The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-07
POLICE RULES.
Mayor Hughes Hunting For Re-
form Ideas.

Mayor Hughes is busy now fixing up
some rules and regulations for the police
department He has had several con-
situations with Chief StahI on the sub
Ject, and between the two. Topeka is
likely to come into possession of some
good things in the way of police rules
Mayor Hughes has received copies
of the police regulations in force in ST.
Joseph and Kansas City, Mo. He has
sent for copies of the Omaha rules, and
the rules used by several other large
western cities.
These rule books are very voluminous-
They are as extensive and incompre-
henSible as a baseball rule book would
be to an inhabitant of the British Isles
They are handsomely bound In morocco,
and have gilt edges
In the Kansas City rule book, there
are 319 separate rules, covering every
thing the police department is likely not
to need, and few things they may ma
useful at times The ST. Joe rule book
is not quite so bulky as the Kansas CITY
book, and is rather more ineligible
Here are few rules from the Kansas
City publication.
Rule 257. No member Of the force shall
be permitted to solicit or be obliged to
make contributions in money or other
wise, on any pretext to any person,
committee or association, for any politl-
cal purpose whatever
Rule 25S No member of the force
shall take part in any convention held
political Office.
Rule 25s Every member of the force
at all times when entering upon duty.
must be neat in person; his clothes and
boots clean and his dress in conform
ity with the1rules and regulations
Rule 27e. No member of the force shall
wilfully maltreat, or use unnecessary
violence to prisoner or citizen
Rule 272 The members of the police
force are forbidden to play at any game
of cards in a station house, or to meet
at any other place for the purpose OF
Rule 2Se. No member will be permit
/ ted to apply for a warrant for an assault
upon himself without first reporting the
/ case to the chief of police and receiving
from him permission in writing to make
such application.
| The st Joseph rule book has a shorter
| LIST of rules but it supplements the list
with some good fatherIy advice. about
three pages long, to patrolmen II IS
! likely that Mayor Hughes will decide TO
/ incorporate the advice part of the ST.
Here are some selections from the St.
Joseph rules:
/ R1le AS. The prevention of crime being
| the most important duty Of a police offi-
! Ger each patrolman must direct ms Ell
| forts constantly to that object, being as
| sured that the best evidence Of his ef11-
| cheney is found in the absence of OF
/ rests
| Rule so. They shall not use their baton
| or pistol except in extremely urgent
! cases.
Rule 81. Patrolmen shall not walk to-
| gether or talk with each other when
1 they meet on the confines of their beats,
unless to communicate information APP
pertaining to their police duties, and
in such cases they must make their
communication as brief as possible, ane
| thew shall not engage in conversation
with any person on any part OF their
/ beat. except in regard to matters con
corning the immediate discharge OF then
duties
Rule g. Each patrolman must con
stantly patrol his beat, unless otheryvls'
! directed and must not sit, lounge, ioa-
| or act the fdler thereon
Rule S. IF he observes in the stree
! anything likely to produce danger @
! public Inconvenience, or anything which
seems to him irregular and offensive, n
shall report the same Immediately OF
his return to the station house