The herald., 1897-01-27
Too Much Territory for the
Present Force
BEATS FIVE MILES AROUND
PatroImen Are Expected to Be Omni.
present
Difficult to Terrorize or Capture Crimi.
nails at Long Range-The Chief
Has Asked for More Men.

No one more fully appreciates the
present inadequacy of Los Angeles po-
lice force than Chief Glass himself. That
the force under his command is insufii-
cient cover the great territory embraced
in the limits of this city was shown in the
chiefs annual report in December last,
when he called the city councils atten-
tion to the need of at least twenty-five
more men.
Since the annexation of the suburbs
last year the city of Los Angeles has
contained forty-five square miles of ter
ritory to be protected by the guardians
Of the peace For this expanse of popu
lated district there are only flfty-nine
patrolmen. The total police force, from
the chief down, consists of only eighty
one men, of whom twenty-five are Of
ficers or attaches of the central police
station. To the remaining number is
assigned the duty of protecting the life
and property of the entire city.
AS above stated the chief himself best
point of numbers. Distribute the men
fifty-nine men, divided in day and night
watches, omnipresent and the best that
can be done is to give to some patrol
men beats that should be shared by at
least four.
When policemen are assigned to
beats that simply to go around one
time would require four or five miles
travel on foot or on horseback burglars.
robbers and murderers find little him
n fn ,r,,a tipU nj their
farious plans. And yet crime COM
mitted in district a mile or so from
where patrolman may chance to be Is
charged to him, though he may at the
time be faithfully tramping his allotted
beat.
Chief Glass yesterday said to Her.
aid reporter that one need of the de-
partment is branch station with re-
lief of men situated in the southwestern
part of the city. That district inhabited
by some of the heaviest taxpayers, is
now protected only by mounted police.
men, who on their good horses nightly
traverse a Sabbath days journey. There
are four regular and one mounted po-
licemen who do duty at night. One of
these has for his beat that great terri
tory west of Figueroa and south of Pico
street, including the Harper tract. An
other mounted policeman has for his
district all that section of the city east
of Main street south of Ninth, clear to
Vernon. To really comprehend how great
Is the responsibility of these solitary
horsemen, consult map of the city, re-
membering that the populous district
extends to and beyond the municipal
boundaries. Then one mounted officer
nightly wanders over the hills and far
away, to not only deter the commission
of crime but to apprehend criminals in
that great region of typographical va
riety.
There is branch station on the East
Side, where one sergeant and three pa
trolmen do duty for that extensive sec-
tion of the city.
The patrolmen who traverse their
beats on ''shanks horses" have appor-
toned to them districts that are far too
extensive for any one man to look after,
under any circumstances. OF course
the business sections of the city and the
tough sections are divided into beats
OF smaller aggregate area, but even
these are not properly covered One
patrolman on foot is held accountab BILE
for all that portion of the city bounded
by Pico, Figueroa, Washington and
Main streets; to another is given the
aggregation of population and big
houses within a district bounded by
Adams, Figueroa, Jefferson and Main
streets. A journey around either of
these beats involves about five miles of
travel.
How can policeman on such a beat
strike terror to would-be wrong doors?
How cam he catch the malefactors after
they have done wrong?
The chief is poweress to better this
condition of affairs. The beats and the
watches are arranged to the best possi-
BILE advantage but there are not enough
men. That is why he has asked for adj
ditions to the force.
From the number of patrolmen on the
force must be taken the four corner
men. These are regular patrolmen de-
tailed to fixed positions, to stand still
all day and watch the street intersec-
tions where electric cars seem trying
all the while to MAIN and mans gle pedes-
trians and smash vehicles The chief
thinks that these corner" men should
not be taken from his regular force, but,
as the men are useful chiefly in saving
peoples live9 and limbs from the deadly
trolley car, they should be employed and
paid for by the railway company. AS
every accident averted by the vigilance
OF the corner man is a clear gain of
damage money by the company, the
chief has expressed his opinion that
these guardian angels should be paid
for by the railroad company and given
authority as special policemen without
pay. The chief has recommended such
course, but as yet vain
The police department nNt only saves
money to the city Annually but actually
brings in an income equal to more than
one-half of the total expense of its main
tenance. as shown by the late report of
the chief, and yet to some people it seems
of minor Importance.