The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-07
Police Question.

Police Question.
The action of the township committee
in the appointment of the police force has
caused many questions to be asked. The
office of chief of police was abolished and
Samuel P. Cline, the new member of the
committee, was made superintendent OF
police. Instead of reappointing the old
force for year they were put on for three
months. The three policemen were called
before the committee and were told that
there had been complaints about the ser
vice in the past and the appointment for
three months was to ascertain whether i'm
provement could be obtained if such a
thing were necessary.
Mr.. Cline said he did not propose to lis
ten to every story brought to him without
giving the other side chance to reply.
He believes every case has two sides, but
he was determined while he was in charge
of the police to get the best service posi-
ble 1t is said that the complaints are
mainly from residents and pedestrians on
High street, between the corners of Water
and Washington streets. The grievance
appears to be that there is too much corner
1ounging and that groups of people are
allowed to stand on the street making pas
sage, at times, difficult. Complaints of
disorder on other streets, notably Gar
den, Mill and Washington streets. on Sat
urday nights, have been reported. Per-
sons under the influence 1of liquor travel
these streets at a late hour and disturb the
residents by their loud talk and boisterous
actions. The persons annoyed complain
that it is sometimes impossible to get a
policeman during the night.
That there is cause for many of these
complaints there is no doubt but there is
another side to the question that should be
given consideration. We have but three
policemen and that is not sufficient num-
Der to meet the requirements of those who
are now asking for more duties. To do all
that seems to be wanted means the appoint
ment of at least one more policeman.
At present the town is divided into three
cheats" To get over the ground in any
one of these is quite Job. To expect a
policeman to do this and also to keep High
street clear is to exact an imposslbility.
The solution Of this problem would be to
appoint another officer whose duty it
would be to patrol the district from the
corner of High and Water streets to the
neighborhood of Madison avenue and to
Buttonwood street, on Mill. At the Mad
ison avenue corner there is already a
special policeman employed by the hotels
inkhat neighborhood, SO that a regular
need not spend much time there. The
fourth officer should be instructed to
patrol the neighborhoods mentioned until
the streets are cleared for the night, the
other three being kept on their regular
cheats" After certain hour, say eleven
O'Clock or midnight, the fourth man
should be directed to patrol his district at
least once an hour, so arranging his trips
as to be in within hearing distance of the
call boxes now In use.
The employment of this extra man
ought not to mean the curtailment of the
salaries now paid. The police do not get
a cent too much to perform the duties ex-
pected of them, and careful attention to
their instructions entities them to all they
are paid. But it is nonsense to expect
the entire town to be patrolled during the
night and still have officers who will keep
the streets cleared and have good order all
over. 1t is not within the power of any
man to be in several places at once.
Judge Hendrickson, in his charge to the
grand jury. said it was the duty of con-
stables and policemen to keep an eye on
places where liquor is sold and to report
where those who are not allowed to be
served get their first drink. The con-
stables are certainly under the control of
the court. Whether the police officers are
is another question. But the cities and
townships are empowered to require this
supervision by their officers. 1t is we'll
known fact that much of the disorder and
noise on street corners and on side streets,
on Saturday night, come from
those who are under the influence of
liquor, nearly all of the intoxicated per-
sons being those to whom the liquor
dealers, under the law, have no right to
sell the first drink. and certainly are legal
ly reprehensible for selling after it is no.
ticed the person has had at least one
drink or more.
An extra policeman, with the duties
here, would not be figure
head. He would have any quantity of
business to take his attention, and, in our
would more than repay the
additional salary that would be required
TO cOmpense him