Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-17

ltWANfNI are more men, more money
vi and new headquarters
ia building" said Chief or Po-
lice Kern, in answer to
6f question of Herald reporter
1.-THE new workhouse, now
nearing completion, Will relieve the
congestion in the city jail in a meas
ure,' he continued, but 1t Is only one
of number of improvements we have
needed for years. When we have 1t In
use we shall be able to provide more
roousse1or the unsentenced prisoners in
sgene jail proper, but the jail itself, even
with no more prisoners confined in II
than II was originally designed for, Is
partment now.
1.-THE building was erected some
twelve years ago. when the population
of the city was about $4,000 only. Since
that time we have acquired popula-
ton of 100000. and have passed from
the stage of a large town to that of a
cosmopolitan city.
Methods and means which were
sufficient and through which satisfac-
tory work could be done at time when
every member of the department was
personally known to most of the citi-
Zens, are inadequate now when the
city has grown so one viii not recog-
nize personal acquaintance in
dozen persons passed upon the street.
Changes in Problems
with the increase in population
have come changes in the police prob
lens. Sections of the town which ten
years ago were COW pastures are now
covered with handsome homes and
some of these sections are miles from
the center of the city.
'These people pay for police protec-
ton and are entitled to 1t, but to make
the service as effective as the citizens
deserve, we must have more patrol
men and must be able to dispose of
them at points where they can work to
best advantage
Last year we not only failed to Sc
cure any increase in the force, at the
time of the making of the annual al
lowances by the council. but were al
lotted h sum which was not enough
TO enable us to keep at work all the
officers then called for by existing or
dnances.
THE ordinances allow a total of 2S2
patrolmen. but owing to lack of funds
we have not been working even this
number for some months. We ought
to have q hundred more men, and II
we can secure them, with a new
building and other additional equip
frnt AEas faltl b6IGe ssfNtten t t9 reeln 2s
public. The number should then be
= Increased annually, proportionately
with the increase in population.
Knows Little of Workings
1.-THE general public knows little of
the workings of the police department
and 1t is not strange such is the fact
The average citizen does not come in
contact with its members and derives
his information from the newspapers,
in reading of the more sensational Of
lenses. But beside the serious crimes
which are of general interest there
are a thousand and one less important
matters which require constant atten-
ton and which take up most CT the
time of the department
I'm the exceptional case, when the
good citizen does come to us for pro-
te.tion or other assistance, we wish
to b. able to give him service efficient
ly. We, and when / say we 1 can
include nearly every member of the
department. have a pride in our de-
partment, and when we ask for
chance to do\better work we are only
asking for the, tools necessary to the
turning out ora workmanlike job.
Politics does not enter into the re-
quest for more nlSn, because the APP
pointments are made under civil serv-
ice and l do not see the men until
they come over on certifcation from
the civil service commission.
Proud OF Department
81 said we were proud Of the depart
ment and we have reason to be. As
a body, our members will average up,
in intelligence. fidelity and fitness tor
their work, with any similar number
of men in any walk of life. They are
clean in their private lives, interested
in their work and ambitious to adj
vance the good name of the service.
Our force is recognized throughout the
east by those who are in the bust
ness, as one of the most efficient In
the country; one that is always seek
ing for information as to the most adj
vanced methods and most ready to
adopt changes which make for bet
ter work.
Los Angeles presents difficulties in
the performance of police work which
are not found elsewhere. This is be-
cause of the fact that 1t Is on the ex-
IRENE western edge of the continent,
possesses a beautiful climate and other
advantages, and is made up of in
habitants who are descended from all
the races present at the building of
the Tower of Babel.
"While the great majority of our
citizen are Americans--using that
word in its best sense-there are many
thousands of Chinese, Japanese, Latin
Americans aid immigrants from Eu-
rOpean countries, VINO are prone to
crimes of violence and who will not
measure up to a high standard of
character or morals.
City Rapidly Growing
again the city is large territorially
and there is a physical limit to the
amount of ground that one officer can
cover and render police protection.
In the winter when we attract
thousands of visitors from all over the
country, who come here to escape the
rigoPs of the eastern climate, we also
receive the attentions of thieves, yeggs
and hoboes of high and low degree.
who are just as appreciative of our
sunny land as the welcome tourists.
Pickpockets confidence men and other
more genteel members of the under
world come fiocking in with thousands
OF the rougher sort who will do stick
up and other strong-arm work. This
city Is a convention city. We espe-
cially invite national gatherings to be
held here and have a wide reputation
for our hospitality to such guests. To |
maintain this reputation we must pro-
tect these people while they are with
us II we expect them to have pleasing |
memories OF the city.
How well the police do their part is ]