The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27
JESSE B. COOK,
NEW CHIEF OF
POLICE, SWORN
President of Commission Pins
Badge of Office on Breast of
Departments Head
Congratulations of Associates
and Friends Accompanied
With Gifts of Flowers
Sergeant Thomas A. AtchisOn
y Promoted TO Position of
Property Clerk

Jesse B. Cook for % years a mem
per OF the san Francisco police depart
ment, was insugurated chief of police
At noon yesterday. The oath Of Office
was administered by President Cutler
At special meeting or the police com
mission csl3ed Tor the purpose Ter
minutes after the badge had been
pinned on his breast the new chief had
. taken charge OF She Office lately made
Vacant by the death OF William ]. Biggy
and was receiving the congratulations
- scores Of friends in and out of the
department
The Inaugural ceremonies were brief.
There were present the police commits
-sioners the captains of the police de-
parfment. a few other officers of rank
8 small group OF newspapermen and
some personal friends Of Chief Cook.
LEAVE ASKED AND GRANTED
=. Commissioner Sweigert was unable
ia be present at the meeting. but he
reached the han of justice few min
sItes after the installation and hurried
Al once 10 extend his congratulations
10 The new executive head Of the de-
partment. Captain OF Detectives Kelly
was the only one Of the eight regular
esptains Of THO department who was
not present at the ceremony.
Before the oath Of Office was admin
-is.tered 10 Chief Cook the minutes Of
q. lie last meeting of the board. al which
iie was appointed. were read, and an
pI5lication was received from him for a
leave or absence as sergeant Of po-
. lice. The leave was granted on motion
n Commissioner Keil and made effec-
tive from noon yesterday TO continue
during Cooks incumbency of the Of
dce Of chief.
CUTLER CONGRATULATE COOK
Chief Cook was congratulated by
President Cutler in behalf Of the entire
board. He said.
As the representative of the board
of police commissioners I assure you
OF their hearty cooperation and as
sistance in the performance of the du-
. ties OF the new position which you win
now assume. You viii find the depart
nent In good shape and as you have
the good wishes OF your old brother
officers, with whom you have worked
hsrmonously and successfully for %
Years, there is no good reason why you
should not go on with more success and
with credit 10 the city, the department
and yourself We present YOU as a
Christmas gift 70 the city Of san Fran
cisco"
Cook thanked the commissioners for
MS appointment, declaring that il had
come as a surprise to him, and that
he had at first besitated TO take it. hav-
inE often said that he would rather re-
tain his position as property clerk than
accept the>higher once
OFFICE FILLED WITH FLOWERS
chief Cook stated. however. that hav-
ing been elected TO the position he
felt that he could rely upon the CO.
operation Of the entire department and
would endeavOr 10 conduct the depart
ments affairs in the most .credita bic
manner possible.
Cook assumed the chiefs chair at the
head Of the commissioners table while
small matter OF routine business was
disposed Of After adjournment he re-
ceived the personal well wishes of the
commissioners and captains before re-
firing 10 his private Office. The office
was filed with flowers one nartic,,
larly handsome piece being an immense
horseshoe sent by Company c of the
hsrbor district 10 which Chief Cook
was attached before being promoted
from line sergeantcy to the position
Of property clerk"
ATCBIsON GETS PROMOTION
The first official act OF Chief Cook
was TO appoint Sergeant Thomas A
Atchison as his successor in the po-
sition Of property clerk, and the an
pointment was hailed with satisfaction
throughout the department. Speaking
e OF AtchisOnz the chief said:
There ig-nO man in the department
in my opinion more entitled to the pro-
motion on the ground Of merit and
general efficiency as a police officer.
have played no favorites IN the Sc
lection and am satisfied that Atchison's
promotion VIII meet with general ap-
provsL"
The promotion was entirely unex-
pected by Atchison, who was warmly
congratulated by members OF the de-
partInent. lie modestly said that. a.
IN the past he would always do his
duty 10 the best of his ability. He
was sworn IN yesterday afternoon by
the chief and VIII assume his new
position tomorrow morning.
StfMANN StttEEDe ATtH4SOS
Atchison Joined the department Octo-
Der ). 1885, was made a corporal De-
cember j. 1904. and sergeant February
l19O1. He was first assigned TO patrol
duty at the central station, then he
was assigned to the Identification bu-
reau and after the earthquake he was
transferred 10 the correspondence bu-
-Aeu. Prior 10 soining the department
was a book keeper.
70 I'll the vacancy caused BY Atchi-
sons promotion Policeman George NJ
fseimann has been transferred from
the north end station TO the corre-
epondence bureau at headquarters. Gel
mann was for many years captains
clerk at the central police station and
was only recently sent 10 the north
fnd s.Laltzlrl