Evening star., 1901-09-07
IMPROVED POLICE SERVICE
SUBJECT OF PAPER BY MAI. RICH
ARD SYLVESTER.
Requisites for Efficiency In Force Of
Adequate Numbers-COmpari-
son of Conditions.


American Municipalities held at James
town, N. Y. paper on the Modern Po-
lice Force" written by Major Sylvester.
was read. Major Sylvester received an in
vitation to deliver an address, and, being
unable to be present, he prepared the paper
at the request of the promoters Of the
league. The paper reads:
There is a general tendency for improve
ment morally. intelligently and physically
throughout the police service in the United
States. am Of the opinion that the public
generally is not awake to a realization of
the immunity from crime now enjoyed as
against conditions as they existed ten years
ago. l do not mean to give out the i'm
preston that there has been q decrease in
crime, for crime keeps pace with popula-
ton; always did exist and always will.
But the absence Of the professional burglar,
pickpocket, panel workers and card sharps
from the cities and towns is the result of
improved discipline, Intelligent application
and honest effort on the part of the police.
The crook who was a professional few
years ago in any one locality was measured,
photographed and in other respects made
known, and pictures sent to the authorities
In other sections. so that chance of operat-
ing without discovery and apprehension has
since been reduced to a minimum
The improved mechanical appliances, in
telligently and systema tically used, the
study OF the character of crime perpetrated
by individual characters, has made it possi-
Die to name the perpetrator without being
in possession Of further information In
some cases so remarkable has been this
Klnd OF MIND reading as to cause the pub
nc to wonder at the achievement when ar
rest and convictiongwould follow.
Have Gone Abroad
LAS result, the professionals have
gone to other cimes, to foreign shores,
where they can apply their operations with
less danger Of apprehension. The foreign
countries have largely maintained their
systems as of old, while in the United
States the conductors of police institutions
have organized a union known as the Ma
tional Association Of Chiefs of Police of
the United States and Canada, who meet
annually and discuss methods and matters
which may tend to the advancement of the
work in hand, and each head Of depart
ment is constantly bending his efforts to
realize on improvements which will not
benefit his command locally, but the ad-
vantages of which may be extended to ALL
Those who master municipal situations,
or who try to do so, should bear in mind
the truth-that everything in America Is
progressing at such rate to astonish the
world. The advanced conditions are large
ly met by inferior police organizations In
ferior in point of numerical strength. This
Is not as 1t should be. The great changes
are contended against by forces which have
not been properly instructed, but allowed
to pursue many antiquated methods at
compensations originally paid years ago.
Such is not conducive to good government,
but prevails simply because the police Is
the last institution thought Of when 1t
should be the first, in the progress which
has taken place.
"On the police must rest every depart
ment Of government; the schools collection
of taxes, enforcement of sanitary laws and
all other branches.
Requisites for Good Work.
"a modern police department must be
had in order to maintain peace and order,
to prevent crime and detect criminals This
can be had by extending to force of ade-.
quate numbers:
list. A life tenure during good behavior.
sd A pension fund for those injured or
diseased in the line of duty or in case of
death for their families.
't3d. Freedom from political Influences
with a non-partisan board of commission
erS.
"The time IS ripe when intelligence is
more necessary in experimenting than ply
sical strength. A superintendent should be
an honest, Jealous, intelligent kind, but
firm man, with ample compensation for his
labor and modern facilities at command.
His policy should be thoroughly inculcated
in the members Of his force by school Of in
struction.
''The subordinate officers and men should
be paid as would the agents of any we'll
established business house or corporation,
and should be taught to conduct things on
a business basis-that is bring about good
results"