The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-09


officers and men composing this depart
ment.
The officers of the department have been
very efficient and courteous in the dis
charge Of their duties during the year;
their department has been splendid.
have not had occasion to reprimand any
of them. They have been diligent and loyal
in rendering assistance in the manage
ment Of the department.
The three detectives have been very eff
ficient in the discharge of their duties,
and have been very successful In capturing
criminals and recovering stolen property.
They have. at all times, been faithful and
diligent in their work.
The patrolmen have been faithful and
diligent, working twelve hours each day.
a great deal of the winter being very
severe on them. They have discharged
their duty in a manner which goes to
show that they are loyal and efficient
The City Council has purchased for this
department a new, roller-bearing, one
horse patrol wagon, which is much more
convenient than the old one, and saves
the city the expense of keeping two
horses
The private telephone exchange in
stalled by the Mayor and Aldermen for
the department has proven very beneh-
cial BY this system the men on the out
skirt beats can at all times communicate
with the office.
The department should as early as pos
sible be increased at least thirty men.
This would put us on the same basis Of
other police departments of cities of the
same size and population.
] would especially recommend that an
other captain be elected. This would
give us a captain and a lieutenant on
each shift, and make the department
much more efficient
One more detective is badly needed
There are only three at present, and
should be two men worked together, espe-
cially at night.
With the fast increasing population 1t
will soon be necessary to install a sub
station on the Southside in order 70 rem
der the citizens in that vicinity the pro-
lection to which they are entitled.
I would recommend that a sub-call sta
ton be installed near Five Points in or
der that the citizens living and doing
business in that part of the city can at
all times get an officer without waiting
until one can go one and half miles
distant.
would also recommend that an eight
hour shift be adopted as soon as the de-
partment Is increased sufficiently to JUS
tify.
In conclusion. wish to think you gem
tlemen of the board for the courtesies,
Kindness and assistance shown myself and
the other members of the force.
Hoping that we may be able TO give
the citizens better service during the
coming year than ever before, and that
everything may be pleasant between your
honorable body and the department,
am. very truly yours, w. II. WEIR,
Chief of Police
Following the chiefs report was an
itenized report showing the number of
arrests made for various crimes within
the Jurisdiction of the department. ms
report presents some interesting hgures'
the most notable of which IS the marked
reduction in the number of arrests from
the previous year.
The total number of arrests for all
crimes is as follows: White males. Sl35;
white females, 277; black males, 1881;
black females 1887 Grand total of ar
rests. 914l This is about 2000 less than
the total arrests for the previous fiscal
year.