The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-05
COPS STAND IN WITH CROOKS.
STEVE O'BRIEN ADMITS 1T, nut
SAYS 1T ISN'T COMMON.
Talks for McAdOO at an Albany Hearing
on the Committee OF Mines Police
Bn-Says lie Hires Thieves as stool
Pigeons. hut That Doesn't License I'm.

Pigeons. hut That Doesn't License 'Em.
ALBANY, April 4.-"I must believe Grim
inals who have done important work for
mo, that men in my department have stood
them up and gone through them
That statement was made this afternoon
before the Assembly Cities Committee
ny acting Inspector Stephen O'Bren, at
present in charge Of the Detective Bureau
Of New York city.
Inspector O'Brien appeared before the
committee to represent Police Commits
sioner McAdoo in support Of the Committee
Of Mines police bill. the most important
provision OF which Is for a new detec-
live bureau Gnd abolishing the Office Of
detective sergeant.
Inspector O'Brien made the statement
after Henry De Forest Baldwin had de-
,ared that detectives were in league with
pickpocket and thieves. The inspector
raid that Commissioner McAdoo had in
etr,icted him TO say that the Commissioner
believes that there should be a chief Of the
uniformed police and a chief Of detectives,
the latter TO be under the immediate direc-
ton Of the Commissioner and beyond inter-
ference from the chief Of police.
Referring to the detective sergeant he
said Years ago II was possible for a
man 10 work up 10 the grade Of detective
sergeant and hold il through merit and
efficiency alone. But some who were in
efficient thought it would he best 20 have
the legislature make the place Of detective
sergeant permanent and the result Ia that
there are inefficient men holding the posi-
tions and the law has placed a commercial
value on the place. Men have become
detective sergeants through paying 5000
end s.. 900 for the appointments, and they
don't know a thief from a bunch of bets
He was asked about detectives standing In
with thieves and said: Il am informed
that there are a minority of men who,
am sorry TO say, do that
He was also asked II II was true, as had
been charged, that in case man who had
influence was robbed. his property could
he restored 20 him. The inspector replied
well can't say as 10 that. That re-
minds me of the time, forty or fifty years
ago, when person wanted TO win favor
from Thurlow Weed, when, politics cut so
much ice, be would have Mr., Weeds
watch stolen and then would have It re-
turned 20 Mr. Weed, who would not forget
It and always rewarded.
But II you want honest detectives, pay
them money enough TO put them above
temptation. A detective has 10 dress we'll,
move among all classes Of people, and he
has to spend money In his trade that he can
never have returned TO him.
do you know Of such a thing as stool
pigeons in the department., asSed Assem-
blyman Hornidge.
i must say that I have thieves whom
employ TO do important work In order 10
serve the ends OF justice. but pay them
for their work and that ends 1t. OF course
there is no understanding that they have
Noeuse to steal. Why. you talk about
dishonest detectivesl Let me tell you that
the detectives as a class are an honest
body Of men. Suppose a man is touched
for 500 and a detective goes out and gets
the thief. Why, he could get 5000 70
square things. but he doesn't do 1t.
The only way you can clean out the city
and make 1t pure and wholesome Is through
the detective department. All the import
ant work Is done by the Detective Bureau.
No one knows who the chief Of police OF
New York city IL, but everybody knows
who the chief OF detectives Is. am e1-
pressing the views Of Commissioner McAdoo
on this bill
The Committee Of Nine was represented
by Mr.. Baldwin, James MoKeen, William
Church Osborn, Isaac N. Sehgman and
T. Ludlow Christie. MrN McKeen spoke
for Austen @. Fox, the ichairman. Com
missioner McAdoo could not attend, but
he sent a letter in which he said;
I am more than ever convinced, on re-
hection, that the Detective Bureau should
be entirely independent Of the uniformed
force and be subject only TO the Commits
sioner himself. II the bureau IA honestly
and efficiently administered IL is check
and guard on every uniformed man in New
York, sees that he does his duty and Is
honest in the performance OF the same.
Mr. Baldwin gave an account OF the
work Of the committee and the investi-
cations II had made, and said that a pro-
fessional policeman should be at the head
Of the department.
There is no doubt that the polioe are in
league with criminals. II would be i'm
possible for the piclpookets to flourish and
operate 90 openly unlets they stood in
with the detectives he said. Il got
interesting information from THEW in the
Tombs and they told me that all the horsecar
thieves were in league with police, and their
testimony was coTroborated.'
Coming to the vice bureau. he said
The men in the Police Department say
II that bureau Is created It will prevent
the captains from delivering the goods,
and that IA what we want. II IL argued
that Il will concentrate graft. So It might.
We don't think we are going TO remove
that entirely, but we do place the response
bility for it,
Mr.. Osborn followed and said that District
Attorney Jerome didn't approve Of the
hill except the two suggestions made by
him in regard 20 a vice bureau and abolish
ing the detective sergeants. In regard "a
graft he said that while there was nc
attempt TO reform the police as whole.
still this hill would reduce graft by % PEI
cent.
bill