The herald., 1898-12-11
CHIEF GLASS MAKES HIS AN
NUAL REPORT
MORE PATR0LMEN NEEDED
Branch Police Stations and More
Room at Headquarters Wanted.
Ordinances Recommended

Chief of Police Glass has completed his an
nual report, which will be presented to the
council tomorrow. In it the chief calls at
tention to the lack of men for patrol duty,
and recommends that an additional force of
twenty-five men be appointed, of which two
fifths are to be mounted for the outside dis-
tricts. The matter of branch police sta
tions is touched upon. The report suggests
that an ordinance be enacted, as has been
done in nearly all large cities, compelling the
pawn shops and pawnbrokers to file daily
report of the goods received, such reports
being made on blanks supplied by the police
department. The chief also explains the
reason for not using the covered patrol
wagon, and from what he states this cannot
we'll be remeded as conditions exist at pres
ent. He suggests that the lot on Hill street,
just south of the police station, be purchased
and used as a driveway and also for stables.
The adoption of the Bertilion system Of
identification is mentioned. The report
deals with various other matters, and COM
ments are made upon attached detailed re-
ports, which tell of the number of arrests,
and other minute matters connected with
the department.
The full text of the document follows:
''In compliance with section fifty-eight, Ar
ticle LV, of the charter of the city of Los An,
gees, herewith submit my annual report OF
the police department for the fiscal year end
ing November Both, 1898, and take this OPP
portunity to again suggest much needed ad-
dtons TO the force and improvements in
the service.
The roster shows that the present num-
Der of the force, including the matron, is
ninety-three The detective force and
necessary details for headquarter duties, in
luding corner men, jailers, patrol drivers and
sergeants or roundsmen, take twenty three
men, so we have but sixty-nine officers for
regular patrol duty, and this is entirely too
small force to properly protect our people.
The most important question in police mat
ters to be considered at this time is a fur
ther increase OF the force, and l recommend
an increase of twenty-five men, and that two
tifths of said number be mounted for duty in
the annexed districts.
Il also recommend that the city purchase
and own the horses of the mounted men.
We could increase our stable room in the
basement of the central station, where we
now keep our patrol horses, so that we could
properly take care of them, and | am salts
fed that we would get better service.
I'VE now have five medium-szed horses
for our patrol wagons, lone for emergency
and use by the detective Department., which
are giving good satisfaction, and we can
make quick runs when necessity requires.
1--WE stable and feed our own stock in the
basement of the police station, under the
supervision of the patrol drivers, assisted by
TRUSTEES, and by so doing this department has
saved during the past year about $725. This
amount is estimated by allowing sixteen dol
lars per head to outside parties for keeping
the stock, the same as was formerly paid
he stock, wagons and equipments are in
good condition, and so kept as stated above
but we are unable to use the covered patrol
wagon. because of the fact that we cannot get
It INTO our basement on account of the en-
trance being too low, and there seems to be
no remedy.
The entrance to the station cannot be
raised on account of interfering with the
main floor. This matter could be arranged
if the city would purchase the adjoining lot
south of the station on Hill streets, and
which, believe, they now have an option OH.
1t seems to me that sooner or later we will
have to have this lot, which would give us
a driveway from First to Hill streets, and
also give additional room for stables, which
will be required as the city grows.
"In my report of last year, recommended
the building and equipping of branch police
stations-one in the southwestern part of the
CITY, near the corner of Hoover and Adams
streets, and another in the southeastern part
of the city, known as the Vernon district,
and l am pleased to note that your honor
able body is now considering this matter in
your requirements for the new fire engine
buildings to be erected. l am sure the
ground can be secured at more reasonable
figure now than any time in the future
Il am also pleased to note the appropria-
tion you have made for the purpose of estab-
fishing police signal system. This i'm
provement will greatly benefit this depart
ment and will also place it on a basis with
other cities of its size throughout the United
States.
"A city that is forging ahead and expand
ing like ours should certainly be entitled to
all the modern police Improvements IN exist
ence. | desire to recommend that an ordl-
nance be passed requiring all pawn brokers
and pawn-shops to file daily reports of prop
erty received, etc, with this department, on
blanks to be furnished by us, the same as is
done in other large cities OF the United
States. By SO doing, the work of this de-
partment will be greatly facilitated, and a
vast amount of information obtained that is
not otherwise received.
Il also recommend that an ordinance be
passed prohibiting the discharge OF fireworks
IN the streets of the city and in all parts OF
the city except upon some unimproved lot or
tract where damage to property would not
be likely to result, and then only, after the
party who proposed to conduct the display
had secured permit in writing from the
mayor or chief of police, who would then be
advised OF the same, and be able to afford
proper police protection and surveillance.
81 make this recommendation because of
the criminal carelessness and utter disregard
for the welfare of others that is shown by
many who explode fireworks in this city on
every occasion when we have "a celebration,
,-hiob | do hoIicva would ho tab
in other large cities.
During the past year the Bertillon sys-
TEN of measuring criminals has been
adopted by the department. By this means
of measurement, criminals are permanently
identified, and a copy or record of the meas
urement, together with the photograph of
the individual, is not only kept by this de-
partment, but also sent to the national bu-
reau of identification OF criminals in the city
of Chicago, where national record is made
of the same. During the past few years
that this system has been used in France,
the criminal element has been reduced over
and help to the department.
II respectfully invite your attention to
the. tabuiated exhibits of this report:
Exhibit A, Number of Arrests, shows
that 1860 arrests for crimes committed in
our county were made by the department in
the year Just past, and that we secured the
conviction of 3447 of these, 80 for feonies,
with imprisonment in the pententiaries
and that fifty, charged with felony, have
been held for and are now awaiting trials in
SsSea superior court, and chat l22 S.a~a oe>n-
victed OF perTu fafceny.
THE department also made thirty ar
rests of fugitives from other counties of the
state or other states. In addition to the
arrests for crime the officers have onn,o