The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-08-09
Chief Of Police Owen 0'Hare
Urges Council to Take Action
on This important Matter
SHOWS PRESENT CONDITIONS
Declares That Growth of the City and
Work of the Police Demands In
stallation of Alarm System
for the Police

sent to the common council of the city
"a letter urging the installation Of
police patrol system in the city. In
his communication the chief gives a
graphic picture Of conditions in Ke-
sha and it is well worthy Of considera-
ton. The letter follows
To the Honorable Mayor and the Com
mon Council of the City of Kenosha:
Regarding the consideration Of the
installation Of police alarm sys-
tenn in this city, I desire to set be-
fore you few Of my views on the
subject.
In the first place, Kenosha has
grown so much, and it is now grow
ing SO rapidly, that with the number
of patrolmen in service it is utterly
impossible to adequately cover the
territory and give the protection re-
quired and expected. With the in
stallation of twenty box system,
with extra keys properly distributed
to the care of reputable citizens, each
one of them thereby becomes an aux
liz
when any disturbance is committed in
their neighborhood, or police assist
ance is necessary for any cause, they
can ring up the headquarters and one
or more policemen are immediately adj
yised Of the fact and are soon there to
render service. There are several in
dicators in the box, and the depart
ment is at once advised of the nature
of the call and the kind of service re-
quired. For instance, if a man is
hurt in the street, a push on certain
indicator will call the ambulance to
take care of him. If there is riot,
riot call on the box will bring several
officers to the scene to quiet the dis
turbance.
Secondly Headquarters can keep
in closer touch with the patrolmen.
They will be required to ring in each
box at stated intervals, and we can
thus tell just where every imam on the
force is and whether he is attending
to his duties. In case any crime is
committed in any part of the city, the
the fact within very short time and
be on a lookout for the criminal, thus
lessening his chance of escape. A
call for help by one patroln1an will
bring to his assistance help from
headquarters and from the patro1men
whose beat adjoin his, and from the
entire force, if necessary, within
very short time.
Third-Kenosha has sgrown so that
it is absolutely necessary to have
patrol wagon in connection with the
department, and this can be operated
with effectiveness only in connection
with an alarm system. The cost of
the installation of twenty box sys-
tenn and the purchase of a patrol
wagon is considerable in the first in
stance, but | am firmly convinced
that it will pay for itself within very
few years, not only in the effective
ness Of the department, but from a
monetary standpoint also. During
the past year the city has received
from the de apartment in fees collected
approximately $475.OO, in addition to
the fines and penalties collected.
With an alarm system. and patrol
wagon there would be many more fees
earned. For instance, as very often
happens, fight is started and par
ticipated in by number of men. An
officer on the scene, under the pres
ent system, can take into custody one,
and perhaps two Of the participants,
while with the alarm and patrol, the
whole bunch would be loaded into the
patrol and booked for disorder1y con-
dnct, as they should be. Under the
present system, an officer making an
arrest far out on the North or West
sides, is obliged to walk to jail with
his prisoner, and perhaps carry him
OF drag him, and consume from one to
two hours time, leaving his beat
without police protection. With the
alarm and patrol systemic would all
be done up in fifteen minutes and the
officer not obliged to leave his beat.
It has been suggested that patrol
wagon could be operated in connec-
ton with the fire department, and
that by constructing a drive across
the vacant lot west Of Central engine
house, cutting an arch in the base
ment of the engine house, and fitting
up the basement for the reception of
the patrol wagon, the cost would be
reduced to the minimum.
The city's revenues have been in
creased from FIVE to seven thousand
dollars the past year in receipts from
saloon licenses alone, and it seems to