The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-20
THREE PLAlOoNS, MORE MEN,
AND PAY PATROLMEN LESS, rs
MR.. PHILBIN'S IDEA.
Partridge In Their Report TO the Mayor
(Iings 10 Two PiatOons- Agree
That the Commissioner should Serve
- Nears-Other RecOmm endatiOns.

The report of Mayor Lows commission
to suggest needed changes in the Police De-
part especially AZ regards The patrol
system. was made public yesterday. A.
THE Sun announced yesterday, the two
active members Of the commission, ex-
District Attorney Philbin and Commits
sioner Partridge. have disagreed on the
main questio the patrol system. Gen.
Avery D. Andrews. the third member, is
in Europe and his name was not signed TO
the document when it reached the Mayor.
Along with the printed report, which
cont aims the views Of Mr.. Philbn on the
patrol question the dissenting report Of
Commissioner Partridge was made public.
The two seem to have agreed on every
point save that one. Here is part Of what
MIR. Philbin has to say about the present
system:
The commission is satisfied that the present
two platoon system cannot give that police
service to this city to which its citizens are
entitled and that the number OF men ein-
ployed on the force j. inadequate under any
plan. Even n no change Is made in the
platoon system. the force should he increased
during the year ia1a TO at least eight thousand
The platoon plan most likely to furnish
the city with proper service y the three
platoon system which was in operation her.
FOR several months. bat modified in certai
important RESPECTS The adoption even OF
an incrcasc of the police force and in view
OF the great eypen-e now attached TO the
administration of the department such IN
crease should be made only II the maximum
amount Of salary received by the patrolmcn
Is reduced
II viii be further necessary that the police
force receive the benefit OF the services of
those men who are nominally connected
with it, but really employed by other depart
Increased in this way without having any
OF its work don" by many men who are on
found p%fyOh the Street f"p psn S 'b no SF
where the salaries Of the policemen employed
amount TO about sss GOO The policemen
aggregate about s?i7,ooo. furnish another
instance
In many cases the number of men detailed
can he safely reduced, and in many the detail
altogether abolished
The objection to an eisht-hour tour Of
avoided II a patrol of such length were re,
CURED. might be obviated by the use of signal
psGsfS al int oHsr on COULD mary pg
hourly touch with the station house IN any
event such a system should be- adopted for
the advantages thence arising would i'm
measurably compensate the expense OF IN
stalntion.
In view of the fact that the commiss ION has
studied he many plans submitted by practical
policemen, only to find that they all possess
serious defects, realizes that II cannot
submit any system of patrol and reserve duty
efficiency. IL, therefore, - Of the OPINION
that a. satisfactory decision can, only be
reached by a series of thorough and impart al
tests. conducted under the supervision OF the
Commiss of Police 1t is felt. however.
demonstrate the merits Of the three platoon
system above referred 20. modified In such
manner as the tests may prove desirable
Commissioner Partridge raises many
objections against the three-.patoon svs-
| TEN. The chief one is that il does not 6 We
| as good protection az the hours most needed
| as the present system. Mr., Partridge
ends his dissenting report by telling the
Mayor that the present two-p'atoon sys-
tenn could be remodelled to suit the city'-
needs and would prove more satisfactory
| than the plan which Mr. Philbin favors.
The commission make many recon-
| mendations. the most important of which
is that the tenure Of Office of the head of
the department be increased TO fourteen
years. They say further on this subject:
Such a provision would not be contrary
to the spirit Of the Charter. in so far "a, y
contemplate. extending the term Of tho
| who appo.at. him, since the Charter now
| provides that the term OF the Commits toner
| shall be five years, whereas that OF the Mayor
The Police Commissioner should not he re-
| moved except upon charges beins made
proved. showing that public interests denial nd
such an action.
Other recommendations are:
| number from fifteen to fourteen: that there
| shall be a general Inspector appointed by
| the Commissioner from among the inspectors
| that the Commissioner of Police must retire
| all members OF the force who have attained
| the age Of o. years: that the police he relieved
| kindred duties: that the services Of police
| men detailed at theatres. balls, &c shall ba
| paid for and that money thus received shall
| form part Of the pension fund that the city
| Chamberlain shall be the trustee and treas
| urer Of the Police Pension Fund: that the
| Hon-a nj nptantinp shall no under tho n
| troll and mana cement Of the District Attorney:
| that the title of lieutenant he substituted for
| sergeant and sergeant for that of rounds.
| man; that the headquarters detectives should
| he under the immediate charge Of Chief Of
| Detectives. thnt the police force be increased
| In 1908 by \ sufficient mum Der Of men to ma Ike
the aggregate 1000 patrolmen. and that the
| maximum period of service be fixed at twenty
| years instead OF twenty-five.