Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-12
POLICE PENSION FUND.

POLICE PENSION FUND.
From time to time the newspapers OF
this city have made mention Of the po-
| lice pension fund, but we are sure few
of our people fully understand what II
is. Some have an idea that 1t Is to be
| a good thing for the invaded policeman,
but they do not see exactly how or why
it appeals to the general public. In
| other words, they don't realize that the
! interest of the community is at all in
volved in the matter. Just there we wish
| to make a statement.
| AS time goes on the police force of
| Richmond will have on its roll an in
| creasing number Of members who. by rea-
| son of age, or disease, or injuries receiv-
ed in the discharge of their duties, will
be able to do none but the lightest work.
For the Police Board to turn out these
faithful officers upon the cold charity Of
the world would require that they should
be insensible to all the promptings of
humanity. The police is a little army in
civil life, and it's members incur risks
the ordinary civil office-holder is not sub
iect to. He is out in all weathers. and.
therefore his health is imperilled. He
is in constant peril from persons whom
ne undertakes to arrest, and the records
Of this city show that this is by no
means an imaginary danger. Many Rich
mond policemen have been wounded, and
several have been killed, while perform
l.at~
sitions. Again, the character of the SER
vices exacted of a policeman separates
him from business callings, and when he
ceases to WELD the baton there is usually
no other avenue of employment open to
him. Nor is it to be expected that the
average man will be able to lay by any
thing from his pay.
What, then, can be done to keep the
force filled with able-bodied men, and
yet give invaded members something
that will keep the wolf from their doors?
Experience has shown that nothing
can be done but to provide q pension
fund-a capital sum, the interest upon
which will serve 10 provide a small pen
sion for each member whom the Police
Board can no longer continue in the pay
Of the city.
In the course Of few years the board
may have to drop a number of police
men, or else the City Council may have
to increase the membership of the force.
Now, it is a well-known fact that Rich
mond is not in a financial condition either
to enlarge the force or to pension the
invalids-as many other cities do theirs.
What, if any, contribution the city may
be able and willing to make to the pen
sion fund is a matter for determination
in the remote future; but in our judg-
ment there is no reliable method or at
tanning the object in view but to raise a
pension fund by private subscription.
The police themselves have adopted this
view, and In March last the Pension AS
ISOLATION was organized, with Chief b. f.
Howard as president, Captain j. B. Angle
as secretary, and Sergeant Matthews as
treasurer The reliance of the organiZa-
ton for the creation of the necessary
fund is upon monthly dues of policemen
and life aid annual memberships of other
citizens. Two hundred and ten such citi-
Zens have thus become contributing men,
bers, thereby recognizing the benefcence
Of the object of the organization.
In furtherance Of its aims, the asso-
citation has the valuable help of an
Executive Committee composed of
Messrs. b. L. Howard, i. Il. Morris,
James N Boyd, S. II Halves, and Ju-
MUS A. Cosby. A good beginning has
been made in raising money, but a vast
deal of work is yet to be done to put the
pension scheme into operation on Janu-
airy !, 1902, as proposed.
Whether we view this undertaking as
would be without support Tor themselves
and families, or as device to enable the
Police Board TO discharge painful duty
with the least possible hardship TO the
policemen concerned and thereby keep
the force up to the proper standard it
appeals to the good sense, predetermined
ness, and kindheartedness of our people.
There are hundreds Of persons here
who might subscribe to the fund without
feeling the cost, and who would be doing
a beneficent thing Ivy so doing AS well
might the United States turn adrift in
their old age the soldiers who have
served 1t bravely as for us TO consign TO
poverty the faithful guardians of our
city who have spent their strength in
our behalf.