The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-02
GET CHELL Is ON DECK
NEW COMMANDER TAKES CHARGE
OF MAYOR KIEFER's BLUE
COATED FORCE
THE NEW CHIEF rs RETICENT
He Does Not-TaIk Much About what
He Is Going;.to Do, or How 1t Will
BE Donesbnt Says He VIII Move
cautiousfy,but None the Less Pos
itively-H4nt at General Shaking
I'm

IHe reSiSn5fton or M. N. GoSS as cnleI
of police and the appointment Of Capt.
Parker L. GStehall.. formerly captain at
the Ducas stati9n. to the position Of
chief broughtt about no developments in
the police depaEtment yesterday save the
retirement ofsMrsHGoss and assumption Of
the active ddtfess of the department by
Chief Getchsp ormer Chief Goss was
at the centnM station early. but hadn't
been on haHd but a few minutes when
Chief GetchsH arrived. The two saluted
each other aerdia1ly and for some time
talked over Affairs OF the department in
formally in apparently the most pleasant
manner. The conversation dealt wholly
with the routine affairs of the depart
nent, concerning which the retiring chief
gave Chief GetcheH all information de-
sired. This done former Chief Goss shook
hands with his successor, and, bidding all
about the station azcf1eery goodbye, took
his departure
When the morning relief lined up in
front of the sergeant's desk yesterday
Mayor Kiefer,s order appointing Chief
Getchell was read. The order was re-
ceived without any demonstration or COM
ment
Appended tosit was Chief Getchells first
order, whichs-set- forth that until further
notice all existing orders, rules and reg
ulations, would remain in force. To all
members of the department whom he met
Chief Getcheli extended an informal
greeting, but he made no appearance be-
fore the patrolmen for the purpose Of in
strueting them or Informing them what
he should expect Of them in the line
Of police duty. Many new regulations
will go intoEeffectir the immediate fu-
ture, however, as Chief Getchell Is mere
ly considering the details of the policy,
he will map out for the reformation Of
the department that he Is expected to
bring about; Asked as to what course he
would pursue, Chief Getchell said:
Il have done nothing as yet, because
I have had scarcely time to consider just
what Is best to be done. The mayor has
planned a number of changes in the de-
partment, and until such matters are def
initely settled E will be unable to accom-
plish anything. What these changes will
be 1 do not know There will be some
transfers AND possibly some removals,
but as to WHO VIII be affected 1 cannot
say When tie changes have taken place
and the situatien appears settled I shall
issue such offers as appear to me are
necessary for the best interests of the
department and the proper policing of
the city. l can say, however, that a pa
trolman's nationality. politics or religion
will cut no figure with me. These are his
personal affairs.4xsfsm cient policemen are
what is needed, and an officer who is
capable Of and does do his duty, will
find that efficiency is the first qualifica-
ton considered"
''Will there be any radical changes in
the manner of conducting affairs coming
within the jurisdiction of the police de-
partment?", Chief Getchel1 was asked.
81 cannot say" he replied. ST have as
vet received no instructions from the
mayor tt.s
Hoy. How are yot going to handle the
81 do not know.
How about poker rooms?''
The police always close up such
places said Chief GetcheH, smiling.
What will you do about the present
system of handling the social evil. VIII
the Wholesale licensing of prostitution
throughout the city be continued"
Really, 1 am not in position to make
any statement in regard to this matter.
The instructions Of the mayor in this, as
well as other matters pertaining to the
duties Of the police department. will be
carried out"
The uncommunicative attitude of Chief
Getchell was due largely to uncertainty
as to what the assembly might do with
recommended it was believed Mayor
Ktefer would forward to that body last
evening. When the changes desired by
the mayor have been made a strict course
of dicipline will be laid out for the de-
partment. and such, other orders issued
as the mayor andothe new chief may de-
eide upon. tief
1t is the general opinion that Kiefer
Kiefer will not make many removals.
Some official heads will fall beyond ques-
tion it is claimed by the wiseacres, but
the other results by which 1t is hoped
to reform the department will be in
the general shaking up at the different
stations. Officers who have been at the
central station will be bundled off to the
suburbs, 1t is claimed, and outside officers
brought to the central district. By this
means 1t Is hoped to secure assistants
who will be unhampered by former asso-
Citations, and who will work tremendously
with Chief Getchell. Such changes do not
require the sanction Of the assembly, so
far as no reductions in rank are made, so,
of course, Mayor sKiefer and Chief Get
chell can completely change the Depart
ment about. if they consider such
course necessary.
Former Chief IGoss was asked yesterday
to make the statement he had promised
when he should cease to be member of
the police department. He said he would
wait while longer before engaging In
public controversy with Mayor Kiefer,
but declared that when he did consent
to talk he would have something to
say that would sbring things down about
Mayor Kiefer's ears with crash.