New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-21
KEEPING PEACE IN CARS.
Work of B. r. T. Special Police in
Gomez Island Season.

This year, it is predicted the crowds on the troll
leys and elevated trains will be less disturbed by
rOwdes in going to and from Coney Island than
ever before. With the opening Of the season, Dep
uty Police Commissioner O'Keefe and Borough IN.
spector Cross, OF Brooklyn, took unusual precau-
tons ami in addition the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company now has more special officers on its cars
than ever before.
In short time the railroad company Will have
completed its arrangements for a regular police
station of ita own at Culver Park. the summer
headquarters of the company's police force. Regu-
lar blotters will be kept, there will be two desk
sergeants and Outwardy there viii be little Moth
ing to show that it is not station house of an
ordinary city precinct. AS a matter of fact there
really IS practically difference, except that the
duties OF thu stationed at Culver Park are
more limited than those of the city police But their
authority is the same. The special officers of the
traction company take the oath the police
men of New York. before the same man and are
subject in the same way to the discipline of the
Police Commissioner and his deputies. The disci-
pine however. is really more severe for the special
officers. Though they cannot be fined. since the
company and not the city. pays them, they are not
protected by Civil Service rules and there is nothing
TO prevent the trial commissioner from dismissing
The change in the character OF Coney Island it
self, brought about by the great fire and the cree
companied by change in the character OF the
crowds which Patronlze me pIaceua ,change very
Coney Island who FIVE years ago were never seen
stili exists the memory Of the old days For the last
two years the police and the railroad company have
been engaged in persuading this element that they
have mistaken the situation, ana this year ths
authorities determined that the quiet patrons oe
Coney Island shall not be annoyed.
At present window jumping is the chief evil. To
make an example Mt the outset of the season, the
special officers of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany arrested forty-twO jumpers May Is, the
day the season opened.
More persistent is the trouble which begins about
2:3O O'Clock IN the morning. when peaceful citizens
home and in bed and the night owls begin
ming to return In the old days it was no uncom-
and make II impossible for any respectable woman
TO stay in II. The guard feeling himself much in
the minority naturally aVerse TO interference
and things went from bad TO worse.
In dealing with this sort of trouble plain clothes
have, strangely enough been found more eff
the inherent cowardice OF the average member of
q gang With two men in uniform, il is easy
TO calculate the odds, and the gang Is bold as a
lion. The plain clothes man who sharply orders
dlsurber 'cut II OUT is of course at once
threatened with many things Then another plain
clothes man speaks up. The gang does not know
how many more OF its enemies II may have TO face
and quiets down.
The usefulness OF the special police force has been
proved in the years which have elapsed since II
was first organized. in the early part OF 1904 The
twelve who were then sworn In as deputv
sheriffs found so much disorder all over the system
that since that time their number has been stead
lily Increased, until now there nearly eighty
Although invested with the legal powers a
the city police, this force is inclined ba care
full. To few New Workers does II ever occur To
sue policeman, no matter what cause for com
different. however and hence are made oriyJ
when the evidence IS too strong 20 be questioned