New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-15
A POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM.
BILL TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGIS-
LATURE.
CHIEF CONIIN RECOMMENDS THE ABOLITION OF
THE STEAMBOAT sQUAD-MR. ANDREWS
REPORTS TO THE BOARD on TIE
pu,Drtrun\ cycTEM
BERTILLON SYSTEM

BERTILLON SYSTEM.
Commissioner Andrews yesterday submitted re-
port to the Police Board the Bertilon system Of
identifying criminals Al the Commissioners in
favor of adopting the system. The report re-
forred to Commissioner Parker. Mr.. Andrews also
submitted plans for establishing photograph gal
ery on the top floor of Police Headquarters TO
take the pictures OF criminals. 1t is INTENDED to
give the police their own photographer.
Commissioner Andrews submitted TO his col
leagues the copy of a bill drawn up by the Corpora
ton Counsel authorizing the issue OF bonds for 4
compete ectr:ca! signal system for the Police
Departmen. The amount of the bonds is u be
$4,000
Commissioner Andrews said that the Mayor and
members of the Board of Estimate and Apportion-
nent had approved the bill. which would soon be
introduced in the Legislature. The Commissioners
approved it.
After the regular meeting. the Commits sionel'
went into executive session They had before them
the case of Patrolman James McDermoit. OF the
Macdougal-st. station who was tried some time
ago for falling to prevent or discover burglary
on his post McDermott was dismissed. The Sc
verify OF the punishment caused some comment
Commissioner Andrews said 1t was the first case OF
it's kind before the Board. 1t was clearly shown
he said that McDermott had been wifuily nefn-
gent. THAT is the punishment we Will give III al
cases where the men shown TO be Negligent
said the Commissioner. McDerInOtl hdu p'V" o''
the force since 1873
Chief Conlin sent communication to the BOARD
recommending that the Thirty-seventh Precinct or
Steamboat Squad be abolished The Chief says the
squad is useless in its present shape ana lhat i
furnishes easy places for many officers lie recon-
nended that II be Immediately abolished and thai
the regular precinct police take charge of the river
front All the Commissioners said TO be III FAVOR
Of abohshing the squad. The matter was referred
to Commissioner Grant.
The Chief says among other things:
by making the change suggested there "ouu DC
saved 10 the department the extra services OF d
caotain five sergeants six rOundsmen ana two
doormen The patrolmen who arc now uetaHcu 10
duty at the piers could be transferred 10 the pre-
cincts within which their posts are situated anu
could he more thoroughly Inspected ana l"phti
after nv the visiting officers Of the various precincts
than they can be under present conditions. 30 iar
as the patrolmen OF that precinct are concefhcu me
change suggested would Only mean 'ah''s a. ~
off of one payroll and putting ihcnl on Hlo.lei
They have experience IN 'hci lhIN'U
lar line of work that II takes time to oman anu
there is no known reason why they should ne re-
moved from posts where they perform 'S'"''o' ;
work. .,, l., ,h., ~,
Another very great advantage would De lhat III
case of any emergency or serious DISTURBANCE airs
ing at any Of the piers along the river rom az
sis ance could be much more quickly obtained from
the precincts than under the present condition m
stead Of CAPTAIN being responsible TOT th' Pr
ervation Of peace. enforcement OF law ana regu.a
ton Of traffic in the territory reierred TO- ueie
would be eight 49,, l., ,o-e 4,
The Steamboat Squad organized In lSo ~
,resent the force consists Of one captain Tour SCI
geants four roundsmen, sevcnty-nVc pa'roIin'n anu
two doormen. Captain Allaire rs inc c3iliia',i''
ommend that the SQUAD lie abolished In accordance
with Chief Conlins plan