The evening world., 1911-05-30
Citizens Will Know Just Where
to Reach Bluecoat at Any
Hour of Night.
HAS MANY n IDEAS.
Better Protection for City and
Better Discipline of Force
Are Sought.

Rhinelander Waldo. the new Police
commissioner has done more with the
department in a week than many de-
partment heads have lone during their
term of Office. He has upset all prece-
dent by inaugurating a plan OF trying to
work with the men instead of working
against them. and has succeeded In
grounding the impression in the uni
formed force that he is fair and disposed
TO give every man a show.
Commissioner Waldo Is a young man
OF Ideas about police matters. and he
Will doubtless keep right on doing things
OF an unusual nature IN the department.
For many years he has been a student
OF the police problem. He has read and
analysed n studied and he has gone
personally into the police departments
of Paris and London and other foreign
capitals for the purpose OF comparing
their methods with our own
Talking about police is his favorite
diversion. lie Is the sor. of mar who
Is not ut all afraid OF expressing his
ideas and convictions and standing up
for them. His friends. therefore, have
~ D1flIN AtI illf w Nh' Nv - 'N'F
to do, because he acts as his convictions
dictate as a general thing.
Expect Drastic Reforms.
His friends, who have heard him en-
press his opinion about patrolmen ana
their responsibilities many a m an
,icipa,e he will put into effect some re-
forms and changes that viii appear
drastic to a degree. II II believed thar
the Commissioner will Try the plan or
establishing what, FOR want OF a term
to designate a novelty. might be called
\ hxed post.
The rules OF police protection now pro
vide for a system ~ patrol by which
tho patrolman Is supposed to cover a
prescribed distance within a prescrioed
area on n certain schedule. The COM
missioner plans to supplement TINS Win
the fixed post idea, so that a citizen may
locate a policeman as easily as he can Il
fre-alarm box.
He has Said he believes the establish
ment OF fixed posts in a CONSTRUCTED
area-say four corners of two intersect'
ling streets-would be of great advantage
in solving the patrol problem. On this
post the patroiman would not move
from the corner far enough to be out OF
call. In other words, he would become
a fixture In a certain spot, Just like a
fre-alarm on a mail box. Any citizen
OF that vicinity would know that at any
hour Of the night n policeman would he
on duty al the corner.
Always Within Reach.
No one has heard Commissioner Waldo
work out his plan In detail. But enough
is known Of 1t TO warrant the prediction
that he will probably establish perma-
nent posts in residence districts where
there has been trouble with gangs and
burglars. The idea would be to have
policemen gtationed without intermissior
at points where they could command a
view OF two intcrsecting streets foy q
couple of blocks or more in each dircc-
ton. This officer would keep an eye or
happenings within his limit of observa
ton. would be at the call OF citizens,
and would be in position 10 answer TO a
call of assistance from another perma-
nent post o" from a peripatetic. so 10
speak. pitrolman, who might get into
difficulty in the neighborhood.
The accompanying map shows in a
general way what the proposition is and
how 1t would possibly work out. OF
course there are many details to he
taken into consideration. The perma.
nent pos; plan would not interfere with
the regular system OF patrol, hut would
augment and strengthen it II the theory
works.
II any rate, 1t Is an experiment. tho
citizens Of New Yor; Will in all proba-
hillt" have q chance OF observing
Doubtless veteran policeman will scott
81 H.. bat veteran policemen are often
sCt in tho idea that there Is nothing
new worth while in police practice,
Better Night Protection.
Commission Waldo is known 20 b,
committed to tho idea that the citizens
OF New York are entitled to ample pc.
lice protection At night. He has beer
heard to declare that IL lc had the
power he would greatly increase the
night patrol force. Just how he woult
bring this about has not been explained
but no has a plan in mind which h,
will probably submit for public ap,
prevail.
Friends OF tho Commissioner know
that he thinks there are not enough
sergoants to keep proper watch on
patrolmcH. He cannot reconcile himsal
to the theory that two sergeants cal
keep track OF some forty men in q
platoon. lie would increase the numbel
of sergeants, and in that way narrow
the scope of each sergeant's duties
Commissioner Waldo has said that %,
thought a system of patrol ana ohscr,
walton could he established whereby
each sergeant would me accountable fol
not more than eight or ten men,
Inspector I1hcv IS the unlrormet
officer who IS looked upon as the mar
who VIII occupy the position OF Tho
right hand of the Commissioner. LaheN
is a type OF the intelligent, active, stu
dious police officer who has never bad
a suspicion OF graft attached to him
Commissioned Waldo has implicit COP,
ndence in him In view OF I.ahcy''
reputation and his standing with tu'
Commissioner, his promotion and I'M
mediate assignment to the Old Tender
loin district is most interesting. There
Will be something doing in that par
Of town. Inspector Lahey Is a strange
Il s... trn Ya nn'ffinnl nhltp4I tim.