Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-05
FIGURES ON POLICE FORCE
Less Men Are on Duty Now
Than One Year

-
The attempt to mlsreprescnt the reduction
in the police department by a comparison
with the number OF men on the force last
year has brought about a true comparison
with the books, which show that while, it
Is said, the department has a much larger
force than during March, 1898, this Is not
true, as the rolls of that month show that
Lightweight men drew pay, while the de-
partment contains sixty-hve men at present.
Last year the department had three captains
and one chief of detectives, while now It has
two captains and no chief of detectives,
those officers now reporting to the day and
night captains or the sergeant in
The force now contains one additional clerk
in the chiefs office, but this clerk does not
draw anywhere near the amount of money
that was paid to the extra captain and to
the chief of detectives.
The records at the police station show
that the roll for March, 1898, provided for
the following officers: One chief. three cap
tains, one chief Of detectives, four sergeants,
two turnkeys or lookup men, two jailors,
two patrol conductors, two drivers, two EN-
Urgency men, two matrons, one hostler, one
pawnshOp officer, one court officer, six de-
%tectives, thirty-three patrolmen, night duty;
twenty-four patrolmen, day duty, and one
clerk in the chiefs office.
Since the reduction on the first of the
month it is claimed that a number OF men
are assigned to special duty who could be
utilized as uniformed patrolmen. The po-
lice record shows that the officers are as
follows, with their assignments. One chief,
two clerks in the chiefs office, two captains,
four sergeants, twelve detectives, six work
ing days and six at night, two turnkeys or
lockups, two j%ailors, two patrol conductors,
two drivers, one hostler, two emergency
men, two matrons, one pawn shop officer,
one court officer, eighteen night patrolmen,
eight day patrolmen, one patrolman, officer
Osborne, sick in hospital, two sanitary off,
GERS, a total of sixty-fve.
1t is said that seven men are unaccounted
for. One officer unassigned is Tailor Pat
Havey, while six officers are absent on leave
without pay. Six officers are accounted for
as detectives proper, while six more are
taken from the regular patrolmen, placed in
citizens clothing and assigned to either a
day or night shift. This gives the chief
a force OF twelve detectives, six of whom
are carried on the assignment list as lat
large" Officer Boyle, who is doing Clancy's
work as police clerk, is drawing his pay
but Clancy is not, a saving thereby being
found for the city.
In speaking of the suggestion of the
World-Herald that he might add eleven pa
trOlmen to the police force by taking off
six detectives, one special man on days and
one at night, one officer at large at night,
one unassigned patrolman and officer Boyle,
Chief White said:
I'm reality this needs no explanation, as
it is plainly a willful Misrepresentation of
the facts, l have held at all times and
shall continue to do so, because my en-
perience has taught me I am right, that
ununiformed officers are capable OF doing
tlN -,ArE FfA,.s,-a ,t,ArIr 7 fhA EN.AA
Of detectives together and instructed them
to scour the city, visit all the saloons in
the outskirts and the business portion of
| the city both day and night in order that
they might a~cquaint themselves with the
thieves and stragglars who make their
headquarters in such places. They are to
| go to South Omaha and see what men remain
| there, and work this city by dropping into
it at intervals. These men work in all
parts of the city in this way. They could
not do this, as is we'll known, If they were
uniformed, because they would be spotted
instantly, and besides it would be impos-
sible for them to leave their beats. l am
sorry l had to take off the twenty-fOur men
| had in the suburbs, az they made it i'm
| possible for thieves to back their wagons
up to stores and remove a whole stock in a
| night. They stopped porch climbing and in
many instances drove depredators from
their work by the knowledge of their pres
ence.
1.-THE one special man on days and one at
night are necessary at the police station. If
the wagon is answering a call, the conductor
and driver are with it, leaving the
emergency man at the station with the
Tailor. Should a second call arrive, as is
often the case, the emergency man, responds
to this. With a small force the demand for
such a man at the station constantly is
augmented and it would be foolish to take
these men from a place Of usefulness and
place them upon the streets.
''Th one officer at large at night is
Detective Dan Davis, who relieves other
officers if necessary and who works in all
parts Of the city. The officer noted as 'un-
assigned is Officer Pat Havey, who has been
made Tailor. officer Boyle has done Mr..
Clancy's work for a few days, the latter has
kept up the records. Boyle draws his pay
while Clancy does not, SO the city loses
| nothing"