New-York tribune., 1907-01-05
ATTACKS POLICE FORCE.
Colonel j. B. Erhardt Says Depart
ment Is IN q "Putrid" Condition.

Colonel joel B. Erhardt. Commissioner of Po-
lice in the bipartisan board times a letter
TO Police Commissioner Bingham yesterday urging
various reforms IN the department pointing
out specific case OF what he believed to be bru-
tality on the part OF detective sergeant Refer
ring 10 Commissioner Bingham's request for two
thousand additional men. Colonel Erhardt said that
there were about two thousand worthless men in
the department at present. who should first be got
I'D Of. THE department has never been in such
q putrid condition II is to-day" he declared.
Colonel Erhardt wrote that he hoped a reorgan-
tzation Of the department would give the Commits
sioner fun power over the men. and that his term
could be extended at least years. removal
70 be only on proven charges.
The letter OF Colonel Erhardt follows:
The police to-day have many valuable privileges
they receive good pay have life position. and are
of oHe,haif Their salary Many of those at once
v sG eccPy e os Of sg up by on ine
The majority OF them disoyal 10 the people
own men. which is Contrary to the Manual and
for this offence each member belonging to the union
whole ey S fully onee6G f46 1Ps and
force for that number inefficient and corrupt
The detective force is worse than the main body
they protect their confreres instead Of detecting
and bringing them to book thus AIDING TO the
yTsr sruSfciant 1f tas Egaiist tEeeizson. a. Oh '
You entitled to the sympatayo OF a.a o hap
larger body-of all citizens ignorant OF the internai
power to dismiss about two thousand worthless s
ones Then you viii get better service win .ne sis
thousand remaining than with the ten tHousdi.o
working under the present law II baa man h sSus
on he remains there: IL Is only the gooo ones VINO
hesitate about becoming rnembers and they al Iii z
power Is given TO clear the force OF bad men hl0 @
then II appears that you want an increase. YOU
should have IL hut II Is Of the utmost inlporeancs
that the bad officers get of the force IN some wy
or other Because an officer does q praiseworlny
ect-and many are done by them-that shouio no'
prevent your getting rid of the scaps OF tne
II appears 10 most Of those uninforrned mat you,
a single commissioner, have power. whereas you @
have very littie the inspector. sergeant rouosn
Gilman your supe-iors the law las t11As
ii SC, and you poweriess. In the army the oi
dcerg are for life and the men Tor q n1eo peiioo
as a result discipline. Whereas, in your case al
OF the force under you for fe while the tenure
OF your Office depends upon the wish OF the Mayor
OF the city or the Governor OF the state. who can
reraoye you by the stroke OF the pen and close
Legislation OF COURSE IL necessary TO accomplish
good results The evils of the present system are
TOO TO be stated in letter, but leSlsia-
15E Is necessary TO accomplish permanent Inn
provement. OF course. the department win raise
money prevent any change In the lawi $40 apiece
realizes gey9 s20 $4,000 $50 apiece, $240OOQ end
= on The CRATER argues that IL is better 10 pay
.hd continue the present power TO blackrnali than
Iicl 10 pay and lose IL
The majority OF the force good men and
would ike to radical change. II IL Is a good
ctsnge, for they know. that the department has
Hs'sr been in such putrzd condition AZ 1t y To-