The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-01
CAMERAS
THE III. LlEBER COMPANY.
"a West Washington street.
POLICE RECORD BROKEN
Comparatively Few Policemen for the
Large Territory to BE Patrolled-
More Men Needed.

The activity OF the police and detective
departments is shown in that, during Au-
guss more arrests were made than in any
previous month in the history of the de-
partmens. Up TO o'clock yesterday after
noon CT arrests had been reported, 2O5
more than for any previous month. 1t was
said that The month of July in the second
year OF George w. Powell's term police
superintendent formerly held the record
for arrests. 5'wice in this month the rec
ord for one de-. s arrests has been broken.
In the early part Of the month LA cases
were sent in one Monday morning to Po-
lice Court This viii be eclipsed this morn
ing, when the slate will have nearly 80
names on 1t. This list was augmented
largely by the forty-three names of men
caught in gambling house Saturday
right This raid was considered the big
gest raid ever mad by the police depart
ment. Taking the month as a whole, it
has been a record-breaker for the depart
ment.
When the figures were shown Superin-
tendent Taffe yesterday he felt much elat-
ed. He said that with the small force of
policemen and detectives the work done
has been admirable. He said that in every
instance where 1t was known that there
was a possibility of a law violation force
OF men was sent TO the place to either frus-
trate II or arrest the participants. Many
times. he said. this action has left parts of
the city open to other lawbreakers, In
Guiding thieves, who are always watching
for a chance to take advantage of the
absence of policemen. I'VE have 136 po-
licemen 10 patrol this whole city. Eighty
OF these are ~ on duty at night Mr. o Taffs
and the need OF a great many more patrol
men Is apparent. In several of the outside
districts the men are compelled to walk
their districts properly. Since my connec-
ton with the police department / have
found that the most arrests are made in
summer time. This is easily accounted for
by the fact that nearly every resident gets
out OF doors as much as possible. More
drunkenness is found. Men drink freely
and IL they have a belligerent nature they
soon begin to fight with someone. and as
q result both are locked up. Nine-tenths
Of the drunken men found on the
streets. however, are sent to their
homes by the policemen. The only
drunken men who are arrested are those
who are insulting to passersby and
into further trouble IL left outside. The
town Is increasing rapidly and the added
territory needs protection. There are GER
tain quarters of the town where drunken
or disorderly men are never seen, but these
same sections are preyed upon by thieves.
With our present small force / think we
are doing a good Work. We nave a bicycle
corps which is an excellent adjunct TO a
police department. The town is now so
large. though. that If a crime is committed
on the outskirts of the city by the time a
BICYCLE policeman Is called the perpe-
traitors can easily be far away. The pa
frolmen in these outlying districts have a
good amount OF territory to cover and
they can't be expected to be on hand ar
. the instant any crime Is committed.
The need OF n larger department was
demonstrated several times recently and
especially Saturday night. when the one
patrol wagon called TO Hillside ave-
nue. and Sixteenth street, about two miles
from the police station. When IL returned
IL was called 10 the bridge over White
river. On its return from this trip a call
was sent in from East and McCarty
streets. In all. the horses travelled ten
miles. That was practically one trip
Thee were twenty other runs of greater
distances. When the wagonmen put the
horses up yesterday morning they had
fears that both horses had been badly In
tured.'s
The department was recently augmented
by the addition OF six patrolmen. Two OF
these are TO be sent 10 Irvington, which Is
two miles from the city limits.