The Indianapolis journal., 1902-09-21
HOW THE CORPS Is ORGANIZED
OUT OF 5000 ARRESTS LAST YEAR
THE BIIxEMEN MADE I,4G1.
Responding Frequently to Trivial
Calls, They Go Prepared to Face
Death or Injury.

any instant they may be sent whiriing
over the streets as fast as strength or
limb and speed of wheel can carry them
The bicycle police of this city do more
effective work than this branch of service
in any of the large cities. The reason our
men do better work is that the method or
managing the squad here is much different
from what IL is in most places. In New
York, Chicago. Cincinnati and a number
of other cities they have men on bicycles
who patrol districts the same as man
walking or mounted on horseback Here
they are used only for emergency calls,
and a person wanting a policeman can get
one in a very few minutes by telephoning
to police headquarters. BY the method that
is in use an officer is always available,
while by the other way he would have TO
be looked up.
The bicycle branch of the police depart
ment here has been in existence for six
years, and from three men who were In the
first place detailed to handle this work the
squad has been increased to eight, two of
this number being appointed only a short
time ago. AS the work increases from year
to year there is little doubt that in a short
time more will be added. Ever since the
shooting of Bicycle Policeman Charles
Ware, who was one OF the original three,
the men have always run in pairs. Before
the last two men were appointed there
were six in the squad and their watches
were divided as follows: Two went on at
in the morning and remained until
o'clock in the evening. and then were re-
lieved by two others; In the meantime the
remaining ones were doing what was called
the dog watch-that is, they came on duty
at noon and remained until midnight. As IL
is now they are evenly divided and there
are four men on all the time.
CAREFULLY CHOSEN.
The bicycle men are very carefully
chosen for Ii has been found that any pa
trolman is not fit for this branch of the
service. No man can get on the bicycle
squad who has not served years an ordi-
nary district patrolman and has proved TO
be exceptionally good man. Whenever
a man is to be appointed a bicycle po-
liceman his work and conduct are watched
a long time before his superior officers will
recommend him. And IL Is only through
the recommendation of the superintendent
or captain that his name will be consid-
cred at all. They receive the reports OF
the sergeants of the districts in which he
has run. and, should they be against the
man, he is turned down. The bicycle men
are also selected on account of their COOL
headedness and good Judgment: for the
fact is often demonstrated that IL they did
not know how to use heir wits, and
them in the right way, they would be lost.
1t is often remarked by people that infiu-
ence will do much in getting men promo
tions In all business and that their ability
has little to do with IL. This may be so In
some things, but influence plays no part
In the selection of men for the bicycle
squad. These men gain their places entire
ly by merit, and every patrolman on a dis
trict has an equal chance IL he has the
ability.
There is no increase in the pay of the BIZ
cycle policemen over the ordinary patrol
men, yet to gain a place in this squad 10
looked upon as certain promotion. because
nearly all of the sergeants and detectives
come from the bicyclemen. 1t is now con-
tended that the men in this branch OF the
service should have more pay because their
work Is much harder than that of district
man. for they twelve hours at
time and they are always going into
trouble The risk they take on their lives
every day is considerable. and IL is a won-
der that more OF them don't get killed. II
is, however. only through their strength
and shrewdness that they so often escape
serious injury. because the class of people
that the bicycle patrolman deals with is OF
the very lowest. and many of these people
are only waiting for the opportunity when.
as they say. they will put him 'in the
clear" But this chance of the thug seldom
&kte 81
man always has TO be on his guard, for
when he is least expecting Is generally
when he gets hurt.
The effectiveness OF the work of the BIZ
cycle squad is shown in the last years re-
port Of the superintendent of police There
were altogether 5000 arrests made by the
whole department. and 1.4e1 OF them were
made by the six bicycle men. With the ad-
dition OF two men the number Of arrests
will be greatly increased this year. on
every run these men make they
quired TO make out two reports. one for the
desk sergeant and the other for the super
intendent. In this report they give tho
time they were called. where they went
and the nature OF the trouble. and IL IL is a
burglary description OF ali the goods is
given. The sergeant's report is made after
every run IOr the use OF tne detcCuNeS ana
newspaper men. while the superintendent's
report is only daily affair and is used as
a record. These reports are filed In his
Office and can be referred 10 at any time.
THOUSANDS OF CALLS.
The amount Of ground that these men
cover on wheels is enormous when Il Is
considered how many calls they have and
the riding they do. They go 10 the limits
OF the city in all directions and often are
compelled 10 ride for miles into the coun-
try. Patrolman STREET.. OF this squad, had
a cyclometer on his wheel during the
month OF August OF last year and II reg
istered In that time $50 miles. OF course.
the number of runs made each day varies.
some days being exceedingly numerous.
while others there will be hardly any: bat
the general daily average. as figured by
the men themselves Is about twelve. which
makes them answer over 1900 calls year.
Waen the bicycle men arrive at the scene
of a crime IL is generally only a few min