The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-02
MORE ARRESTS IN 1908 THAN IN ANY
 PREVIOUS YEAR
But That is no Proof That the City is Growing Wicked-lt Means Police
 Are More Active.

Thieves and Other Criminals are Grow.
 ing Cleyersr Every Year and Depart.
 uect Must Keep Pace With Them.
 time is not an indication that a com munity is extraordinarily vicious. It is rather an indication that the polic- ing of the community is thorough. So because more arrests were made in the city of Bridgeport during the year just closed than in any previous year no one should hastily arrive at the con- clusion that the morals of the people have been degenerating. The year has perhaps developed the fact that the police force is more active than that in other cities. The local department stands high in the estimation of the other departments. This is demon strated by the promptness with which all communications from this city re- ceive replies. A list of articles stolen in Bridgeport is immediately acknowl- edged by every department which re- ceiveS 1t. Other departments feel sure that when criminals they are, seeking come to this city. they will be captur- ed in a short time.
 The Rrid geport force during the year has not received any material increase. Only four men have been added to the department. There are now 99 Off1c- CTS and men. The peace and safety of the 100000 inhabitants of this city are~ip the hands of this handful or men. The 134 square miles of ter- rifory are covered by the police. Tax ing out the men who are off duty, the officers and those who are specially detailed, there are never more than 90 men on duty at one time. Has the reader ever pondered over the respon- sibiiity that rests on this handful of men in authority. Were the commun- ity essentially vicious would ita be pos- sfble for this force to hold disorder in check?
 It is impossible to give complete report of the work of the department for the year, but let us see what has been done in the il months for which reports have been compiled.
 The total number of arrests has been males 2,541, females 296. The cases in which drunkenness figure lead off as is almost always the case in police an- nals. There were sS6 arrests for this offense during the year. Assaults ASA, theft 255, burglary 2S, robbery 5, and rape 5. These are only the most inn portant of the crimes. During the year the police recovered stolen goods to the value of over sS,OO0.
 During the year there have been only four burglaries of any import ance. These were at the Ludlum, Grippin, Moses and Fairchild resi- dences.
 Hard times are instantly felt by the 'ralice department. Petty thefts and drunkenness increase when men are out of work. Strange as it may seem, men who have difficulty in getting enough to eat can still find plenty to drink Then men out of work have more time to visit the saloon and less care about overindulgence, for they do not have to go to work on the dread- ful next morning. Thefts by profes- sionals are not affected to any great degree by business conditions. But petty thieying, with necessity as a compelling motive, increases in about the same ratio that work decreases.
 Last October furnished the police more business than any previous month in the history of the city. There were 4O7 arrests during the month. Business conditions were not to blame for this increase. Among the causes was the activity of the Law Enforce ment organization which resulted in arrests for liquor violations in patches
 
 victi0ns resulted as the detectives sent here to work for the league were ire sponsfbIe and were unable to support their complaints by actual evidence. | Some of them laid themselves liable to prosecution for perjury which would have undoubtedly followed had they | remained in the city. While this ac- doubtedly made liquor dealers more cautious it affected the good maine of the city materially.
 During the year the Board of Alder i men increased the pay of the members l of the department by resolution but | only the officers have been benefited | by it so far. The patrolmen have taken their claims into court and there l is little doubt that they will eventually l receive the additional wage without the | make shift of resigning as the officers were obliged to do. This proceeding | was not very dignified ruse to evade | the law of the city which provides that | the salary of no official of the city | shall be increased during his term Of | office. The law was made for the good of the city ins general way, but | should not have been so constructed originally as to include the police de- partment. The three grades of pa- trolmen were raised as follows: From | $2.50 to $2.75 per day, from s2.632 to | s, from $2.90 to s325. All of the of ficers with the exception of the super intendent were uniformly raised $150 | per year. The superintendent receiv- | ed an increase of only $1OO. Supt. Bir- mingham made no application for an increase, stating that he was satisfied with his present remuneration.
 There has been only one murder in | the city during the year, and this was 11ot an aggravated case. The crimes Which have come to the attention of | the police have been largely the out growth of the increase in the number of those who carry concealed weapons. | In spite of the recent legislation and | the severe penalties inflicted in the | City court there never were as many | armed men going about the streets of the city as at present. Twenty years ago it was seldom that a prisoner was arrested for carrying arms. At pres ent a large proportion of the aggravat- ed crimes come through this practice.
 The police force of the city is gen. orally, respected by the citizens. Un- der the command of Supt Birmingham there has been no wrargling or insub- ordination. In fact this has been the rule during the whole of the 14 years