The Monte Vista journal., 1906-08-04
He Finds It Too Easy Being Sergeant
and Begs to Be Ray -Dooced to tn
R'-ranks."
tcopyrixht. BY the Century CO.

NAT fOlicom1n barney f1ynn IL stIi
Patrolman Flynn Is due entirely to
himself. Others are patrolmen be-
cause they cannot be sergeants or lieu
tenants or captains: Flynn Is one from
choice. He Is probably the only man
on 'th' foorce" who. having been pro-
noted. has made a special and earnest
plea to be ray -dooced to tn FRANKS"
A. he himself put It, In this he 10
unique. but in many other respects he
is typical Of certain class OF police
men OF whom the inhabitants Of a city
hear little. He Is resourceful and hon.
est: II he were not 1t Is probable more
would be heard Of him In the news
papers and the police reports. A few
rascally men on a police force can do
world Of harm to the reputation Of
the whole body. and II they attain
high rank they can demoraiize good
part OF 1t. Integrity is 80 important
In those to whom Is intrusted the en-
forcement oil the law that there Is
natural tendency to magnify the evils
that are seen to exist. and the depart
ment Is gauged by the worst rather
than the best that is to be found in
II. The men OF the rank and file. as
rule. are faithful. earnest and rea-
sonably clever. So. II Policeman Bar
ney Flynn does not seem to you typ
ical. you may rest assured 1t Is be-
cause you know little of the police
departments of the great cities. 1t Is
the spectacular that gets in the lime
light of publicity. and faithfulness,
perseverance and honesty are not often
spectacular, No we hear more OF things
we admire less: and. hearing more OF
them. We gain the idea that they are
the predominating features OF modern
life.
True, Policeman Flynn may be more
resourceful than some of his brother
oficers. and he may have more of
hard-headed common sense. but he Is
no more conscientious than the great
majority OF them. Like them h. has
many faults. not the least OF which Is
\ desire to have as easy and comfort
able 4 life rs possible. but he acts al
ways according to his best judgment,
and he defends his acts with rare
philosophy when they are assaulted.
For instance. It might be charged
against him that he has made fewer
arrests than any other man Of his
length OF service. and this would carry
weight In quarters where a policeman's
usefulness Ia Judged solely by the
number OF prisoners he brings In.
Bat there are men OF experience who
will insist that this IL not true gauge
Of merit. and Policeman Flynn Is one
Of them. He does not like To make ar
rests: he does not deem 1t necessary
in instances where others do.
"'Tis . nuisance" he says. ito be
dhraggin' ye-er msn TO tn station an
thin he afther gdttLn' into coort tn
mex day 10 prosy cute him. Sind him
home whin ye can: that's me wa-ay iv
doin' It, 'Tis easy done II be have
money In his pocket TO pay r. tn cab"
And as Policeman Flynn for many
years had u might beat In u district
freauented by the kiided youth, and
others who celebrate. not wisely but
too WE'LL" his opinion has weight.
I'll not 20 home" once retorted 4
young man who had received good nd
vice FROM him.
yell not." returned Policeman
Flynn. 10 = tone OF mild astonishm-nt.
No. I won't: and ia like 10 know
what you're xoiaE to do about II. You
can run me In II you want TO-"
"R.run ye in!" repeated Flynn.
Ohio! Dye think I'm iookin' rr n
chansa TO make throubie fr mesilfy
III do uxvthin' " tn kind"
Then what will you do7' demanded
the obsirsperous youth. denantiy.
"t1i jump os ye." responded Police
man Flynn. "'Tis casicr done. an
i,ri give work. for the ambyiance In
stid " III hurry-up wagon"
A. the policeman 10 an exceedingly
active man. Who could jump high and
come dowu hard. the argument ended
there. ssd the youaG man mov~d on.
Il Will b seen from this that Police.
man Fiyun's methods ara peculiarly
bis own-except when they arc his
wifs's. She has prompted him Ia many
Suggestions when he stood In need Of
them. sad he u always quite ready TO
ist her have all the credit due her.
"Tr . wonaa." he 10 accustomed 70
say When speaking Of her. "shs do b.
III gr.rsatsst ma-an I liver ~. IT'S
her that's more iaJans-yus than u
whols polls boord. aad many's u Csc
up sosb give 70 ~. though IN Q
migAty oapasasaAt way sAA have "
eota' u soostlass." A. any rate, Po-
iSceoaa nyna aa1 Bic wi10e bseveee
lAoO. 0n1o a Qgoolteot reeofN a ~