Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-03-17
INVESTIGATION EEEpED.

That the conditions In the police
department. are not all that they
should be Is evident by the efforts
made by the EVENING NEWS yes
terday to get In touch with the
mounted patrolman, of which the de-
partment boasts. That the depart
ment is not being conducted with
the strict army-like precision with
which such a department should be
conducted, Is evident from the CON
fusion that seemed to have resulted
from the inquiries made by the
EVENING NEWS.
1t seems strange that a sergeant
on duty is not aware until nearly
noon that the mounted patrolman
was not on his usual beat, but was
supposed to be covering the district
of another officer on foot. Also the
sergeant did not seem to be aware
as to just what beat the mounted
officer was covering until he had
made inquiries of the chief.
We are at a loss to understand
how the local police department is
run, but from our knowledge Of the
conditions in other cities, we know
that a police sergeant is supposed
to be directly in charge OF his men
and to keep in touch with them at
all times. While the chief has much
of the executive work to do and ar
ranges for all changes and days OF
etc, his orders are issued through
the sergeant, who is in direct touch
with the officers on patrol.
Judging from the hours kept by
the mounted patrolman, ii Is evident
that he does not ring up on the po-
lice telegraph system and that head
| quarters has no record Of his move
ments during the day. Isn't 1t about
time that this department. which is
drawing SO much OF the taxpayers
money, should have q thorough In
vestigatfon and overhauling SO that
tba people may know Just exactly
what they are getting for the large
salaries being paid? It is only a
few years ago that the proposition
to increase the salaries of the pat
rolmen and place them on a graded
basis was put up to the popular vote
of the people and 1t was carried by
a. large majority. 1t has been a good
many years since the police depart
ment has received any serious at
tention from the city and 1t stands
to reason that, regardless of the best
efforts. Irregularities are bound to
creep in. 1t Ia due to the people
that something Is done to stop all
rumors that are ahoat regarding
the department. and settle once for
all whether or not there is any truth
in the many things that are being
said. ss
Judging from the lttfs inrestigx-
ton that has already been done there
seems to be very loose methods In
the management OF the force and
there lis, no doubt, room for improve
ment- The trouble may extend to
the men higher wp The mayor Is
looked upon as the head OF the poliee
department. and he has from time to
time exercised that prerogative. The
chief Of police has also been looked
upon as being at the head of his men
Under this method 1t la very easy te
shift the blame from one to tbs
other. each one denying that he i,
responsible. II the mayor Is to as
sumo the responsibilities as bein,
at the head of the police force h,
should put his chief In uniform an,
set up the prescribed duties for hin
and take general supervision of th
entire department. If the mayo
does not care to take such an activ
part he should keeps hands of an,
allow the chief to carry out his owl
Ideas. as he sees best. If these idea
prove unsatisfactory, and, IL unde
his management the department 4
incompetent, a change should b
made and a man placed in office VIII
will give the people what they ar
nsying for.
1t might be wen for the polio
committee of the Board of Alderme
to take notice of the conditions an
conduct an Investigation of their ow
to sea how the department is bein