The Washington herald., 1908-03-15

RCH Is, 1908.
all counted-ss the men under them, they
are able to order their time to a greater
degree for themselves and save good
many minutes out Of every sixty.
Every precinct has three sergeants.
These work in separate shifts except in
cases of emergency. They do eight-hour
tricks, or are supposed to. although they
often have. TO work much longer hours.
take turns at doing reserve duty.
One lieutenant is assigned 10 each pre-
cinct and has charge OF the station dur
ing the night He usually goes on duty
at Z O'Clock In the evening and goes off
duty in the morning at s O'Clock. Be
sides this. he is supposed to have charge
of the station during the captains alb
sence at dinner. he being allowed an
hour each day for this purpose. The meal
hour is arranged 70 suit the fancy OF
ths superior officer. .zs.s
Captain Works Hardest.
The hardest-worked man Of all in the
station house is the captain, no doubt. as
he is always on duty Nominally. he
works only during the day, but in real
ity he Is busy at almost any hour in the
twenty-four. No matter what goes on in his
district. and no matter when. he is held
responsible. and this fact makes him, a
light sleeper. and an extraordinary vigi-
liant energetic workman
Very often some crisis arises which
keeps the captains from their rest for
many hours Since they have no one 10
relieve them they are not able TO make
up for strength lost
In addition to these routine duties there
are considerations OF danger and unpleas-
antness that keep life on the force from
being the sinecUre Il Is popularly supposed
20 be. An officer runs risk OF physical
I injury every time he makes an arrest
and II he does his duty he always has
many enemies, who would like nothing
better than an opportunity TO put him out
OF the way without being caught.
What Records show.
For Illustrations OF this one has only
10 look over the records OF the depart
ment see the number OF minor injuries
incurred IN the discharge Of duty, and
several cases where oncers have been
killed
This element Of danger from treacherous
enemies is by no means so slight as is
often supposed. And il IS a factor that
the individual must usually deal with
according to his own methods The fol-
lowing story told by a retired officer.
VINO was one Of the most efficient men
that ever swung a baton IN his day, Illus
trates this:
Il picked up noisy nigger on the
friends who followed me Another officer
met me and got on the other side OF the
prisoner who WIS somewhat refractory
"All OF "A sudden something struck me
on the back Of the head. I felt the blood
run ar wn under my collar.
You 40 on 7 said 10 my comrade.
He's gentle now.
Then I turned around on the crowd
and whipped out my revolver
II one OF YOU black beasts come a
step forward, I'll KIN him. / said and
meant every word
None Of them experimental. and none
OF them waited 10 see II any one would
experiment They all took 10 their heels.
Good Moral Effect.
Il got information after while Of who
ii was that threw the brick. wasn't able
10 use the man that tcld me. because he
was afraid. 50 ] went up the street and
lay for my man outside Of a saloon I
knew ne was in.
7 waited In the shadow OF a wagon
until long after u O'Clock. After while
the negro came out half drunk and
/ swearing. ] made dive for him. and
/ then he saw ne. he took 20 his heels
down the street with me after him.
Il was fresh and the niger wasn't. Tie
saw that ] was going 90 catch him after
/ "A while. And suddenly he turned and
ran straight toward me with head down.
I lifted my stick and waited until he got
/ within striking distance. Then / brought
/ il down with all my strength on his wool
I He fell limp as a rag at my feet
Then I dragged him into al alley
right al hand and beat him for FIVE OF
/ ten minutes. / nearly killed him. guess
/ He'll never get such wearing out as
that again. heard windows going az
/ all around me and voices asking what
was the trouble but nobody could see me
| because I was in the alley
/ You see I couldn't use the Niger that
/ gave me the information And the moral
| effect OF the, action I did take was faI
/ better than a court trial would have been
/ anyhow"
Must Arrest Friends
Sometimes an officer has % arrest q
/ friend. This is one Of the unpleaSantes'
parts of his work II is only seldom thai
/ the friend does not believe that ht should
have been given warning beforehand o'
I that some other indulgence should have
been shown him.
But beyond all this in the indictment
against being guardian Of the peace is
| the charge that he is always on duty II
theory, whether he is actually wearing Z
uniform and is on his beat or not
That is to say that r on holiday o
his own an officer in "cits'' should see
violation OF the law il would be his place
10 put the offender under arrest This j.
an embarrassing possibility for a day:
| outing.
Again. no member OF the force is sup
posed 20 touch an intoxicant when or
duty. He may drink when of. but mus
pay for Il the same as other individuals
If he accepts drink as a graft that is
another matter. as such an action would
! III r.yfa % . b..