Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-12-07
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY

The latest branch Of city government
to be instituted for furtherance of the
public good is that of the department
of public safety. Though many of it's
duties are almost parallel with those
of the police department. there are
several other duties devolving upon
this new department that will not
come under the duties of the police of
government is but new departure and
though it has only of late been tried in
any city in this country, il has proven
itself of great worth.
The department of public safety is
made up of the chief of police and a
committee of aldermen of the city
council, who have police powers, and
whose recommendation are made
directly to the city council. Any
thing that arises in city life that may
conduce injury to the city Or any of
It's people. is to be taken in hand by
this commission and power is granted
them to carry out by means of their
police power any decisions made by
them for the public good, until such
time as the city council may act upon
| the matter.
In Appleton we understand such a
commission exists, having been insti-
tuted this year. Among other things
it has done. is to publish notices warn
ing the citizens of Appleton from 60
ing upon the ice for skating or any
other purpose, until such time as the
head of the commission determines it
to he safe enough. The head of the
| department is also the chief of police.
and upon him devolyes the duty of
determining when the ice is of suffici-
emit thickness to hear the weight of a
crowd. No arrests have BEEN made,
but the commissioners declare they
will arrest any person who disobeys
this order, which has been passed by
the council as an ordinance.
In the city of BARLEY, in Nebraska
such a commission has been added to
the list of city officers, and in this in
stance, also, the head of the commits
sion is the chief of police. In that
city, an epidemic Of scarlet fever or
some similar disease caught the city
and in such proportions that the
board of health were unable to pre-
vent the spread of disease. The de.
partment of public safety took the
matter in charge. and by means OF
their almost unlimited police power
took steps to not only prevent the
spread of disease, but to keep those
who were infected IN custody. The
city was saved thousands of dollars by
this means, as we'll as the lives OF
many citizens.
Not only In the spread of disease. in
preventing persons from taking un'
necessary risks as in skating, in con.
trolling operations in building that
might work against the public safety,
but in score of ways this department nj
OF city government has proven itself
useful. 1t has been found least use
full when instituted only when needed
Its members draw pay only when they
actually put in their time, which
must be sanctioned by the council. 1t
is good thing for any city, and
would not be out of place right here
in Grand Rapids. We have a pond
where skaters not only will, but are
taking unnecessary risks. where dis
eases common to winter may strike
the city hard, where building opera,
tions may at times be dangerous to
public safety, where public demonstra-
tions may exceed the safe limit, ETC.:
a department of public safety, costing
nothing except when in use, but al
ways ready to act when there is no
one else to do so, and whose business
it is to look after the safety of the
city at all times would not be a bad
| idea in our fine little city.