The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1901-12-14
Reorganization OF the
Detective BureauOne
Of the Most Import
ant-Change from the
Three.Platoon SyS.
tenn and the Return
Of the Shoo-FIy."

Tho.. who have some knowledge of
the inside workings of the POLICE Depart
men, are specula,inE as to the reforms
whic hCol. Partridge will institute "h"h
he succeeds Col. Murphy. They know
that many are necessary. and they are
ASKING themselves where the new Com
missioner Is to begin. Col. Partridge
has consulted with his friends on his
policy. and Il Is generally believed thai
ne has decided on sweeping changes
One OF the Initial reforms will be made
in the Detective Bureau. Another Is
complete investigation OF the three
platoon system, for which the patrol.
men paid politicians $500. And stii'
another Is the Redistribution OF 'hH
"shoo-ny system" which has ever seen
the means OF making policemen VINO
Will not earn their salaries earn them.
A matter O.. special moment which
has been brought TO Col. Partridgs'= a.
tcntion Is the community OF interest
existing IN the department II has FOR
it, foundation the four strong orHaniza-
| tions of the force. known as the Cap
,ains. Association. the Sergeants Asso-
citation, the Roundsmcn's Association
the Pntroimens Association and the
recently organized Dctective-SerScants
| Association. This latter has as yet but
| little strength.
Tho feature OF this community OF In
tercst." which has been represented to
the new Commissioner as the thing
most requiring Immediate investigation.
| 4, that officers who would rather not
be in Il are compelled to Join the or
gan!za,i lions 10 which they are eligible
or suffer.
Forced TO Join.
The Captains organization has among
Its membership not a few captains who
dislike the objects OF this secret band.
but they are powerless to do anything
under the present order OF things. There
was n time when the organization had
for It's aim the bctterment OF the condi.
lions OF the officers and their families.
and when a member died II was Its aim
TO relieve his widow and children.
Tho title OF the body has for Its fore.
mos, word, benevolent" but those who
know the interior workings OF the body
know we'll that its main object now
self -protection.
Col. Partridge has had raro counsel
and It has come from staid members OF
the force. They are doing what the,
can safely. and that Is to put the con
dt!ons squarely before the incoming
commis,,oner. He has promised q
break up the organixat'ons: that -
TO govern them as to make Il impos
.ible so long as he Il at the head OF
the force. to raise funds to protect thost
s-ho commit crime. by protecting vice.
Regarding the Detective Bureau 'ink'
ering. the situation Is described as fol
, llowe BY man who knows:
Under Commissioner Murphy thu
. Detective Bureau has been demon allied
He has been hanpcred by politicians
Murphy would have left the manage
ment OF the bureau to Capt. Titus II ne
had had his own ~ay but the poiit'ca
D leaders prevented that.
The new Commi ssioner has been I'D
, vised that Capt. Titus IL very com
peient Official. and that II he were 70
hampered by politicians he would o
able in a short time TO bring the bureau
, up TO n high standard Of efficiency. Col
Partridge said he would consult viii
Can't. Titus as soon as he assumed IN
duties OF the Commissionership.
The course which Commissioner
I Murphy has been forced to pursue b,
the political powers Is the promotion o
incompetcn; patrolmen into tho bureau
Many Of them never had days ex'
re.ie nee In detective work and bought
their way In. These men were patrol
men from precincts. They were at ono,
MI, into tn. rank OF detec,ive-sergean'
at s.. 900 q year.
.-rhsy were not even made to serve
one day IN tho Headquarters squad
where Col Murphy sa.d tina, all police.