The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-09
Commercial Clubs Law and
Order Committee in Report
Advises Several Improve
ments Be Made.
FAVOR RIOT DRILLS
FOR THE BlUECOATS
A "PIain C!othesman" for
Night Duty and the Recruit
ing of the Force Up to Limit
of State Law.

The committee on law and order has
submitted its report to the Commercial
club. The report suggests several
changes which it is deemed by the
committee would tend to improve the
local police force and establish a high
er degree of efficiency for the depart
ment. In full, the report is as fol-
lows:
Your committee on law and order
makes the following partial report:
The police department of the city of
Richmond consists of nineteen mem |
bers distributed as follows: The chief, |
two sergeants, four day patrolmen. |
eleven night patrolmen and the patrol
driver. The men are all uniformed
and equipped with whistle, club and
revolver, when on duty, except the
chief. The men are assigned to reg
ular beats and are shifted regularly.
They are required to familiarize
themselves with the rules, though no
regular instruction or examinations
are given: they are required to be al
ways at call, are forbidden to engage
in any other business, while in the SER
vice. and are considered on duty
whenever in uniform. The night pa
trolmen go on duty at G::iO p IN. and
are relieved by the day force, part at
> a. M, and part at & a. III.
What Each Must Do.
Each patrolman is required to famil-
| iarize himself with his beat. and to
l. hot 1,
! as to be able to detect strangers and
suspicious characters: to know the To-
/ cation of safes and empty houses so as
! to protect them: to observe low win
| dOWS and doors of business houses to
see that they are properly secured: to
! prevent riots and assaults: to prevent
obstruction of streets, alleys and side
walks; to preserve order in public
| places: to disperse disorderly crowds;
| to give alarm OF fire: to report cOntag
| iOuS diseases; to give notice of street
lamps not lighted; to arrest violators
of the laws: and in other ways assist
citizens, maintain order, and enforce
! the law.
| They are not allowed to carry an UNI
! brella or walking stick, nor to loiter,
smoke drink, nor frequent saloons,
while on duty. They are required to
be polite in manner and speech and to
refrain from unnecessary violence in
| making arrests.
Patrolmen are required to patrol
/ their beats constantly while on duty.
| but the city has no police telegraph
system for keeping check upon their
movements. The patrolmen report to
the desk sergeant every hour by pri-
vate telephone. six of the night force
reporting on the half hour and five on
the hour. OF the day force. . report
on the half hour and two on the hour.
No system is regularly used to make
sure OF the correctness of these tele-
phone reports. but the desk sergeant
occasionally calls back to the telephone
number reported to see whether the
patrolman is there. The men are not
given drill in team work nor in riot
tactics.
To Increase Efficiency.
! We believe the efficiency of the de-
partment could be increased in the fol-
lowing ways:
! First. by some drill OR instruction in
mob and riot tactics. While the dan
ger of riots in Richmond may seem
small: from past experiences. the news
! of almost every day shows that the
possibility Of mobs and lynchings fol-
lowing some particularly abhorrent
crime, is very great. even in the most
stad and conservative communities.
Secondly, by the addition of
roundsman in plain clothes. not only
! to look after the force at night but to
keep watch on the unguarded positions
OF their beats. The roundsman for
merly used, was placed upon one of
the beats in West Richmond to meet
the needs OF the citys growth there. 1t
is the purpose of the department to
provide a roundsman as soon as prac-
ticable.
! Thirdly. BY the addition Of enough
up to the legal allowance of one to
each 1000 OF population.
| Fourthly BY having the night pa
trolmen in plain clothes.
| 1t seems desirable not to shift the
men from one beat TO another fire.
quently since it prevents thorough
| familiarity with their beats. But at
| times it is desirable TO remove the
temptation to collusion with law
| breakers or to prevent criminals too
readily identifying the policeman. The
patrolmen, especially of the night
force are easily identified by intend
ing criminals. who can easily follow
their movements and commit crime
! IL