed by the Home Secretary. The
Divisions of the Metropolitan Police District are
brigaded into four districts, each OF which IS
In charge Of q Chief Constable. who Is thus q
high and responsible officer having command or
between three and four thousand men, and gen
eral charge OF district varying from 80 TO Zo9
square miles in extent. The fifth Chief Constable
Is attached to the Criminal Investigation Depart
mem.
The Chief Constables have the general super
vision Of all matters connected with the organ
ization and discipline Of the force in their as
/ trict, and report to the Commissioner all IN
fringements OF regulations that come to their
knowledge. They have power to punish Dy
fines, or stoppage of leave. or removal to an
other rate OF pay. or transference to another
division in the district. In accordance win 'he
regulations made by the Commissioner with the
approval Of the Home Secretary, but every
member of the force has the right to appeal TO
the Commissioner or an Assistant Commits
sioner from any decision of a Chief Constable
The Chief Constable may suspend any man.
subject to confirmation by the Commissioners
or an Assistant Commissioner: but In ever! case
where the offence Is so serious. or the geherai
conduct of any member OF the force so uhsd'-
isfactory. as to call, in the opinion OF a Chiei
| Constable, for the resignation or dismissal OF
man he must refer It, with all the witnesses
and papers. for the decision Of the Commits
sioner. or an Assistant Commissioner.
The other ranks in the force are as follows;
ut-I0i
ional inspectors. Inspectors. Station Sergeants'
Sergeants Acting Sergeants. and Constabes
Through all these grades. from constable 10
suner,ntendent promotions are made from the
| next rank below. When vacancies occur those
! best qualified in all respects are recommended
TO the Commissioner by the superintendents or
Chief Constables Seniority of service is duiy
considered but not always as quaHIica'io"
for promotion. The recommendation must al
ways be made by a mans superior officer ana
never nv private friends Merit. and not favor.
| &c the ground of advancement. An educational
examination, by the Civil Service Comms-
sioners Is required before promotion. ana there
Ia a different standard Of examination for each
rank. All officers recommended Tor Pro"o'io"
must also be examined by the Chief Surgeon
of the force as to their general soundness OF
health.
! Each division is in charge Of Superintendent
He is responsible for the discipline OF the force
within IT. and for the execution Of the Commits
| sioner's orders and regulations.
number Of Inspectors. generally between
| twenty and thirty. are attached to each DIVISION
They must live in their division. and as near as
| possible to the station to which they are APP
| pointed They must be able to give instructions
| TO the sergeants and constables under them on
| all points relating to their duty, and are ex-
| pected to make themselves well acquainted win
the ability and character OF each INDIVIDUAL
| All the stationhouses are In their charge ana
they perform station duty and patrol alternately
| every four hours while on duty. They parade
and inspect the police going on duty and read
ont IN them all orders and informations
Serreants have charge OF the police on each
| section of each subdivision. They parade with
| their men at the stations. march with them to
their sections and see that each constable
patrols his proper beat. The Sergeants patrol
their sections constantly while on duty TO en-
| force the performance Of duty by the constables
They report on the state Of their sections to the
! Inspectors according TO instructions.
THE RANK AND FILE.
The constables are the lowest rank in the
force They are recruited from all trades ana
| employments. with the exception Of the MEM
|
from sailors alone and patrol the river in boats
| and steam launches. 1t is among the conditions
of their service that constabes should give their
whole time and not carry any trade that
they should serve and reside wherever APP
pointed and wear the police uniform when on
duty II they desire to leave the force they must
| give one months notice.
When they first join the force constabies are
employed on station duty, and In attending the
Police Courts during the hearing OF charges
! and summonses They are instructed daily by
a Superintendent in the regulations OF the force,
and examined from time to time. AT the END OF
| the first fortnight the superintendent reports
to the Commissioner with regard to each con-
| stable whether he Is likely to become an ef-
Ncient member Of the force. During the first
| six months after joining the men are assembled
and questioned by the Inspectors as to their
| knowledge Of the police instruction-book They
are taught drill by their officers In accordance
| with regulations Of the Commissioner. but con-
stables of long service. attached to exterior
| divisions may be exempted from drill on the
approval Of the Chief Constable OF their district
There are about $50 mounted police who are
attached for ordinary duty to the exterior or
outlying divisions. where the beats are long
| and the roads lonely, but they are brought IN
! to assist in keeping order. on occasions OF pro-
cessions, public meetings, ana similar gamer
ngs There are also few mounted police at
tached to the A.. or Whitehall. Division for
service In connection with the Commissioner
office.
The Reserves consist Of about 10 per cent OF
the authorized strength Of each division They
perform special duties at professions. public
meetings and other occasions when numbers
OF police required. and they also perform
ordinary duty in supplying the places Of men
who are sick. absent from other causes.
The constables and sergeants are armed with
truncheons, but are allowed TO use them only
in extreme cases. when they are violently at
tackled. Revolvers also Issued to men en-
ployed on night duty, but only at their special
request, and when In the opinion OF the officer