The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-04
In an Address to Members of
Police Force He Tells Them
That There Is No "Wide Op-
en-" Policy.
RICHMOND MUST BE
ORDERLY COMMUNITY
And the Laws Will Be ObServ-
ed Without Fear or Preiu-
dice - PatroImen Pledge
Chief Support.

Superintendent I. A. Gormon Of the
Richmond police force. read his first
official communication 10 the police
ms3.bcrs, when they assembled last
evening for the O'CLOCK roll call.
He promised the force that Rich
mond's reputation as a city wherein
gentlemen only lived would be upheld
by him as superintendent.
There will be no wide open policy
introduced in this city and he also
stated that even the slight tipping of
the citY's lid would not be tolerated.
AS the citizens generally have been
pleased with the conduct of the police
in the upholding of the laws, this pol
icy will continue.
Congratulate Officers.
At the roll call, the patrolmen took
occasion to congratulate the new Of
ficers. Chief Gormon, First Sergeant
Ed McNally, and Second Sergeant
Scott Winters.
After the reading Of the chiefs COM
munication, the officers collectively
and individually promised the SUPER
in.endent their best efforts to uphold
the laws. There can be no question
about the service which the men will
render, as all who have had the pleas
ure Of serving under Mr.. Gormon in
previous years give him credit for be-
ing as an efficient a chief as ever
served the interests of this city. Mr..
Germans communication is as fol-
lows:
Gormon's Address.
"Officers and Brethren: have
been chosen to act as your superin-
tendent. l realize the responsibility
and I want your assistance. respect,
efficiency and energy, so that we may
keep this department up to its stand
ard and ii possible improve it,
"Beginning with the new year and
the new administration, let new ideas
be with you: let your aim be for the
better. None are perfect. The peo-
pies minds have been prejudiced and
they have tried to have you believe
In case DR.. w. w. Zimmerman was
elected that Richmond would be
wide open city. He was elected.
do not think there is an officer on
this force who would care to serve as
an officer in wide open city. Allow
ME to state, as superintendent, that if
there are any of our citizens who are
clinging to that faith, they had as
we'll abandon the idea. for as long as
I am superintendent of this force and
have control of this department, it
will not be.
Wants Good Service.
If there are any of you who can
not cooperate with me in this respect
or any of you who can not be a DO.
liceman, and be a respected citizen,
l hope you will give way and let
some other person take your place.
have no AK to grind; they have all
been ground. I like my friends and
my enemies I will try and forget.
I'VE, as officers, are the peoples
servants, but We are not to be i'm
posed upon, nor as officers should we
impose upon any one. Let our aim
be for the betterment of our city. We
have the best regulated city of its size
on earth. and it would do for many
better larger ones to pattern after.
I am familiar with the workings Of
many of the larger cities. I do not
know of any city where the laws are
enforced as rigid as in Richmond.
City Well Served.
II came to Richmond in 1866
have been personally acquainted with
all of it's chiefs and most OF the Of
ficers since that time and Richmond
has been blessed with some good ones.
My wish is that the present force will
be as good and if possible, better. I
viii be held responsible for your de-
pertinent and work and I win hold
each Of you responsible. will not al
low you to be better to me than I will
be to you. I will not allow any fav-
orites: I want none.
"Your conduct and efficiency viii
guide my feelings toward you. My
aim will be to conduct myself so that
you will have no cause to regret my
appointment as your superintendent.
win ask you to be careful and cour-
teous and when you have a duty to
perform, be firm and dignified as an
officer and careful of your temper.
Study your book Of rules. Any order
1 give will be for the best interests Of
the city. or at least that will be my
aim and any orders emanating from
the police board, you will refrain from
commenting upon, at any time. II any
officer has any complaint to make.