New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-16
QUICK POLICE SERVICE.
The Telephone System Nos0 Estab-
kshed IN Fine Precincts.

The police telephone system 10 enable patrol
men on posts 10 communicate quickly with
police stations is in operation in five pre-
cincts in Manhattan. For many years Police
Commissioners tried 10 get some signal system
by which the patrolmen could be compelled TO
make regular reports showing that they were
their posts ana by which they could call as
sistance quickly in emergencies, but the cost OF
any such system prohibitive. General
Greene found a way 10 extend the telephone
system by arrangement with the telephone
company for the use of extra wires at so small
cost that the beginning Of the service has been
paid for out OF the savings in the running ex-
penses OF the department.
The First. Second. Fifth. Sixth and Eighth
precincts. whose stations are, respectively. in
Old Slip. Church-st,. oak-st., EIizsbeth-st ana
Leonard-st.. are now equipped with telephones
In street boxes connecting with the police sta
tions and arrangements being made to
equip three more downtown precincts. AS the
advantages of the system become more apparent
IT is expected that the system will be extended
TO al the precincts in Manhattan. and later In
the other boroughs. Commissioner McAdoo
favors the extension Of the system quickly
possible.
For the sake OF economy the street telephone
boxes of the police system have been attached to
the outer walls Of buildings, permission Of own
ers Of buildings being obtained easily. because
IL is considered that to have box building
gives additional police protection. Superin-
tendent Brennan of the police telegraph bureau
supervised the work in each precinct taking the
advice of captains as TO the locations of the
boxes TO suit the divisions of the posts IN the
precinct. The boxes locked. and the key
carried by every policeman fits all the boxes.
The telephone system is such that the moment
box is opened and the receiver is lifted a disk
falls on the switchboard at the police station,
showing the number Of the box. II takes less
than minute for policeman to open the box,
talk with the sergeant at the station and close
the box again in making the ordinary report
that he is on his post.
The patrolmen posts required to call
vent confusion that might ensue If ali the pa
trolmen should try TO report at the time.
each post has its own time for reporting. A
man is detailed at each station to keep the
records Of the hourly reports, and each record
is sent 10 Police Headquarters once a day. The
system thus compels the patrolmen to stay on
their posts. II patrolman fails to report within
fifteen minutes after the time his report is
due. the sergeant is required TO send a rounds
man 10 make an investigation. The fifteen min
utes' leeway is allowed because policeman
might be his way to the station with a
prisoner at the time he should be reporting
Each telephone box has bell, which rings
at q call from the station, and If a policeman
is near enough TO the box TO hear the bell he
answers the call; but the system might be i'm
proved by an arrangement to show a blue light
IN the box as the bell cannot be heard far by a
policeman on post. The signal system does not
do away with the services of the roundsmen
and sergearts on patrol, as those officers make
their usual rounds and make reports from
various boxes during their trips through the
precinct.