The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-29

Surprised to find that the Salt Lake po-
lice department is still a part of a po-
litical machine instead of being under the
metropolitan system, as in other progress
sive cities, Michael Regain, superintend-
ent of police of Buffalo N. Y. who ar
| rived here yesterday afternoon. declared
that the public cannot expect thoroughly
efficient police service until the depart
ment is removed from politics.
Superintendent Regain is on his way to
San Francisco after /. II. Grimmel. alias
DR.. Watson. a noted fOrger, who is said
to have robbed a Buffalo bank of $4,000
Grinmell was recently arrested in San
Francisco and is being detained there for
Superintendent Regain. The superintend-
ent is accompanied on the trip by Mrs
Regain.
"A police department in politics." said
! Superintendent Regain. when he was seen
at police headquarters, where he had
called to see Chief Pitt, lis not worth the
rent paid for the buildings Il occupies. 1t
! is bad for the service to have the changes
which occur when one party retireS and
another takes control of the city govern
ment. Each year of experience adds to
the value of policeman. A veteran upon
the force understands his duty and is
prepared for emergencies. He knows how
to avoid blunders and mistakes.
Like the patrolmen. detectives and Of
ficers of the force. the head of the de-
partment should be under the protection
I
troll as long as he serves the public faith
fully and well.
''In Chicago the chief of police goes
into office with the mayor. and condi-
tons there show how bad that arrange
ment is"
Superintendent Regain is a product of
the Buffalo system of giving every pa
! trolman a chance TO work his way to the
head of the department. He became
| policeman twenty-seVen years ago. He
was then 20 years old. He advanced step
by step from patrolman to sergeant.
| lieutenant captain. inspector and at last,
to his present position as head of the Buff
falo police. That was two years ago,
when William S. Bull retired as supeTin-
tendent after twelve years service.
As there is no politics in the Buffalo
police department, Superintendent Re
gan never lost day during his twenty
seven years of service.
Politics and the police should be d.
vorced from one another here" continued
Superintendent Regain. What is a pa
| trOlman under existing conditions? Can
he do his duty fearlessly and efficiently
when he feels that certain men in the rul-
| ing party, whichever ii is, have him at
their mercy?
"A police department is for the city at
I large. Democrats and Republicans alike
pay taxes and members of both parties
have the right to demand the fullest pro-
| lection from the department paid by ali
/ the citizens. But can the police give the
| city such protection when the department
! is in politics?
when policeman is advanced merely
because of d political pull, ii takes the
| spunk out of other men who lack that
| influence. They think that there is no
| hope of their promotion and, believing
| that they will always be patrolmen. do
not strive to distinguish themselves by
/ conspicuOusly meritoriOus service. Under
| civil service, when every man knows that
/ he may hope to reach the highest posi-
/ ton in the department, the zeal of am
bilious men is unflagging, for they realize
that it is merit and not a political pull
| that counts at the examinations for pro-
/ motion.
Every police department in the coun-
| try that is reached by politics is demon
| alized-ruined. so far as efficiency in
serving the public is concerned.
Under civil service police force
steadily improves. Inefficient men can
not win promotion. Capable men are rec
/ ognized. In the end, you have a good
4 policeman. clearly understanding his duty
and ready TO perform ii, but gentle as
I we'll as firm"
Superintendent Regain remarked that he
noticed that Salt Lake policemen have
outside pockets in their uniforms.
I'm Buffalo, he said. there are no
outside pockets in a. policeman's clothes.
But" he added, with a smile, Il do not
wish to be understood as intimating that
the policemen here have anything to put
| into their outside pockets"
Buffalo's $4,000 people, the superintend-
ent said, are protected by a police force
of 7s4 men. This includes workers of ev-
cry class in the department
Superintendent Regan does not believe
/ in suppresSing the news of a police de-
partment.
The public has a right to know what
I is going on" he said. IF a proWler is GO
/ ing about robbing houses. the fact should
/ be known by the citizens. so that they
I can take precautions against having their
places invaded. If forger is active in
! the community, his operations should be
| given publicity. In that way, business
men may be saved from losing money and
! the department may be helped In cap
/ turing the swindler. If crimes are COM
( mitted / can see no advantage in sup
pressing the facts.
! Through the newspapers we can reach
! a great number of people quickly. and it
( is often of great service TO the police to
/ warn the public of the movements of
! criminals"