Evening journal., 1897-10-19
WHAT THE CHIEF SAYS.
Head Of the Wilmington Police
Force Makes His Report.
CRIME HAS GREATLY INCREASED

RECOMMENDS THAT Ar INSPEC-
TOR OF POLICE BE CREATED,
WITH BUT ONE CAPTAIN-ALsO
THAT THE CLERK OF THE MAR
KET COME UNDER THE BOARDS
JURISDICTION.
The happenings Of the Police Depart
ment during the past year have been
compiled by Chief of Police Dolan, and
last night were presented to the Board
of Police Commissioners. as the annual
report of the year ending July 80, 1897.
The report records all OF the events that
came under the notice of the police,
and Il offers several suggestions, which,
In the opinion OF the chief, would bene-
fit the department.
The report says: During the past
year there were 3,10l arrests, five less
than the previous year Seven hundred
and eleven OF these were drunks, an in
crease OF 5S over last year Committed
to the county Jail for the non-payment
OF fines, 500; warrants issued and
served, 3f6, compared with 293 for last
year; value OF property stolen, $S,220.-
20 amount OF the value OF goods re-
covered, S5,1674J; females arrested,
262, the majority being colored. There
were 16 arrests for violations OF the
liquor law, and 1881 complaints. 500
being attended to by the police Acct
dents TO persons reported by the police,
! III; miscellaneous, ia; persons
drowned, g. overcome by the heat, 4.
mad dogs shot by the police, 2l rum
away teams stopped by police, 21; fell
overheard and rescued by the police, /;
persons dropped dead, IA; suicide, g.;
| foundings, 8. The police surgeon treat
ed 1903 persons at the police station.
Expended by the department last
year, $77 ,96410; value OF police prop
erty, police and fire telegraph, 10000;
patrol station, 81 800: office, furniture,
books. etc, $1,225; officers equipments,
$3.50; total s33575.
The report further says:
with four years experience as chief
Il OF police, / would recommend what !
would consider a very important mat
ter, which would, in my opinion, great
ly improve the discipline and govern
ment OF the force by having the act
creating the Board OF Police Commits
sioners amended so as toread: 'Onecap-
tain and one inspector instead OF two
captains as at present. That the duty Of
the captain be TO assist the chief OF po-
lice and to see that the business OF the
. department gets prompt and proper
attention and to be responsible for t.
I The duty OF the inspector should be "a
! see that all the officers OF the depart
: ment properly perform their duties IN
4 the different districts, and elsewhere
and that he be held responsible FOL
them
Il renew the suggestion made las
year that there should be an ordinance
= prohibiting the public streets from be
: ing used for political meetings or other
/. wise, until a permit Is first obtainef
J, from the department / also recon-
= mend that the clerk Of the market b'
under the Board OF Police Commission
n ers
81 would also suggest that the boarC
Ak a certain time each year for the ex
animation OF the officers, such as wal
held on April Is and %, 1896 / woulg
also recommend monthly inspections
s and that the board hire a drill maste
n for a few months, during which time
\ the force could be given weekly drills
!, II the board should not think the ex
pense too great, that n couple Of room
!, In the Eckel building be rented, one 70
a bunk room and the other for a gym
/, nasium. II this were done the officer
who have to appear in the City Court II
the morning would have place to res
y after they came of duty until cOur
le opened. Men who are detailed on spe
J. cial duty have only a few hours be
le tween the time they come of and go ol
duty again, could also use this room I
10 advantage.
le Il think that there should be ta'
k levied on bicycles. Every perso
should be required to pay to the city 8
= cents for each and every bicycle or tri
~ cycle owned by them. Children unde
~ 12 years of age are exempted"
"a The report ends with thanks to tn
~ commission and the entire department