The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-29
GRAND JURY FULL OF ADVICE.
RELIEVES IT'S MIND or POLICE
REORGANIZATION SCHEME.

Reosmmends rhst the Commissions Serve
Ten Years. That tho Force no Increased,
the Detective Bureau anixed
and Incompetent Ocicers R~egPsdcd.
The Grand Jury IN . prescntmsnt made
yesterday recommended that tho Police
Commissioners DO appointed for q term OF
ten YEARS and that he DO removed by the
Mayor only ON charges; that III police
foroe DO increased by from 1000 to 5000
men; that the Detective Bureau DO re-
organised, giving the Commissioner the
power to designate the men and what they
re to do, and that the Commissioner have
he power to regrade officers after they
have been found guilty Of incompetency.
In addition to these recommendations
the Grand Jury thinks that when automobile
drivers are convicted Of q second offence
they ought to be sent 10 prison, and hat
no man should be allowed to run an auto
mobile unless he has passed an examine
ton.
The pressntment was read 10 Judge
O'Sullivan in General Sessions by Foreman
NJ. L. Simon, Just before the Grand Jury
wa discharged for the term. 1t is . long
document. OF the police force 1t says:
The Police Department, a. it exists
to-day, u wholly inadequate, and has not
been kept up in numbers in proportion
to the growth Of the population"
IL points out that the present population
Of the city 10 four and q half millions and
that the present force 10 8 800 men, which
includes matrons, doormen, drivers, &C,
leaving the force for active duty about
5000. 1T 10 not human to ask q patrol
man to tramp moro than eight hours out
OF the twenty-four,' the Grand Jurors
agreed, which leaves a force Of 1 800 mon
on duty at one ttme-absolutely an IN
sufficient number"
The presentment, after calling attention
70 the fact that nearly a million Of immi,
grants land here every year and many OF
them stay here, says:
Or Investigation Of the complaints OF citi-
zens regarding the want OF police protection
and numerous crimes reported In the public
parks and other sections Of the city. We ma
that this condition Is due In a large measure
to the small number OF policemen available.
We are firmly convinced that the safety and
proper protection Of our people demand
an Immediate increase In the police force OF
between two and three thousand men.
In the opinion Of the Grand Jury, the term
OF once of the Commissioner OF Police should
be at least ten years. He should be remov-
able by the Mayor OF the city NOT, nowever'
at the Mayors viii, out only upon charges
after service upon him OF a copy OF tne charsrS
and an opportunity Of being heard in his de-
fence. 1t is believed that for the proper ad-
ministration Of the Police Department it Ia
absolutely e ssential that the Commissioner
should have a long term OF office. and, subject
to removal as above indicated. that he should
n. ,ndspsnden, an the disoharae of his duties
"nr 80 orao,sI ~ tho c,tv
oi = H "ho,Id ai.o bs 40 amended ma n
u CuNu.. paItaa - .boI0
empo"er Ine rolN
Ism the DesectiVe bureau as now cons'nu.eu,
and to enable him 70 make detective service
entirely a matter OF detail oy executive order:
In doing this proper care should be exercised
to preserve any pension and salary rights
which under existing laws are now enjoyed
by individual members Of the force and
which IL might appear equitably should be
reserved to them.
m this should be done the Grand Jury be-
=.