New-York tribune., 1906-07-17
RICHMOND ASKS POLICE
FINDS PROTECTION BAD.
f.,v7nlttee of Staten Island Club
Suggests Changes.

- Nev Of this year. The Tribune called atfen-
go 20 the totally inadequate police protection
!, staten Island The Staten Island Club one
"a ne principal social organizations OF the
so,,ush OF Richmond took the matter nm ana
co-uitoee OF three was appointed from iss
-.s-5bership 10 conduct a thorough investiga-
.,,, After two months oc hard ana consesen-
,,ous work. this committee has completed ito
,.hors and has formulated repor. which shows
,o quote from the Introduction. only TOO plainly
su.e Why crimes in Richmond Borough can be
as have been easily committed and Just why
.ta criminals are not apprehended." Comics az
&c report have been forwarded 70 the Acting
vEyor. Police Commissioner Bingham and
r--0ush President Cromwell
D exhaustive tables of statistics the report
.,-us the number OF policemen assigned 70 the
.oug Stations, the number OF miles OF streets 20
~ protected ana the average mileage covered
~ pafrolmen- The tables were made prlor "a
ne change from the three to the two platoon
svstsm. but. as the report says while there
= an Increase in the efficiency OF police from
standpoint Of numbers. there IS not from the
standpoint OF other equipment"
70 summarize the figures collected: Yn Pscb-
rnond Borough there are 292.OS7 miles Of roads
4, charge OF the Department OF Public WORKS
s1s 1886 miles OF private roads. total of
SgsssS miles 70 be patrolled. To DO this there
sc assigned 10 the borough only lOI men, forty
a ne sIst precinct CVVest New Brighton). forty
rins (hfteen mounted) in the sOth and sOth
"a sub-precincts (stapleton ana New Dorp), and
sgslve in the eeth LIST sub-precinct (TottenyiIlal
Two motor cycles are used IN the sIst precinct
mainly for catching automobiists breaking the
spsed ordinance. In a comparative table the
,,rmittee shows that each patrolman is required
% watch 1145 miles OF streets In Richmond.
while "a Manhattan the distance is only O.53s
ana IN The Bronx $40 miles.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT QUOTED.
Quoting an official statement regarding the
Ns7 York police force. the report says:
Many posts are one and two miles long, and
It's easy 10 see that shreWd criminals by watch
ang their opportunity. can find time TO accom-
rllsh their work while the most vigiIant police
nan 4s honestly patroIling another part Of his
long post"
Nov, II that be true regarding a post two
10 three miles long. what is to be looked for in
a post eleven and a half miles long?'' the com
nitfee asks.
Comparing the number OF policemen assigned
according 10 population, it is shown that there
ss one patrolman TO every 1887 persons in The
Bronx, one 70 17S35k in Manhattan and only
one TO 1883 in Richmond Other comparative
figures are equally to the disadvantage Of Rich
mond.
A matter which comes in for severe criticism
Is the manner IN which the island is divided
into precincts. The divisions are entirely un-
wise and are without due regard for the re-
quirements Of our community the distances TO
be covered and the typographical conditions ex-
sting" the words Of the report. The facili-
ties for Transporting police during the night are
Inadequate. It is stated and the inefficient troll
ley service is cited as a contributing cause OF
the inefciency
On the occasion OF the recent tragedy Ohe
Epier shooting) the impossibility Of securing
prompt police assistance was distressIngly
proved Called by telephone at 3:25 a. m. they
did not arrive until ABB a N. Thus practically
one hour was required 70 secure an officer within
four hundred yards Of our borough building"
the committee reports
The committee at the time Il was appointed
issued an appeal TO the public for reports of
buTglaries the Official record showing that sixty
eight only were included in the official report
from January !. 1905, to June Is, 1905. inclu-
EFe. the prevalent opinion being that those fig
ures were much below the true ones. mainly be-
cause citizens thought it useless to report such
things 10 the police. The response was disap-
pointing, although the committee did learn OF
a number OF robberies not reported.
THE COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATION
Summarizing the recommendations the COM
mirtee makes based on the result Of its investi-
gaton. & urges that q larger force OF police is
needed beyond question; that better facilities
ior quickly transporting policemen from one
point 10 another should be provided; that there
he readlustnaent Of precincts; that there should
be police station near ST George either in the
new ferryhouse or IN the new borough building;
hat officers should be detailed at the landings
o. The various ferries, so that persons could be
intercepted where interception is desired, and
nat police launches should be supplied 20 patrol
the shore between Staten Island and New Jer-
seq, 10 stop the frequent depredations OF river
thieves
The report, which is signed by Charles Roome
Parmele. chairman; Austin p Kelley and A c.
Anothe, says in closing:
Our population is rapidly increasing Large in
SS-stries are being located IN Richmond Borough.
S.slegs who are much more liable TO inflammatory
Americans 4 police precinct should thus be es-
is isS.,Sned within easy reach Of any point where
,.-se numbers Of workmen are apt 70 congFegate,
S-o1h me theoTy that an ounce OF prevention IS
,slen ls going on IN the character OF our popula-
ioa and because Of the topography Of the island.
crimes and the favorable opportunities for their
ssSspe i must be evident that the members OF
A assignment 10 post Of duty in Richmond
SaoIld not be considered as punishment for any
seA or 1ancted terelictfOn of duty Manhattan.
.aehmond Borough is entitled to and should have.
SoSs Soes i9Tos which from the stanaDoint OF per-
q The courtesy received from the Police Depart
nsnt IN connection with this investigation The
ss-cefs n command realize fun well the necessity
are sF iois bea9 4h9 9ee e5 in an appe S to % the
k.opec authorities 10 have the present conditions