New-York tribune., 1902-02-11
POLICE APPEAL TO LOW
LAZY ONES ASK THE MAYOR TO RE
STORE THREE PLATOON SYSTEM

Inc order of Police Commissioner Partridge
aooIshlng the three platoon system of police pa
troI went into effect at a m. yesterday and
last night it was possible to find policemen on
their posts The return to the old two platoon
system of patrol was accomplished without a
mitch, the policemen falling into the we'll known
routine of duty matter of course. There
We're great many more patrolmen duty in
the streets all night. and their posts so
straight and short that they risked discovery if
they shirked dutv
commissioner Partridge declined Yesterday to
olscuss reports about conference between
mayor Low and delegates of the patromen's
association on the three platoon system. He
exposed some lies about the hardship of police
DUTY under the two platoon system, and he
called attention to the fact that the present
nigh pay Of the police and the pension egis-
lation were due to the legislatures recognition
OF long hours for the police The demand for
the three platoon system and eight hours day
service, he said had come from agitators in the
police force. All the inspectors of the force had
agreed that the three platoon system wrong
and ought TO be abandoned The Commissioners
said he had decided that he could not keep the
three platoon system in Justice to the people the
police are supposed to protect
1T is the 5000, 600 citizens who supply large
ly the sinews of to keep this department
running, he said. The citizens have a right
TO expect that they will get reasonable return
loT the Sl-,OuOUOO that they put into this de
partment annually I thought they were not
getting that return under the three platoon sys-
tein and that is the reason that I changed the
system
The Commissioner said he intended to have
the police do duty without shirking hereafter.
DO you believe in sending out roundsmen in
pain clothes TO catch the ShirkerS?" was asked.
believe in having the men do their duty"
ne SAID but | will not talk of my plans for
making them do their duty"
There was some erumbling among the patrol
men on account of the change to longer hours
or duty at night, and there talk of making
another attempt to secure legislation at Albany.
IL was learned that Senator Tim Sullivan had
promised To introduce bill to restore the three
platoon system
A delegation Of the Patrolmens Benevolent
Association went to Mayor Low at his home
on sunday and had another talk with him yes
terddy. urging him use his influence for the
restoration Of the thres platoon system. The
delegates. William brennan William {. Rice
John 7. Nllon and Frank Dunn, signed a let
Ter declaring that they had received a promise
from the Mayors secretary MI Reynolds that
the Mayor would give a hearing before action
was taken by the Police Commissioner for the
abolition Of the three platoon system. The letter
was dated on Saturday. The Mayor dictated
reply yesterday, saying, In part:
regret exceedingly the misunderstanding to
which have alluded and If the question were still
open should certainly grant the hearing which
you have had reason to expect; but as the matter
now stands | do not feel liberty ask the
Commissioner suspend his order. lest the effect
of such course should be demoralizins TO the de-
partment.
shall. however ask the Police Commissioner 70
make further study OF the whole question, in
order 10 determine whether any modification Of
two platoon system-can be devised which shall
be an Improvement both. II in this connection
Police Commissioner VIII give them careful con-
sideration.