The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-04-30
The MODEL Chief
Chief of Police Murphy De-
soribes His Ideal Head of
q City Force
ne is BORN NOT MADE
PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS
NECESSARY To SUCCESS IN.
THE FIELD OF POLICE WORK

THE FIELD OF POLICE WORK
At the banquet held in connection with
he recent national convention of Police
bhiefs. held at Hot Springs. Arkansas,
ehief of Police Murphy responded to the
past. 1.-THE Model Chief He said in
lart:-
Before responding to the toast, The
Model Chief permit me to say, in the
language of an .ihustrious soldier when
eferring 10 an important political issue,
/ believe it to be very much of a local
natter
Conditions in each city have a
Eeighty bearing on the minds of the peo-
DE as to how their police affairs should
,e administered. l would much prefer
10 sit here and listen to what some one
slse would have to say as to their ideas
,f the kind of man a model Chief of
Policeshould be, because. Q course. can
sut give my own opinion as to the quail
6cations character and general make up
" man best fitted 10 be police com
handler.
Personally. I believe police com
nander must be peculiarly constituted to
le success. He. in the first place,
must be a healthy man because of the
lrduous duties. both mental and physi-
lal. he has to perform. He should be
properly trained in all the powers and
Irties of a policeman, an intelligent
knowledge of the criminal laws. and the
orporation ordinances of his city. so he
aay recognize crime and violations of
aunieipal regulations at glance. He
hould enforce rigid discipline in SUCH
lanner that his subordinates would
now that orders were issued to be obey
i. He should have his men neatly and
roperly uniformed and teach them the
Importance of caring for their personal
ppearance when upon the streets and
nblic places. He should see that man
sl or book of rules was compiled, con-
lining extracts from the criminal laws,
tysordinanees. health rules and all sorts
information TO enlighten policemen on
seir duties.
"A school of instruction should beses-
iblished for the enlightenment of new
llicemen before sending them on the
reefs. He should cause his officers and
en- to be drilled in army tactics to the
ltent necessary to be manoeuvred in.
pads. companies and battalions, in case
riots or for the proper hanling Of large
Dwds.
He should listen attentively to all
mplaints from his citizens and use his
st endeavors to satisfy them. thereby
ltivating the friendship of the people,
lthout whose support he cannot be
ccees. He should wage consant war on
p criminal classes. never forgetting
BY are the enemy of society, and that
2 only safe place fort he habitual Grim
Al is in jail.
What change for the. better has
en- accomplished in the police service
over the country in the past ten
mrs. Prior TO that time the police in
arly all cities were but little better
nm political clubs, going in and out at
ch change of government now. l am
eased to say. the police are generally
detected in their office by law and can
ly be removed for wrong doing. In the
y have the honor to represent we
we been free from removal from office
cept on conviction of some offense. for
iarly twenty years. TO the credit of
political parties, of our State, / am
bud TO say, no attempt has been made
take this life tenure from the. statute
loks.''