Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-21

Work of thu Police Department for

Work of thu Police Department Tor q
Year.
Chief of Police Dolan presented his
annual report at the meeting of the
Board of Police Commissioners Monday
evening, and roo copies were ordered
printed In the course of bis report
the chief says:
During tho year past many changes
have been made for the benefit of the
service, and as q rule the results have
given general satisfaction. Few police
men have been before the Police Com
mission. -Four were dismissed from
the force and others wore suspended
| and reprimanded. The city has been
remarkably free from crime. In the
year east 3,504 arrests were made as
compared with 1920 arrests the pre-
coding year. A number of houses were
entered during tho winter, but in most
cases nothing was taken. Some arrests
were made, but owing to lack of
evidence escaped conviction. There
was one notable murder case, that of
Montylao A. Cole who killed William
A. Montague, and one big robbery,
that of the Bavaran brewery on May
Sth. Tho most notable arrest OF the
year was that made by Policeman
Shields and Maloney, who arrested
Harrison Baltimore, colored, who was
wanted in Baltimore on the charge of
murder. Eleven fugitives from Justice
were arrested. Thirty-two criminals
wore measured by the Bertillion system.
1.-THE law authorizing house sergeants
to issue warrants has proven q valuable
addition to the department. During
the year the department has served 6S8
warrants, and Of this amount 292 were
issued by the house sergeant. He also
accented bal in lob cases. There were
two deaths, Turnkey Lewis Hammerer
and Patroman ID. b. Mcguire. Both
were good officers. / would suggest
that the system of taking complaints
be changed. At present an officer on
duty in the station house performs this
duty. No one is responsible. would
recommend that the house sergeants be
given this work to perform; and also
that they be relieved of the RESPONSE
bility of the police reporting machine,
and that part of this duty be given in
charge of the captain. / would also
suggest that the board take steps to
have prepared and enacted law to
make an attempt to break and enter a
dwelling or other building in the night
time felony. Several criminals have
got their liberty during the past few
| wears OWING 10 bl9 1atI GIhb l1bTb Is uU
law for an offence of this character.
81 would recommend that the board
endeavor to have liquor laws Sc
amended to close the saloons not only
from midnight of Saturday to that Of
, Sunday, but extending to O'Clock
Monday morning. This, in my opinion,
would be a great benefit to the peace
and good order of the city.
II would recommend that an officer
be taken from the force and assigned
, to duty in the office of the chief Of
, police as special officer and detective.
{ We have no regular detective bureau,
. and such an officer could greatly assist
, the chief in securing evidence il
! certain cases that could not be sue
: cessfully done by uniformed officers
and to perform such other secret
D service work that might be required o.
l him. | would call your attention to tn,
fact that the quarters now occupied a:
, police station is inadequate for tn,
3 wants of an up to date department.
l is filed with yermin and disease, ant
. is disgrace to the community. TIL,
s Board of Police Commissioners pa,
: annually over $500 in rent for officers
: quarters and for patrol station. Thi
, amount could be well used toward
v NEW WOulu
that the board lease the propert,
Q formerly occupied as a postoffioe ant
d convert 1t into a police patrol station. ,
d The police department is composed
!, of 50 persons. Forty are on. dut,
during the day and "A at night. Eigh
4 men were appointed during the year
A number received marks of merit
a Sherry, Massey and Aiken head tn
1t list with five each. Sergeant Luca
IS received four, and Solomon, Tucker
d Shields. Pierce and Chilling three each
it Fourteen men received two, and 13
one each. Over the reporting machin
o in the police station ia, OH report
y were received during the year. Fac
@ day 232 were received and ESQ at night
> Theirs we're /, 9S7 wagon calls received
,. Seven hundred and ninety-nine com
ID plants we're received and acted upon
t. Besides this number 1,42O we're re
}. ferred Ia The Street and Sewer Depart
ment. "a 10 the Water Department, an
II 10 to the Board OF Health, making
d total Of .. 432. Warrants we're served o
N 6sS norsons, The largest number wa
j. served in June. 90 being arrested i
,g this month. The smallest number wa