The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-02
REASONS GIVEN FOR
DESIRED INCREASE
Detailed Statement Submitted Showing
tho Small Average of Men on Duty
In the Various Districts by
Night-Board Proposeaso
Organize Force With
High 6tardards.

tant session yesterday morning. and afs
ter approving the monthly pay roll and
bills, awarded tho contract for coal tor
the department. to g. P. Lathrop and Come
pany, and that Tor wood to the Richmond
Ice Company. A subcommittee, composed
Of Messrs. Zimmerman and Cloves, wad
named to look Into tho e1peddenoy OF
purchasing an IRON Eafe for tho chiefs
office. In which to place stolen property
and resolution was reported to tho
Council appropr,atins SY5o for continuing
tho dog pound during the remainder o1
the year. But the moEt important matter
disposed Of was that, Of a petition from
the Board Of Police Commissioners ask
Ing for authority to name thirty addi-
tonal policemen, ten for each district,
and to procure new patrol wagon and
all necessary equipment to be added to
the department.
Messrs. Landerkin and Whittet appsared
before the committee and urged the
granting Of the petition. and the cons
mittee voted unanimously In favor OF re-
porting 1t to the Council with the recom-
mendation that 1t be acted upon speedily.
THE PETITION in FULL.
The petition to the Council is as follows:
Richmond. Va.
TO the Honorable Council OF the City of
Richmond. Va.
Gentlemen.-The Board Of Police Com
missionern Of this city. after mature
consideration. have BECOME convinced that
In order to give to the people OF this city
the police protection to which they are
entitled, and to enforce and maintain law
and order at all times, that an increase
of the present force Is absolutely neces-
sary, and after full consideration of tha
subject, have determined to ask yout
honorable body for the authority to ap-
point thirty new men (ten for each dis.
trlcD.
We also feel that IN order to make tho
patrol system more perfect and effecdve
that an additional wagon, with all neces.
sary equipment, should be provided for
that department.
we. therefore, request that you regard
| this as an application from our board
| for AUTHORITY for the appointment OF the
| above named number of men to act as
policemen, and for one new patrol agon
and all necessary equipment. to be added
| to that department. and further reouese
| that you give this subject early and Ia
vorable consideration
Very respectfully yours.
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
A. D. LANDERKIN.
President pro tem
Attest
GEORGE F.. POLLOCK, Secretary.
TO REORGANIz1 FORCE.
Recent changes in the personnel OF tho
Board of Police Commissioners have re.
suited In determination on the part Of
| the body TO have a reorganization OF the
force, and should the above petition be
granted by the Council. 1t is expected
that this matter will he speedily taken up.
1t is being considered carefully by tho
member now. and they have in mind
many changes in the present system.
which they think will be beneficial to
the department.
lust on what lines the proposed reor-
ganizaton scheme will be prosecuted
Is not known at this time. but the sltlia-
tion Will be carefully gone over and every
thing done to bring the force up to
very high standard.
| In support OF this petition the hoard
submits to the Council a detailed stats.
| ment giving reas rs why the additional
men are asked.
Among them are the folloWing'
| AS Is we'll known 10 all who compose
| the Council, the city OF Richmond mas
| come to be looked upon. and really Is,
a large city. Its territory is EXTENDED
| and Its population numerous In most Sec
| tions and In these times when SO many
| idle and dangerous characters are roam
ing about It is necessary that at all times
strong guard should be thrown around
all sections of the city, and especially
in the remote and thinly populated sec
tions where, during the day, women and
children are left unprotected by the male
| portion OF their families,
In the First District the average NUM-
ber OF squares to each beat Is 2s, In
the Second District is 2-l1 In tho Third
District, so 7-lS
AVERAGE QUITE SMALL
The average number OF men on duty at
night in the First District is ten. with
81 o-l0 squares to the beat. In the Sec
ond District, nine, with % squares to ths
beat. In the Third District. twelve. with
81 squares 70 the beat.
Tn the daytime IN the First District.
the average number of men on duty II
five, with 63 4-5 squares 20 look after.
In the Second District the average ID
four and one-half men. With 81 squares
to look after In the Third District, the
average number OF men is six. with
60 a-lo squares to look after,
These figures are as near correct az
u, anil taa a