New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-03-11
UNREST AMONG THE POLICE.

Commissioner Murphy has made what may
be described an appeal for sympathy on be
half of the police. The department he says, is
demoralized owing 10 the attacks upon il: the
members OF the police force are in state of
unrest, and he is not surprised even that some
of the members of the force are ready TO sign
petitions for State control. or for almost any
other changes from present conditions. All this
is very likely true, and IL constitutes serious
situation. menace TO the safety of the city and
q check upon the processes Of moral rehabilita-
ton, of whatever kind. which may be put in
motion among the police. II is doubtless true
that the innocent members of the force-and of
course there are many innocent members-are
suffering quite as keenly as those who have
been and are part of the blackmail system
probably more keenly. This calls for sincere
sympathy. II is one OF the bitter incidents of
This bitter situation.
But neither because Of Commissioner Muir
phys appeal nor because of the known dsad-
vantages of keeping body of men who are
Entrusted with grave responsibilities in a state
of uncertainty and consequent decentralization is
st 10 be expected that the public will withdraw
fts attention. and consent that the police shall
sink back again into the sodden condition in
which the public found them last fall when the
awakening among the citizens began. And sink
back they surely would IL the public were TO
'let them alone" Commissioner Murphy APP
pareBtly desires. No quick impulse of sym
patty for these men should he pc -nitted to OBJ
scure the facts which during these last few
months have been established beyond dispute
If. indeed. they were not established before
Matters had come TO such pass in this city
that the police force as a whole could find rest
and contentment when il was selling protection
for vice and crime. when il was insulting peace
full and law abiding citizens and taxpayers.
when IL was preying upon the helpless. the I'M
fortunate and the depraved: when. in league
with yiieness beyond words IL suffered little
children 10 live day by day in the sight and
under the blighting influences of immoralties
which il was its duty 10 suppress Under such
condinons the police force a whole found rest
and freedom from the Decentralization" Of
which Commissioner Murphy speaks so feeling
ly Rudely aroused by an indignant public. il
is not surprising that season Of bewilderment
and confusion has ensued. For this the city
will have 10 suffer for time but nothing could
be gained by any cessation of public attention.
watchfulness and active protest as new indir-
mites or old offences come TO light. One of the
compensations is that during this period OF be-
wilderment important revelations are likely 10
be made which otherwise might remain in oh.
SECURITY
We should not like 10 be understood. never
-heless. wholly refusing sympathy 10 Com
missioner Murphy in his solcitude for the phys
ical and mental state OF his policemen and we
think we can point ont TO him a way by means
OF which the innocent sufferers among his men
may be sootbed and queted, the efficiency OF
the police force re-established, the public in
di2nat.on GAINED. First, let him get rid Of Dew