New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-04
POLICE POLICY OUTLINED.
PRESIDENT YORK TALKS TO THE COM
MANDERS.

THAT LAWS MUST BE BROADLY CON
srRuEp"' AND LITERALLY ENFORCED
The Police Commissioners met yesterday in excl
u,ivc session President York sad that the talk Of
there being open saloons more open places
Sunday than heretofore was 'all rot
The Commissioners held long talk with Chief
McCullagh about the best method OF bringing abolt
Immediate organization Of the force. This resolu-
tion adopted:
Resolved. That the Acting Chief be and is d.
rected to assign such a number Of inspectors or
other officers as he may deem necessary for the
purpose OF making thorough investigation az 10
the status OF persons claiming 10 be members Or
the Police Department in the Borough or queens,
and that they also Investigate and report as 10 the
condition of property belonging or claimed to be-
long TO the Police Department In said borough
THAT the Acting Chief be directed 20 assign sucn
officers and men as he may deem necessary for the
purpose of policing such borough
Similar resolutions were passed to the Bor-
ough of Richmond the Bridge police and the Park
police In this city and in Brooklyn.
President York made snort statement concern
Ing the Boards resolution. He said:
I'VE want to investigate the standing Of the men
appointed recently in Long Island City and also
on Staten Island. Under the charter We are en-
titled 70 s2s2 patrolnen for the Greater ho'N
force. and II take In all the men who claim 10
be legal policemen in the several villages IN tne
Borough of Queens we shall be about three hundred
over the quota. We anxious 70 straighten out
these matters. and rapidly as possible, that we
may so ahead and organize the force on proper
basis On Staten Island three sergeants and
number OF patrolmen appointed lately and
do not think that they should come In any more
than those In Long Island city. In the mean
time we will police these boroughs az far as neces-
sary.
Commissioner Hamilton has appointed Patrick
H. Dunn as his private secretary Mr. Dunn was
formerly Deputy Commissioner Of Jurors.
All the commanding officers IN the territory OF
the enlarged city before the Board yesterday,
and were addressed by President York as follows;
Chief and Officers: The Board has taken the OPP
portunity Of getting you all together so that We can
look upon you and you look upon US, ana that
be I Roat "a do evaryfhmg in ia rover TO bring
about the bfst character and discipline we want
commissioners that there Will be no political pref
Department so far az the Commissioners are con-
cerned The only that will be applied TO every
esty and with integrity. Every commanding oiiicer,
the statute books as well the rules and regula-
tons OF the Department Gambling and lottery
mondcr from the Chief down, will be held r'sdly
responsible Precedence shall be given tor snerii
torous service alone. Political consideration VIII
not be given weight by the comms S ion force a.
whole can he improved upon but only by your
help. II we can't get your help we must get some ONE
q
Understanding between you and the Board We
want your confidence and give you ours. We eX-
can DEPEND upon it there viii be no favorsm. It
viii be useless to run after the chief and ask him
TO Ehnf 90 an ne aep h eS or the
same purpose. The Department Is confronted by
problems and perpexities which take all the time
to adius, we want nothing and expect nothing
from you officers except rigid enforcement OF
Women Tor the purpose of discovering disorderly
hon hat is M officers,
but we expect you 10 break up sucn places ana en-
The impression has gone abroad through the public
prints that The incoming OF THIS board meant tnat
far as this Department Is concerned, bat want
the laws brady construed and literally enforced
did not intend to make speech. Dut the b0ard
deems it wise to get you together 80 that you can
understand what W. expect OF you we wan, ,. TO
do what is right We intend to do what we believe
il right and look 70 you to bring about in
creased efficiency and discipline 1t IS al for your
are transi.)ry. but while we are here we Will see
70 II m II every one does his duty.
Prefcrment will be 81 wen only for mertorious ser
vice favortism Il past and there VIII be no perse
SOn Of any and Of e beGe yo He that s yVT
will stand by you in everything that Is right
There was a dramatic incident at the close Of
Tie meeting The Brooklyn commanders wear
gold lace snouIder-straps. This is the only diff
ference between the uniforms OF tho New-York
and Brooklyn forces Chief McCullagh had been
talking 10 the Commissioners about the removal
Of the straps. and just before the close Of The
meeting he said 10 all the men that the Commits
s!oners had decided that the members OF the
brooklyn police should have the same uniforms
as those of New-York. He then said that the
men might remove their shoulder-straps. II was
thought that the men would take Their time about
this so as to have the matter neatly done by some
tailor but instead. almost unanimously, all the
ripped the gold lace from their shout
ders The commanders handed the straps TO friends
who were present
In accordance with the resolution OF the Board
Chief McCullagh appointed Inspector Rhodes, of
oueens IN Investigate the status Of the police OF
.Lo Queens County villages Inspector Brooks ana
Gantsin blake to investigate the Borough OF Rich
and Insuector Harley the Park force.