The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-12-03
TURN cit !
OVER TO
THUGS
POLICE BEATS DAILY
LEFT WITHOUT
PROTECTION.
While Men Change Shifts
Crime Is Given a
Free Hand.

Three times each "a hours the
maior portion Of the city IL left
entirely without any police protec
tiun, averaging IN duration from
fiye minutes 20 an hour. measured
BY the distance ~ the policeman. =
beat from headquarters.
Three times every "a hourH there
are many sections on the city where
burglars. thusa aud criminals can
wulk si.h absolute certainty Of no
follcn Interference during Intervals
wl3ch can be determined on with
almost clock like regularity.
Aud this condition IL brought
about b. either loose methods In
haudiinw The rank and FILE or the
police department or rank careless.
ness on the part Of those who are
responsible for the police rules aud
lhair enforcement
leave Beats uneu4rded.
The 49, members ~ the police de-
rhftinent. exclusive Of the chief 81
police. ibe detectives and several
small suburban squads. work In
three shifts during the a hours. one
shilt going oa duty At I O'Clock IN
the morning. another AZ ~ O'Clock
noon. and the third 1T O'Clock 81
the evening
The men who take the shift At
4 2 ~. arrive at the station early
are assembled promptly az the
stroke o. I O'Clock. and are marched
ovt 20 dispcrse and walk 10 their
hcH9a
This performance Is repeated AZ
the uaon hour ard ~ s o'clock each
sveHtaK
Tie men Who are going off vofk
leAe their beats In time 20 arrive
% r. atssion within a inmate or
swo sfter the nnen who relieve them
hate been assembled fos duty.
i 4 during The interval between
the gltme the men quitting work
lee their beats and the incoming
aetii arrives 20 take charge 81
The same beats that majority
81 20 residence sections are rom.
pet ~ 10 set along without the
pre- euce Of patrolmen.
An Hour for Crime.
hHffng the change II o'clock
IN zoe morning when there are no
attn = cars running. the outlying
as lets are left unprotected Tor a
considerable period Of time. II can
rrHasly be- seen that the man walk
ina from work on Queen Anne hin
ana the man ralkinE out 90 start
waFk from headquarters. will occu.
~ not leaa than 30 minutes each
wa during the transfer. which
means that from approximately
a - a. IN until 4.s0 n. m. the beat
~ not covered.
The same thing applies 10 the
fisss bill disiFict. Capitol hill. Rem
toh hill. Broadway. beacon hill and
other residence sections. several Of
uhich arr recognized az being ~.
most exclusively populated by veil.
tSuo people. districts that offer ex
eei'ent opportunities 10 midnight
providers and house burglars.
Weakness lu Admitted
Police department officials rec.
ogniHe that this condition exists
Their weak excuse IL that the mum.
Der ~ paiFolmen " too limited 20
permit any other arrangement II
uonlds require either that the men
work longer. they contend. or the
presence Of an emergency squad
A. every available man ~ now
working under civil service rules.
and he can only be legally kept at
work for period Of eight hours
This r. regarded a. a flsmsy OK.
cuse There should be no logical
reason that would leave the city
without police protection even one
minute during the day OF night. IN
the opinion OF those familiar with
the department work The proper
plan, Il Is urged. is 20 have the
police relieve each other an the
shifts change. az their patrol box
on the beat and not At the police
station
Thia condition has existed for
years. and there has been no effort
ON the part OF the administration
10 remedy the situation.