Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-10-21
caiEF DoL.4N,s RepoRr.
Statistics for the Year Ending on July soth
Last.


At the meeting OF the Police Com
nissioners on Monday Chief Of Police
Dolau submitted his report for the year
ending July 10th last.
10 it the chief snys:
During the past year the city has
been free from serious crime. During
tho past year there we're 3, 10l arrests,
five less than the previous year. Out of
this number I'll were for drunkenness.
There was an increase of drunkenness
during the year, 5S more arrests being
made for this offence than 10 the previ
Gus ons.
Eight hundred persons were com
mitted TO the county jail for the non
payment cf costs and fines. More war
rants were issued, 346 being served,
compared with 2o3 last year. There was
IS, 220. 20 worth Of property reported
stolen, and OF this amount 80. l67. Al was
recovered through the police depart
ment. Most of the 262 females arrested
were colored.
''There is very little gambling going
ON in the city. There we're l6 arrests
for violations of the liquor law. The
department received 1,3S1 complaints.
OF these S66 were attended tn by the
TO the other departments. The aoci
dents reported by the police were as
follows: Accidents to persons, Ill |;
miscellaneous, ia; persons drowned,
6; overcome by the heat, 4; mad dogs
shot by the police, 2l; runaway teams
stopped by polics, 81; fell overheard
and rescued by the police, l; persons
dropped dead, IA; suscide, 6; found
= tad
persons at the police station.
The report also contains the following
recommendations
'With four years experience as chief
Of police, | would recommend what |
would consider a very important matter,
which would, in my opinion, greatly
improve the discipline and government
OF the force by having the act creating
the Board of Police Commissioners
amended no as to read, One captain
and one inspector, instead of two cap
tains as at present. That the duty oil
/ police and TO see that the business of
| the department gets prompt and
proper attention and TO be responsible
for it. The duty Of the inspector should
be to 500 that all the officers OF the de-
in the different districts, and elsewhere,
and that he he held responsible for
them.
~ renew the suggestion made last
year that there should he an ordinance
prohibiting the public streets frpln
being used for political meetings or
otherwise, until permit is frat oh
tanned from the department also re-
| an m f,ln nF hn mn l. of
he under the Board of Police Com :
missioners.
Z" would also suggest that the board
| fix certain time each year for the
| examination of the officers. such as
was held in April 18th and 22d, 1896. |
would also recommend monthly in
/ spectlons, and that tine hoard hire a
Grill master for few months, during
which time the force could be given
weekly drills. If the hoard should not
think the expense too great. that a
couple OF rooms in the Eckel Building,
be rented, one for bunk room and the
other for gymnasium. Ii this were
dune the officers who have to appear in
the City Court in the morning, would
have place TO rest after they came oil
duty until court opened. Men who are
detailed on special duty have only a
few hours between the time they come
off and go on duty again, could ALSO use
this room 10 advantage.
~ think that there should be tax
levied on bicycles. Every person should
he required to pay to the city 50 cents
for each and every bicycle or tricycle.
owned by them, Children under l.
years of age are exempted. f"
| During the wear ST. D64 10 VIVA ex.
pended by tho department. The value
OF the police property follows: Police
and fire alarm telegram, $50, 600
patrol station, 81, 600; office, furniture,
books, &c. 81, 925; officers equipments,
S750 total, S33, $40.
The chief closed the report by thank.
ing the commission for its support and
encouragement, and the officers and
matrnns for the cheerful performance
of their duty,