New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-05
THE DETECTIVE SHAKE UP.
NOT so FAR REACHING AS AT FIRST
THOUGHT TO BE-
RENAMED MEN WILL AID THE BUREAU
CIVIL SERVICE BOARD ATTACKED.

rrss concentration of the Detective Bureau by
the Police Commissioners Saturday is not as
radical as it appears the surface. According TO
several of the Commissioners and Chief Devery and
f,.n.atn McClusky, chief of the Detective Bureau,
the detective service in neither Manhattan nor in
Brooklyn is crippled, though apparently eighty-fve
men have been reinanded
So far Manhattan is concerned, the forty-
seven detective sergeants under Captain McClusky
viii not be the only available detective force when
the new order. consolidating the bureaus IN Man
haitian and Brooklyn. into effect to-day or to-
morrow The sixty-four men who have been re-
,,anaed viii not do patrol duty. Chief Devery has
taken care of them They will be a reserve
force under Chief Devery. and whenever captain
McCyusky wants to make OF them he can
Nomfnally they are not attached to the Detective
Bureau bat they will really do detective DUTY
In Brooklyn all the detective sergeants under the
resolution making Brooklyn a branch bureau nave
been assigned the Detective Bureau and taken
from the precincts. This would seem to leave the
precincts without detectives but this is smplifed
by the captains requesting Chief Devery TO detail
some Officer temporary detective, and IL he shows
ability Chief Devery Will get the Police Board 10
make him one. It is in Brooklyn where the new
order Of things will have the greatest effect The
detectives assigned to patrol duty there have no
recourse. AS detective sergeant in Brooklyn can
not be removed except for charges. these men are
safe, and will DO duty in the branch bureau.
EFFICIENCY DECLARED UNIMPAIRED-
II was stated emphaticaIly by all the persons
viii not be impaired by the new move. They de-
clsred that false impression had got abroad that
when the orders went into effect the two cities
would be working under crippled force. This
they declare is not SO, already shown. with
Captain McClusky able to make use of any or all
OF his old detective force. and with the precinct
commanders IN Brooklyn able 10 detail men, and
with the branch in Brooklyn having a force or
forty-one detective sergeans the two boroughs are
well guarded.
There we're few policemen detectives around
Police Headquarters yesterday, but those who were
there discussed the changes. They all appeared 10
understand the import Of the change made by the
Police Commissioners. One of the men renamed
who is considered one Of the best detectives in the
Department, declared yesterday that the move was
made in order 10 give 10 the Police Commissioners
fuller control Of the Detective Bureau, and prl-
marty 10 make a that the appointment to the
office of detective sergeant should be made ire
spective Of any Civil Service examination.
In discussing the matter yesterday Captain Nc
CluslSy said at his home:
Under the new order the thing IS now up to me me
That is the placing OF the detective forces OF Man
haitian and Brooklyn under my charge increases
tayv one and Vim help to make the force more
efficient. AS far Brooklyn is concerned there Is
scarcely the need of such force as would De re-
quired in another city of its size. Brooklyn is a
peculiar city. 1t is dormitory for Newly ork IN
nearly all the houses there is always some one IN
In majority OF houses there are several Iamlnes,
more families Then again in Brooklyn there is
the advantage for crime and vice as there is IN
in This country which needs less detective attention
than Brooklyn. dc not believe there is a more
Ia the world. 1t is really remarkable when you
come to think of it.
WRONG IMPRESSION.
There has been a wrong impression got from the
action of the Police Board on Saturday. If 1
thought that these sixty-four men would be re,
Viserousiy y against it. why many of those men
are among the best y on t natprai bent for
the work they have been doing and will do Since
weeded out many Incompetent men. and retained
those who have the aptitude and the aoty 70 per
good detective be told by Civil Service test;
roetsetiv e Bureau win admit, could not pass
Civil Service examination. but they are among the
6seds Of incidents Of excellent work performed by
would pass a Civil Service examination with flying
Now we are not going to lose the experience and
ability Of these men. l would be the first to pro-
test agsst the 1hlns s a wh Well as
While the Bureau is reorganized to a certain ex.
tent IL is done as TO meet the requirements of
the law. You might say that the reorganization is
ties Of the law governing the Detective Bureau
Bureau in Manhattan is crippled there would be
necessarily some apprehension as TO the safety OF
Sion in this respect There are none quicker to take
O9r 3 e fpPd the 6Se ferG Re ean Sn
crippled or less efficient they would let loose If
badly mistaken.
When asked If the courts decided that the
detectives who had brought action should be made
detective sergeants, whether they would be ap-
pointed 10 the Bureau. Chief Devery. who also
seen, said:
% course they wil-every OF them. That's
Just the point There are some mighty fine de-
who are better detectives than those who are now
vice business and detectives. It makes me tired 10
pear people say you can pick out good detective
5saoNs ASK. You can't do It. 1t isn't right for the
pontment of detective sergeants WIN - F
THE BROOKLYN PRECINCTS
How about the precinct detectives In Brook
lynn"
Oh, that's easy. If the precinct commanders
want 20 detail for detective duty let them ash
me and will let them. Then If a man proves him
self a good man will make detective of him"
DO you expect TO have the rule go into effec
Monday"
II don't know yet It may go into effect on Mon
Gay or Tuesday. There don't seem to be any rusl
What VIII you do with Captain Price?"
"Oh, will take of him. / have yet de
clded just where I will assign him. / may d
something about that Tomorrow. 1 guess Pric
Chief Devery made long harangue the use
lessness OF Civil Service examinations far de
who were made detective sergeants, but whose pa,
withheld by the Civil Service Board becaus
seemed GO be tremendously worked up over III
Civil Service Board He made il plain that it wa
Iooseness in the methods of the Brooklyn depart
ment which primarily brought about the change
A friend of Captain Price said last evening tha
the Captain would probably go back to the Tender
ioin.
TEST OF NEW FIRE APPARATUS.
oficisls Of the Fire Department, headed by Fir,
Chief Croker and Commissioner Scannell AZ pooy