New-York tribune., 1908-04-06
GPEENHORNs OR COSsACKSf

One of the first things which strike the atten-
ton of visiting Europeans in this country is the
attitude of the police toward citizens. Russians
feel quite at home In their presence while per
sons from Western Europe and England won
der how we endure the unwarrantable rough
ness of the average patrolmaI. Nearly all large
American cities are alike in respect to police
manners. and the tragic incident last Friday at
Ninth avenue and 50th street might have hap
pened almost anywhere in the country, for II
was according TO most accounts, simply an
unusual result of the usual trea ament accorded
by patrolmen to private citizens who seem TO be
mildly ''butting in
One policeman IN plain clothes was scattering
a crowd of street loafers. A second also in plain
clothes and unknown to the first, appeared and
asked one Of the bystanders what the trouble
was The first policeman approached at this
juncture, waving a blackjack whereupOn the
second disclosed his identity Then. it IS said
Bresnahan, the former, smote Nerney, the latter.
with his blackjack, knocking him down. and
Nerney drew d revolver fired one shot At the
ground as warning and, as Bresnahan again
came at him with his weapon, fired a second
bullet which will probably prove fatal. All
witnesses agree that each was plainly labOring
under the impression that the other was trying
to assault him If this is true, then both men
We're slngularly devoid of elementary intelli-
gence for each had his police shield with him.
When Nerney told Bresnahan who he was the
latter should have asked him 10 display his
shield, and when Bresnahan came at Nerney
Nerney should have brought his shield TO light
before airing his gun.
The tragedy will confirm many persons in
their belief that American policemen are Cos
sacks. But would 1t not be farer TO attribute
their tactlessness and brutality TO the fact that
they. and only too often their superiOrs, are
greenhorns? Largely because of the close de
pendence of American police systems upon local
politics and politicians, policing has never yet
become either a science or an art In America.
Police Commissioners come and go with almost
every change of administration. and officers have
to devote much time TO retaining the friend
ship of the right parties" while expecting to be
shifted from one locality or branch Of work to
another by promotion or by disfavor, that they
find little opportunity and less encoursg cement
to master their immediate work and 10 perfect
the discipline Of subOrdlnates. The meeting of
two plainclOthes men is a common occurrence
and an expert police department would have no
difficulty in inventing etiquette for that contn-
gency which would make serious misunderstood
ngs virtually impossible While the greater
fault lies with those who have subjuga ted our
police systems to cheap politicians, some blame
must fall upon a large group Of men in the ser
vice In every large city uniforms and weapons
are given to men who are brave but equally
quick tempered and "headless." Unhappily the
kind Of animal courage that is often desired in
patrOlman Is rarely found coupled with native
GOODNESS and caution. This fact however makes
stern discipline and unrelenting drill in the
smallest details Of official conduct all the more
imperative Men who do not know precisely
what TO do in emergencies are, for all practical
purposes. just as bad as Cossacks