New-York tribune., 1903-01-08
BROOKS, DETECTIVE.
TITUS TRANSFERRED.
The Inspector to- Effect Big Shake
up m .SLeuth Bureau.


service begun yesterday by Police Com
missioner Greene. He placed Inspector Nicholas
Brooks in charge of the entire service. giving
him a free hand in the work Of reorganization.
On Brooks's recommendation, he promoted Ser
geant James J. Langan. Of the Tombs Court
squad, to the rank of captain, and placed him
in command Of the detectives In the bureau at
Police Headquarters. transferring Captain
George F. Titus to the station In Oak-st-. from
which Captain OReiliy was sent recently to the
TenderIoin Then he ordered Captain Charles
A Formosa who was detective sergeant at
Police HEADQUARTERS for years and was PRO-
NOTED ON the last day Of Commissioner Far
tridges term of office, to take command OF the
branch detective bureau in Brooklyn. transfer
ring Captain James G. Reynolds from that ou-
reau to the Fifth-ave. station, in Brooklyn
General Greene the other day honored Inspec-
tor Brooks by making him a general inspector
for the boroughs Of Manhattan and The Bronx.
thus relieving him of the duties Of district in
spector The order of yesterday continued
Brooks as a general inspector, but added to his
duties by giving to him control Of the detectives
in the entire city. Captains Langan ana for-
mosa were directed to report to Brooks as the
chief of detectives. and the order directed
Brooks at the earliest practicable moment 10
make such recommendations in the way OF
changes in the detective force or otherwise as
efficiency
To add little more to the responsibility OF
Inspector Brooks. General Greene relieved Cap
tain O'Brien. the acting inspector OF the second
District from all technical charge or the de-
tective bureau. and placed the Police Heal
quarters building and the Central Offlce squad
in charge of Brooks. subject to the orders OF
Chief Inspector Cortright. Ihe order so7s i'tO
effect at 8 a. IN. to-day
bV
Greene said later to newspaper men, are TO
be followed by other changes among the de-
tectives They will come gradually on the
recommendations OF Inspector BROOKS VIII
give the orders whenever he makes the recon-
nendations. This gives TO Inspector 0l'oN'
complete power to reorganize the deteotNe
service of the department and make reputa-
t;on as q po1ice officer second to none in the
Irnited States. 7 think he will achieve that
renutation He will have his office here at
Police Headquarters, but will have charse oL
the detectives in Brooklyn as well as the de-
tectiyes in Manhattan. and he VIII continue 10
be borough inspector as well
Does this mean that the detectives VIII nave
to work?" was asked
cit does General Greene replied
And that they may be required 20 get eFi-
dence against gambling houses?
"I suppose So
Does the reorganization of the detective force
mean that you believe there has been corrnp-
ton and possibly blackmail?
ut certainly means that"
"ViII Inspector Brooks direct detective "ofN
as we'll as reorganize the force:
.TIe will In fact he will be it
rnsnector Brooks said he was grateful for the
confidence which Commissioner Greene had IN
hir, ..T shall start in to do the best can. both
for the department and the public at large, ne
said
"fIov long do you think It viii take to reOr-
ranfze the detective bureau?'' he was asked
eft will not take long" was the quick reply
..Do YOU intend making a general shakeup:
.I shall have to go over the personnel OF the
force before can answer that question
eWill you say why you suggested Captain
I,angan as the head of the detectives in Man
hattan?"
BECAUSE he knows more crooks than any
other man in the department. and he was a-
sergeant under me, and know him thorough
ly"
Captain Titus when Informed of the change,
could not conceal that he took the transfer to
heart. but he said: II glad to know that
Inspector Brooks is to be the head Of the SER
vice and that Captain Langan is to take my
place.
He had been disturbed by report that Cap
tain O'Bren, whom he is said to dislike. was TO
have charge of the detective bureau. He told
several of his friends in the bureau that they
might expect a clean sweep. 1t is probable that
many of the present detective seTgeants Will be
sent out of the bureau.
District Attorney Jerome has been advocating
reorganization Of the detective force. and it
was known yesterday that he was in favor of
placing the work OF reorganization in the charge
of Brooks and Langan- He declined to express
his views the subject yesterday afternoon.
but said: "a detective force that cannot secure
evidence against gamblers which can be OBJ
tanned by amateurs is not capable force
The placing of the detective force in charge
of Inspector Brooks does not indicate that GEN
eral Greene and Mr.. Jerome fear the inspector
will be convicted by the Court of Special Ses-
sions the charge of Illegally breaking into
CanheId's gambling house. Mr.. Jerome went
and asked that the of Inspector Brooks be
not moved for trial Immediately. He said:
"As Deputy Commissioner Piper. Inspector
Brooks and myself are being sued in civil aC-
tion in this matter. / wrote to State Attorney
General Cunnsen last night asking him to prose
cute the case. I believe 1t would be unfair
for me to be the prosecuting officer
The court granted Mr. Jerome's motion, and
the case will not be heard until the Attorney
General appoints a deputy TO prosecute II.
General Greene yesterday promoted Sergeant
Dennis T. Ward, of the Westchester station, to
a captaincy. and placed him in command OF the
station in Leonard-st., Manhattan He trans
ferred Captain Ernest K Lindemann from the
Forty-fourth Precinct TO the Sixty-eighth Pre-
cinct, in Brooklyn. He retired Sergeant Delos
Reynolds, of the Westchester station. on PEN
sion.