The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-06
ONLY Ten 'FLY.BOBS'
Mayor Haynes Announces the I'M.
pending Reduction Of the City
Detective Force.
Thirteen Will Variously Walk
the Plank or Walk a
Beat.

About thirteen public servants now do
ing duty as detectives will either be walk
ing beats as patrolmen or seeking new
locations within ten days. Mayor J. g.
Haynes authorized this statement this
morning.
There are twenty-three detectives at
present sufficient number, the mayor
thinks, for a city twice the size OF Mime
apolis. Hereafter, he announces, there
will not be more than ten detectives. How
many of the remaining thirteen, most of
whom were raised to their present rank
in the Ames' administration, will remain
on the pay roll, he did not say. Some
will don the blue and g. few may be de-
tailed to duty in different parts of the
city as plain clothes men. 1t would not
be surprising If the majority Of the
changes were in the form of designations.
Facing a police deficit which demands
rigid economy for the present, the mayor
believes that a limited number of detec-
tives and q very few Of the plain clothes
denomination, In addition to the regular
police force, will be sufficient to keep
crime within bounds for the next twelve
month. What the police department
needs now, he thinks, is more patrolmen.
AS far as possible he Will undertake to
reinforce the uniformed rank.
Referring, in his inaugural address, to
prospective changes, the mayor intimated
that the wedding OUT process would
probably be confined largely to those 'in
an executive capacity" a statement cal
culated to increase the uneasiness OF
heads Of the department.
He'll Look Up the Men.
II do not care to make any more
definite announcement than that for the
present. said the mayor. Having
Informally acquainted myself with the
personnel of the police department, the
chief and now prefer to meet its mem
bers officially before deciding upon dis
| missals or appointments. Every man will
| have an opportunity to speak in his own
behalf :. .:. J..
Speaking generally as to the policy Of
the administration, the mayor said he
| thoroughly approved Of the action Of his
predecessor, Mr.. Jones, in ordering slo
machines out Of cigar stores. with {
few notifications, perhaps, I shall carr.
out the policy Of my predecessor in tina
respect. Slot machines are under the bal
in the different cities + recently visited
They are recognized generally by chief
Of police as an unmitigated evil A dis
tinction might be made, he intimated, II
| behalf of machines which always pa,
cigars.
Mayor Haynes and Chief of Police E.
! Conroy have decided that they can ge
along without either an assistant chief O
! a chief Of detectives. They believe tina
better results will be obtained if the!
! have immediate supervision over the ran]
| and file Of the department. .'.:
| Chief, a Plain, Clothes Man. +
IT shall not belong to the uniforme
rank" explained Chief Conroy to-da!
"As the popular song goes, I don't wan
to be a military man. Recognizing tn
need Of blue suit and brass buttons
police officers, I feel that I shall be abb
to get along very we'll in plain clothe
The only badge of office which I shal
wear is the plain silver star bequeathe
to me by Mr.. Waite yesterday. I sha
keep it strictly out Of sight only when oc
casion may demand it's exposure. I hay
precedent for this decision. 1t has bee
my observation, that the most efficier
| police chiefs in the country are not un
formed I believe that a uniform migi
embarass me should I desire to get Quiet]
about town and carry on a little investigs
ton on my own account"
Both the mayor and the chief were b.
seiged all day by a steady stream
place hunters and politicians.