Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-30
POLICE RESENT
SLUR ON FORCE
1.DEMORAL IZATI0N STORY ABB
SURD," SAYS VETERAN
MEN WORKING WITH RENEWED
ZEAL AND INDUSTRY
Galloway Only One of Many consid-
cred for Office of chief-No
Meeting of Commis-
sion Held

That the police department is better
organized than it ever has been, that
the men are better satisfied, and that
the force is more efficient than before
is the belief Of those who have been IN
the department many years.
This talk of the force being disor-
ganized and the men afraid to make
arrests because of the fear of violating
the constitutional rights Of prisoners IS
all bosh," said a police sergeant. The
department is better organized now
than it ever has been and the men have
learned more about the rights of citi-
zens and the duties of an officer than
they knew before.
'grhe fact that the present good gov
ernment council and the various COM
missions are taking an active interest
in the department and regulating mat
ters which have been allowed 10 run
along in slipshod manner for many
years has had a great effect on the
men. They are learning that their
duty is not simply to swing club and
run in inoffensive drunks, but to be
servants Of the people instead of
bullies.
Rules viii Be Observed
"Some Of the patrolmen thought their
duty consisted of arresting petty mis-
demeanants, throwing them IN jail,
sometimes without actual cause, and
allowing them to remain without COM
munication until the detectives inVeStt-
gated the cases. They now have learned
different, and know that the present
police commission Will insist on the oD-
servance of all rules.
"That the police department is dis
organized since the present council as
sumed office is the most ridiculous
statement l have heard since 1 have
been on the force"
The sergeant making the foregoing
statement is a shreWd man and a keen
observer. His belief is that nearly all
the men in the department feel more
secure in their positions because they
realize that they have the support of
the present administration in their ef-
forts to make Los Angeles one of the
best policed cities in the United States.
One policeman complained that the
number of arrests is less than that
of year ago. Since the good govern
ment candidates were elected, and the
steady move toward the betterment of
Los Angeles by taking away licenses
from Objectionable cafes and closing up
notorious saloons, the city has been
rid of much Of the rough element that
gave the police the most trouble.
Men Are Satisfied
Inc DOiltClllEuY dlllb6L tS IL NIlOitJ diG
better satisfied with the present condi-
tions than they have been under past
administrations Now the men know
that if they follow the rules laid down
for their guidance the commission will
support them in their every act.
In the past it was customary in the
case of a holdup and murder Nfor q
squad of officers to be sent to the scene
and the avenues. of escape left un-
OfffrnTc then TtrO111H en9TPl1
near the body to try and find the mur-
derer then probably would arrest some
innocent passer-by and keep him in jail
for a week or so until they learned the
man was some innocent person. Such
system has been abolished by the pres
ent department.
The announcement in a morning pa
per that the police commission would
hold a meeting yesterday afternoon and
name Alexander Galloway as chief of
police to succeed the deposed Dishman
was very annoying to the mayor and
the police commissioners.
Galloway One of Many
"I am chairman of the police commits
sion, and I have called no meeting to
consider a chief of police today" said
Mayor Alexander Furthermore, l do
not expect to attend any meeting that
is called by any morning paper to select
a chief of police. The statement that
we would select Alexander Galloway as
chief was as untrue as that we would
hold a meeting. Mr.. Galloway is one
of half a dozen men who have been
considered for the place, and he is well
recommended Mr. Galloways chances
are as good as a number of other men,
but no better"
Commissioners Topham and Wellborn
confirmed the mayors statement.
There was no meeting OF the commits
sion yesterday. The mayor went home
for a much needed afternoons rest, and
Commissioners TOpham and Welborn
went to san Pedro to investigate a pool
room that had been reported to the
commission as not complying with the
law.