The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-12
POLICE WORK FOR A YEAR
ANNUAL REPORT OF sUPERINTEND-
ENT TAFFE SUBMITTED.
Their Loyalty and Cooperation
The Work in Detail.

Superintendent Taffe. of the police de-
rartment, has completed his annual report
and submitted it to Mayor Bookwalter. He
highly commends the work of his subor-
dinates for their loyalty and earnest CO.
operation in the work Of public safety dur
ing the past year. He also calls attention
to his secretary, John Isaacs, who. he says,
has been one of the most valiant workers
about the police station, and on account
of his executive ability has taken charge
of much more work than previous secre-
taries. Mr.. Taffe calls especial attention to
the fact that the city is greatly in need of
substations. This adjunct to the city build
ings, he says. is a crying need, and would
greatly facilitate the work of the depart
ment. Since the addition of Irvington and
Tuxedo, he says. it is almost an impossi-
bility for one wagon to make trip in that
direction to bring in a prisoner. The same
applies to all the other suburbs. On this
account. when arrests are made the patrol
men are required to bring the prisoners to
the mile limit, where the wagon is met. A
one-horse patrol wagon. he says. is greatly
needed. The growing needs of the depart
ment call for an extension of the station.
Another necessity for the police station.
Mr.. Taffe says. is padded cell for the
patients there were last year 49, Several
were in such condition that a padded cell
would have saved them from much suffer-
ing.
WORK IN DETAIL.
The report continues by giving in detail
the work Of the police and detective de-
partments for last year. 1t is noticeable
that the work in all departments has been
on the increase. There were 764O arrests,
4
OF the s166. 701 so appropriation for last year.
s164,8OO.72 was used. Stolen property re-
covered and returned to owners amounted to
SIS, S9sS2. This is s3,276.54 more than last
year.
The report gives much space to the work
of the detective department.. which: it says
has done great amount of work during
the past year. under disadvantages. One
half of the stolen property recovered was
done by this department. A new telegraph
station has been installed. under the charge
Mr.. Taffe says this adjunct to the depart
ment has been one of efficiency, as 1t saves
considerable time and annoyance in the
transmission of messages when word is
being sent out to apprehend criminals.
In the female department Matrons Refs
ner and Gregoire have had considerable
work during the year in the care of women
and small boys. OF the latter class there
were 1,2n arrests made. These boys are
the ones who are tried in Juvenile Court,
WHICH, MT. IdIle says, mas become Vdlu-
able assistance in the prevention of crime
among younger boys. To this end the large
room on the third floor In the rear Of the
Gamewell room has been fitted up into
regulation courtroom, where court is held
each Friday afternoon by Judge Stubs and
Prosecutor Holmes.
The bicycle squad during the past year
has been increased by the addition of two
more wheelmen. This corps, the report
says, is in good condition, and aided the
other departments materially. They made
1874 arrests, 610 more than in the year pre-
vious.
member of the police and detective de-
partments for their work. He says the dis
cipline was such that it spoke well for the
men.