Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04
TO GET ON THE FORCE
CANDIDATES MUST WRITE THEIR
OWN APPLICATIONS.
CHIEF MUST SEE THEM WRITE IT
1t Must lie Prepared by the AppII-
cant i'm the Presence of the Chief
Many Men Want Positions ON the
Force.
Force.

Something very similar to a civil SER
wee examination has been instituted in
the Police Department Of Richmond
A man who wants place on the force
need not expect to be successful in his
desires if he mails his application. How
is Chief Howard to know the applicant
wrote it? The applicants word might
be given, but police people are rather
cynical and extremely chary Of taking
| people on their word. Experience has
taught them that ones eyes are not in
fallible, and that the word Of a large
portion. Of the class with which they
most do deal, is Of nearly exactly the
| same value as their bond.
| MUST WRITE 1T HIMSELF.
So that no application for a position
on the force receives consideration unless
it is written in the presence OF the Chief
The man who is DESTROYS of becoming one
Of Richmond's finest, however hard
1t may be for him 10 WELD the instru-
ment more mighty than the sword. or
gatling gun, must get himself down TO
Chlet Howard's big desk and grind out
his application.
1t is probable that when many who
wish 10 wear the brass and blue learn
that they have to be put through this
literary exercise as a preliminary, they
VIII relinquish their aspirations. rejecting
that the game is not worth the candle.
There are In Chief Howard's desk near
ly three hundred applications for posi-
tons on the police force OF Richmond.
IL those who want to get on knew this |
fact they would probably abandon all |
hope.
Mention was made in the Dispatch Of |
man who recently wrote Chief Howard |
from Dinwiddie county, asking for place |
ON the force, and Of the Chiefs |
reply TO the effect that a Spaniard stood |
about as good a chance 10 get into the
regular army Of the United States. Chief |
Howard has just received a letter in
reply, stating that the applicant is a we'll
TODD farmer Of DinWiddie, and has a good |
crop OF cotton and peanuts this year
The Chief Is naturally at loss 10 ex-
plain what such man wants on the force.
He probably thinks Richmond police
man has snap.
THE WORST CASE.
Chief Howard says he has had many
men in good circumstances apply 10 him
for positions on the polce-force recently.
but one Of the most remarkable instances
OF weli-tO-do-men seeking 10 become
policemen. occurred on a Sunday morning
some time ago. The CHIEF was sitting
in his office, when an extremely WELL ,
dressed stranger entered, and receiving
an affirmative reply 70 his question as
TO whether he addressed the Chier or ,
Police, stated that he was from town In
North Carolina, and after having spent a
few hours in Richmond had come 10 the :
conclusion that he would like 20 live here. !
He therefore wanted the Chief 20 give
him position on the police force.
When Chief Howard had gotten back
his breath he asked the gentleman II he
knew that accompanying every applica-
ton for a position on the force must
,e the applicants receipted tax-tlcket for I
the last year The stranger did not. and Z
then the Chief inquired as 10 his cir
lie was astonished 10 learn
hat the man was well on and prominent |
n the affairs OF his county s
Chief Howard advised him 10 go back {
home and run for the Legislature, but told j
lim that IL he was very anxious 10 be- I
come O. policeman he could probably OBJ [
ain a position on the Norfolk force. as :
{ was at that time receiving a shaking Z
I'D every day or two. The gentleman
banked him for he suggestion. and after
nauir!ng as to when the next train left
or that city, wen; out. saying ne would
.pply to the Chief there at once. n
Chief Howard says that many men
yho are doing well apply 10 him with y
lew 10 becoming policemen. The popu- p
arity Of such positions Is inexplicableI N
o him.