New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
LAX POLICE DISCIPLINE.

Few things could be more significant of the
low state of discipline and general demoraliza-
ton of the police force than the statements of
Sergeant William A. Jones' who is in charge
of the police revolver practice, TO the Municipal
Civil Service Commission. By long familiarity
with the evil we have come to expect corrup-
ton in the force. Justice Gaynors decisions
have not yet established our fights against un-
reasonab bic arrests and lawless police activity
We have got used even to being dubbed or
being hit by the stray shot of a clumsy police
man. Under the two platoon system we real
iZe that the continuous patrol is often more
than frail police nature stand, and we ex-
pect when the roundsman is not in sight to
find the guardians of public safety taking
needed repose. But il there is one thing which
ordinary, elementary, routine discipline might
be expected TO secure, it would be decent care
of a pollceman's personal equipment, Yet Ser.
geant Jones says that the men do not keep
their revolvers clean, and that on most Of the
cartridges there can be found such an accu-
mutation of verdgris that they can scarcely be
pried from the chambers.
As a result of this neglect it is said that
even slight wound from a policemans bullet
may easily prove fatal through blood poison
ing. That of course. IS a serious menace to
public safety. But # is more serious still
a symptom of police character. Sergeant Jones
declares that 95 per cent of the men now on
the force will not clean their revolvers unless
forced TO do so, and the Civil Service Commits
sion is going to consider with Commissioner
McAdoo the formation OF some plan Of revolver
inspection that will force the men to care for
their weapons properly. Imagine a conference
to make soldiers of the United States Army
keep their rifles clean and in decent working
order! Even imagine militia colonel who had
to take extraordinary means TO supplement the
inspection of his regiment! The young re-
cruit' may be "'aughty," but it doesn't take
him long to learn 10 keep his kit "just So" 1t
is the fashion to talk about the finest" but
what sort of discipline. what sort Of inspection
have they when such an elementary matter of
semi-military discipline is neglected? 1t might
be thought that q police captain when he had
his men lined up before him would see to such
things this. Inspection must not be merely
lax but practically non-existent when 95 per
cent Of the force can have acquired such habits
Sergeant Jones testifes TO. The defect must
be of long standing for sloyenliness to be so
widespread. 1t indicates a deplorable lack Of
spirit and pride
Bad as such neglect is from the point of view
Of practical administration, it is much worse as
the indication Of a moral weakness No body
of men can be an efficient police force with
out strict dlscipline and attention to duty in
little things. The man who keeps dirty re-
volver. and is permitted TO keep one is on
the road to making an illegal arrest and being
permitted 10 make it, to levying blackman and
escaping punishment for 1t. There may be ex-
cuses in great city for some failure OF the
police TO suppress vice or detect crime. But
keeping dirty revolver is not a matter of ad-
verse public sentiment or skilfully concealed
lawbreaking. 1t results from just plain inefi-
cheney and Indifference of administration The
first drillmaster TO be found would take the
force and give it enough quickness of obedience
and self-respect TO overcome the defects which
have just been made public. Cannot Mr.. Nc
Adoo infuse little energy and efficiency into
the daily or weekly inspections of his men?