Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-12
ONLY FORTY.SISE OFFICERS
Inadequate Polioe Force, Chief ssu,
Hampers His Best EifJrG
WORKING MEN NOW IN THREE SHIFTS
impossible 10 cover city with
Twenty Fewer Policemen Than
Were on Duty Fifteen
Wears Ago

The intimation that the Omaha police
force is not doing all 1t can to solve the
idystery Of the murder of Miss Rumnlel-
mart and that to the negligence OF the de-
partinent Is due the commission OF recent
crimes has created considerable indigna ton
not only among the police officers but
among those who are familiar with the de-
Vartment The criticism inspired Chief OF
Police Donatue TO give out the following
statement showing the number Of patrol
. men on duty at this time in Omaha is
only forty-nne, working in three shifts.
Chief Donahue said:
Il hope the grand jury will investigate
the police force. owing to the inadequate
appropriation for the maintenance OF the
police force It Is too small to cover the
city of Omaha. At this time We have only
forty-nine patrolmen, working in three
shifts 20 cover this city and to protect
The property of the citizens The entire
number of patrolmen is ffty-four. but five
Of them are sick OF Off duty.
The fret detail consists OF fourteen men,
the second OF twenty-sx and the third Of
fourteen men. The police force consists Of
twenty men fewer than IL did fifteen years
ago. 1t Is no wonder we have murders and
crimes committed in Omaha. Here are a
few Of the beats covered by the patrolmen,
Just to give. idea OF what we are UP
against: Clark and Grace streets. sixteenth
to Twentieth. north to Lake. east to Six
teenth and north to Mandereon Douglas
and bod te. Eleventh to sixteenth streets,
right in The business part OF town; Far
nam. Harney and Douglas from Seven
tcenth to Thirty-siXth.
chief Tried to Get More.
Previous to the last legislature I called
upon Herman KouutLe and showed him q
detail of police. He was much impressed
and shocked that Omaha had such a small
force. He called in MIR. Poppleton and
both agreed the Legislature should be
asked to appropriate more money for the
use of the department. When this legisla
ture adjourned we found we had iust eX-
nctly the same amount We had the year
before, $1,000 This pes all the expenses
Of the department ana think includes tht
salary of the police judge.
When the murder occurred Sunda ~
tight there was not policeman west oi
Seventeenth street. 1t was just at the
close Of the carnival and the police work
ing were looking after the business par
Of town and the visitors who were still
here. During that week we worked chs
men night and day and did not have {
single extra officer because we had n,
money with which 60 pay them. The car
nivsl company paid for some extra mer
who worked on the grounds.
The fact that Omaha has such a smal
police force has been kept from the public
generally because II would be an Invitation
for all the crooks to come here anC
operate. / did my best to get more none,
for the use OF the department so we coul'
Increase the force. but my recommenda
! tions came 10 naught. The fact Is w
cannot insure safety TO the people o
omaha and TO their property with forty
nine patrolmen II Is an impossibilty.
hope the grand jury will investigate tn
police department 1t would help the de
partnent and IT.. would make the. peopl
OF Omaha realize II their lives ana prop
erty are to be protected we must hav
larger force"