The age-herald., 1902-05-14
POLICE COMMISSION TO
 ASK FOR E MORE MEN

Calls of morning mounted man .... :. 75 Calls of evening mounted man ...... 205 Runs made by patrol wagon ...... .... 276 Number of arrests for month";. ...107S
 MT. 2. T. Rudolph was elected chair man of the commission, MT. Albert Strad- ford, secretary; J. s. Johnston, lieutenant and G. E. Chambers, desk sergeant.
 The following men who serve in the sanitary department were elected as po- licemen without pay in order that they may enforce the sanitary laws:
 A. A. Gambill, No. 1; J. J. Boggan, No. 2; P. J. Newman. No. 3; J. R. Boat wright, No. and Tom Coleman, No. 3.
 Ex-Chairman McCary, Commissioner Parker and Chief Austin were appointed a committee of three to appear before the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, with the committee from the Trades Council, to urge that fifteen more policemen be given the department. The Trades Coun- ell committee which was present last night consisted of MT. Harry Markey and MT. Harry Moore.
 
 of the Inferior Criminal Court, and on the same date said fine was remitted by the acting Mayor
 T merely mention these facts to show to your honorable body that the police department has discharged it's duties and has been unjustly criticized by some"
 Chief Austin refers to his efforts to have law passed requiring pawnbrokers to make a daily report to the police of goods received by them He recites that his recommendations have availed noth- ing. As to the equipment of the depart ment, he says:
 POORLY EQUIPPED.
 Our police department Is the poorest equipped you will find anywhere.
 'As 1t is, there is no possible way for the chief of police to communicate with his men over the different beats only through his captains. In case a crime should be committed in the city 1t would take the captain at least three hours to visit each beat and communicate with the raen.
 If we were equipped, as we should be. with the police alarm system, the chief could communicate with every man in less than half hours time, and 1t would be almost impossible for a criminal to make his escape.
 With our fairs and circuses, we have many noted criminals who make if their business to follow some, and we have no way to identify them as we would were we member of the Bureau of Identifi- cation. To become member of this bureau would add greatly to the ef1ciency of the department and would cost but very little
 We would be furnished with the pic- lures of all noted criminals, pick-pockets, safe blowers, hall thieves, murderers- criminals of all classes. The officers would make study of these photographs and we would have no trouble in identify ing these crooks and having them move on when entering our city,"
 The chief recommends the Rerti- Ion system of measurement He saws that the cost of installing the system would about $500. Chief Austin also recom- mends that the head of the department be allowed to name his own staff. He says:
 'I think every chief of police shouId name his staff-name men that are loyal to him and his administration. If Ia frequently the case where men are forced upon him that are unfriendly to his ad mfnistration-that are there for self in terest and not for the betterment of inc department.
 "A commanding officer with an mn friendly staff is like ship without rud- der. The most successful police depart ments are those where men are appointed in this manner and removed for cause only.
 :" Tn unity there is strength"
 The chief praises the work of the re- formatory institutions and believes the city and state should be more liberal to them in the way of appropriations.