The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-18
NEED GYM FOR
PODGY POLICE
Commissioners May Take Up the Subject AT An Early Date As
Is Realized That Efficiency of the Department Requires
That the Officers Shall Have Means of Preventing the
Aoquiremen OF Surplus Weight That Is Common to All in
Their Occupation

1--WE need a musicipal gymnasium for
the city's upward OF 600 police and fire.
men," said a well known. member OF the
police department today
THE reason is not far to seek nor hard
10 find IL is plain 10 any person who
sees our well-fed and fast-expanding
guardians OF the peace, some OF whom
look like perambulating spheres" he con-
tinued.
I'VE now have some men on the force
who would find IL impossible 10 catch
thief or even a drunken man. often ii
requires two or three 10 boost man into
the patrol wagon; and they may too fire.
quently resort TO the use OF the club or
night stick because their arm muscles are
fiabby and cannot perform their proper
functions In dealing with obstreperous
prisoners.
Certainly, there is a tendency In that
direction which the proper amount Of
physical exercise would check. IL IL did
not entirely eliminate. OF course, no
amount OF training will eradicate all OF
the brute in man. not excepting a police
man; but a man who is conscious OF his
physical powers or weaknesses will re-
sort 10 or refrain from clubs and like ad-
juncts i'm proportion to the absolute need
for them. Lack of proper physical exer-
else tends TO make towards OF policemen.
There can be no question about H.
why, take a husky man OF 25, who rs
used TO hard work in blacksmith shop.
foundry or farm. and put him on the po-
lice force where he has plenty of air.
slow walking and little use for his arms.
His appetite increases at prodigious speed
until his consumption OF the good things
OF life makes him almost gourmand;
and his girth increases out OF all proper
tion to his chest and thus diminishes his
efficiency
THE police department standards for
admission to the force are an excellent
safeguard against the entrance of 'roly
polys,' men of Falstaffian proportions;
but at present there is no safeguard
against the tendency 10 acquire bay win
dows, which are hindrance rather than
n help 70 police efficiency
Police Surgeon clifford III. Griffin, II is
understood, brought this matter 10 the
attention OF the board OF aldermen be-
fore the police commission was created;
and Mayor Daniel l.. II. Granger took IL
up. The police surgeon thought at that
time that there should be municipal
gymnasium. and so recommended. giving
his reasons therefor, at some length.
Mayor Granger In 1901 wrote 10 police
officials In other cities for Information
particularly regarding military drill and
physical exercise, and received replies
showing that a number OF other cities
had seen the necessity for taking action
TO preserve their police force at the high
est possible state OF physical efficiency.
one OF the letters was from Charles X.
Wright. chief OF police OF Syracuse, y.
" who replied that there was no system
of military drill I'm force. but added: I'VE
have one Of the most complete gymnasi-
ums connected with our department that
can be found In the United States, and
the finest and best equipped that is used
In any police department in the country
"The exercises are conducted by pro-
fessor of athletics and are compulsory.
Officers must attend not less than two
hours In a week. and as often as they
desire besides The different squads at
tend the exercises every third day. and
many officers take the exercise daily
A number OF other cities at that time
contemplating the equipment OF the sta