New-York tribune., 1897-08-31
STEPHEN OBRIEN DEPOSED.
STRIPPED OF HIS ACTING RANK AND
SENT TO A PRECINCT
SERGEANT MCLUsKY BECOMES HEAD OF THE
DETECTIVE BUREAU AS AN ACTING CAP
TAIN-OBRIEN TAKES ACTING-lN-
sPECTOR CROsSs PLACE IN
IEONARD- ST.


Just before Chief of Police McCullagh left his
Office at Police Headquarters last evening ne
announced that he had removed stephen
O'Brien. acting inspector and captain from me
command Of the Detective Bureau. over when
he has presided since the present Board went
into Office more than two years ago. In re-
moving him from his important office, the Chief
took away his rank Of acting inspector. thus
remarding him to a captaincy He then placed
him in charge Of the Fifth Police Precinct. the
station of which is in Leonard-st. This precinct
was lately made vacant by the detail of its
former comma anding ofiit er. Captain Cross. as
an acting inspector. In O'Brlen's place Chief
McCullagh detailed Sergeant George w. Nc
Clusky of the West One-hundred fifty sec
ond-st station. with the rank Of acting captain
The speedy dethronement Of OBren was pre-
dcted the moment Chief Conlln gave place to
McCullagh Therefore, when the announcement
that the fact had been accomplished was made
last evening little surprise manifested
among the superior officers among the rank
and file in the white building in Mulberry-st
No special regrets over the departure of the
late head Of the Detective Bureau were heard
from those outside of the mystic walls Of the
Bureau itself O'Brien seemed to have been
it is said that his popularity did not increase
after his promotion To the place of a superior
officer.
Acting Captain McClusky. OBren's successor.
appointed on the force April %. lSs2
The following year he was detailed to detective
duty at the Central Office and became one Of
Inspector Byrness best-known men. McClusky
made many important arrests in his service un-
der Byrncs. together with his partner now Act
ing Captain Titus. but he was best known as
one Of the men who attended the great social
functions in this city and its vicinity To look
after thieves who might try to rob the houses
or guests of their jewels His knowledge of
criminals in the city and country at large is
second to mono in the Department
McClusky's good work earned him the position
OF detective sergeant early in his career In
Mulberry st. and he retained this rank until ne
was chosen to take charge of the Bureau Of De-
tectives after Inspector Mclaughlin had been
suspended after the LeXoW investigation As
soon as the new Board assumed control. how
ever. McClusky had period OF misfortune
OBrien was appointed to take hold Of the
Bureau. and he proceeded 10 reorganize 1t. The
first act he performed after his appointment was
to have McClusky removed and reduced to the
rank 81 patrolman II had been nearly ff-
years since McClusky had worn a police
uniform. but he dOnncd cheerfully. and lost
not a moment in seeking to regain his prestige
He assigned 10 one of the uptown precincts.
ana there did his duty SO faithfully that h. was
made "A roundsman. and not long afterward
a sergeant. His promotion to the sergeancy was
on February II. 1876 Since then he has been
on duty at the West One-hundred- -and-hfty- sec
ond-st. station. To-day McClusky will step back
into the scene sof his former labors. but as the
head instead Of subordinate.
When asked il he mad anything additional to
say after making the announcement or the
changes Chief McCullagh replied Nothing.
veteran officer in the Department remarked
when he heard of the appointment of McClusky
he nnta Rllrcan "A
back to first principles, 1t seems.