The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-06-04
PRAISES HIS
POLICE FORCE
Caustic Shots at Civic Au
thorities and Charges of
Favoritism Made as
to Fire Department.

Chief OF Police Rimbach angcred by
some Of the criticisms that have been
made of Iis department. by some Ham
mOnd people yesterday, broke the ST.
Ience which is characteristic of him,
when he or his office is under fire, and
made a defense of his men and the
manner I'm which the work of the HAM
mond department. is conducted that was
both prophetic and fOrcefuI.
al WANT TO TELL YOU NOW AND
1 HOPE YOU WILL NOT FORGET IT."
SAID CHIEF RIMBACH WITH CON-
SIDERABLE FEELING, "THAT ONE
OF THESE DAYS THE METROPOLI-
TAN POLICE FORCE IS GOING TO BE
KNOCKED OUT. THE OLD SPOILS
SYSTEM WILL REPLACE 1T AND IN
ST FAD OF HAVING MEN WORKING
THEIR HEADS OFF IN THE INTER-
EST OF THE SERVICE AS Is NOW
THE CASE YOU WILL FIND THEM
DRUNK IN THE SALOONS OF THE.
MEN WITH WHOM THEY WILL HAVE
TO CURRY FAVOR TO HOLD THEIR
JOBS.v
Criticism Gets Chief Hot.
These remarks were brought out
VIXEN Mr.. Rfzabach vvas told that GER
tain people In Hammond were severely
eriticising the department for falling
down In the attempt to capture the man
who threw the brick, through the win
dow IN Eastar & McGarry's jeweIry
store, rohbing it of $4,000 In diamonds,
and for failIng to prevent the robbery
of the E. & f. clothing store few
nights ago of wholesale stock.
Mr. Rimbach went on to say, '~rhey
criticise us, do they? I would like to
have some of these critics follow one
of our men over his beat for just one
stormy night, or for any night, for that
matter, and he would have a wholesome
respect for the work they are doing"
What has been accomplished in pre-
venting Hammond from being overrun
with the criminals and buns from Chi
cago. as was the case in the old days,
has been done with a force that has
always been too small and also without
any encouragement from the city ad-
ministration'
Should Have Two Dozen Officers.
''The cities and towns act which
created the metropolitan police law
provides for one patrolman to every
1000 people and according to this ap-
portionment Hammond should have "a
S or 25 officers. Instead we are compelled
to get along with half of the number
In city spread over wide territory.
while the mayor and the city council
have been building their two new fire
stations and have the plans out for the
third; while they have bought a new
fire engine and have added greatly tC
the efficiency of the fire department
there has been but two extra officer:
allowed the Hammond department ant
they were needed at the Standard Stee
Car settlement"
They buy fire engines and new fir
equipment and yet we have asked re
peatediy for a patrol wagon and hav
been refused our request. The attitud
OF the city officials has been positivel
hostile to us and we have received n
encouragement in our effort to give tn
city good police service.
Challenges to Outside Cities.
'I defy you to show me a city wher
the police are as faithful and as muc
above reproach as they are in Ham
mond. They are never seen in saloon
when on duty. They are at their post
at the depots when the trains come il
They do not seek shelter in rain
weather but cover their beats just tn
same as when the weather is fine
They talk about the Baster & Nc
Garry robbery. In the best policed cit
in the United States that sort of thin
is just as likely to be successfully pull
ed off as in Hammond"
Tn st. Louis. a year or so ago, tw
men drove leisurcly down the principa
business thoroughfare in the city /
broad daylight and while there wer
hundreds of people within a few rod
of them they tossed brick throug
the window of well known jewelr
store and after deliberately removin
several trays of diamonds they carrie
the Jewels to their carriage and droy
off,"
Gets MuxxIe of Revolver.
The crowd did not come to its sens,
until the men had started down II
street with their booty and then the
followed pell NELL. A policeman seeir
that the robbers were making their e
cape stepped out and ordered the ms