The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-01
more POLICEMEN
FOR DEPARTMENT / {. | R. 4
Council Will Be Asked to In
crease Force BY Eve.
POLICE COMMITTEES ACTION
Messrs. Welsh and Jacob. Of Police
Board, Appear Before COMMITTEE
in the Interest Of an Increased
Department-Other Notes.

If the City Council acts favorably upon
a recommendation which was aoopteo Wy
unanimous vote yesterday afternoon
the Board of Police Commissioners VII
have five additional patrolmen at tne1r
disposal within the next two OF LIZ g
weeks. A strenuous attempt VIII pe iiiaoe
to have the Council adopt the recoii = el
dation of the committee. and It LOOKS
as if an increased department is near at
hand.
The action Of the Police Committee was
due to a petition from the Board OF 70
lice COmmiSs. oners, asking tndt sum q
recommendation be forwarded 70 ene
Council, A1essrs. j. B. welsh anu -. =
Jacob, members of the board. appearing
in their official scapa city. They explained
at some length the present sltuatloh'
earnestly requesting and urging favor
able action
TIE PETITION.
The communication which speaks for
itself. follows:
The undersigned appear before you a.
messengers from the Board Of Police
Commissioners. duly appointed in official
session, to present to your honorable
body a matter Of great interest to the
city, and which. if accomplished, VIII as
sist very materially in making the Police
Department. more ethclent.
1t is known that the Police Department
is deprived Of the use of five officers py
reason of the fact that by special oroi-
nance four are sanitary officers ana one
is crier i,, the Police Court We nave
been informed that these officers are &C
tive and efficient in the dlscharge Oh
their duties where they are. and we have
no desire to have them returned to US
for regular duty for the following reasons:
IN cases of emergency we would nave
one hundred and five officers. whereas. II
they were returned and i've citizens
elected in their places. we would nave
only one hundred as now. and though
they are detailed for special duty. they
are also officers and can make arrests
or perform other police duties to which
they may be assigned. and they8can also
be called upon for duty by citizens in the
neighborhood in which they reside. III
fact. they are on police duty at all times
the same as those who are not detained 5&
We, therefore. most respectfully invite
your earnest cooperation. and request
that YOU will a s speedily as possible pre-
sent to the Council an ordinance giving
the Police Commissioners authority to
Increase the roll strength to one hundred
and six by #electing five additional officers
the said ordinance to carry with 1t an
> nnropria ton sufficient to pay said five
officers. which sum will amount to 81 go %
annually.
All of which is respectfully submitted
10 Your honorable body. with the hone
that vou will give this matter Your KIND
con liberation in order lat the desired
ordinance rnav be presented al the earli-s
est moment 10 the Council of the city of
Richmond
Very. respectfully,
J.aE*s WELSH.
]. IF JACOB.
Committee.
,5FseE - x7i,r7 tj-'EI()Ns
After the clerk had read the communi-
ca ton Messrs. Jacob and Welsh eA -
planned at some length. after when tnes
retired from the committee room. a me
ton having been made to pass the matter
over for the time being.
After all other business had been trans
acted Mr. Zimmerman moved that tne
communication be taken from the Z. pie
and final action of some sort taken on II
This suggestion met with the nearly p
prevail of the committee, and IN d re"
/ brief remarks Mr. Peters moved that ar
! oroinancs,a be recommended to the Council,
rivnr26the Police Department the tive
men asked. MI. Zimmerman followed
with a short talk. in which he reviewed
the present situation. and Mr. sheppard
! wanted 10 know if it would not be Well
| toarecommend increasing the force by the
| addition of ten instead of five
II was the sense of the coIn1nltlee ttlitl
! this Increased number OF men would meet
witb TOO much opposition just at this
| time and 1t was deemed more eXPediene
10 ask for only five. When the #voie5 was
I; taken every man present recorded lli UNI,
! eejf5Sas favorng the proposition, and al
| pledged their support TO the measure
when it comes up in the councli lof ac-
/ ton.