The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-11
Department Is Handicapped
by Old Fashioned System
of Providing Protection
to the City.
"a NIGHT RESERVE
FORCE is FAVORED
Officers Should Be Better
Armed, Trained to Use
Weapons and Reserve Ri
files Be Furnished.

The attempt to rob the safe at the
office of the T. H., |. & E. traction
company here early yesterday morning
which was frustrated by Patrolman
Hebble, has reopened the agitation
for the creation of a night police re-
serve at headquarters. Business men
and others in discussing this matter
today declared that while the per-
% sonnel of the present force in the city
could not be improved greatly, mod
ern system of police protection is bad
ly needed.
1t is likely that this matter will be
brought before council at it's next
meeting, which occurs Monday, June
18.
Chief Gormon holds the same views
on this matter as do many business
men. Mr.. Gormon says that one or two
men at police headquarters all of the
time ready at a moments notice to
jump into an automobile or on motor
cycles to answer emergency police
calls would be a very material addf
tion to the force.
Some Other Needs.
In addition to the reserve men, the
agitation is also for the arming of
officers with revolvers of 3S or A cali
bre instead of the 80 calibre "popguns"
now used, frequent target practice so
the men will know how to use their
weapons and placing a reserve supply
of rifles at headquarters for emerg-
ency use.
Our force here is one of the best
regulated in the state" stated the po-
lice chief this morning. Il have re-
ceived communications from all sec
tions of the state and from Ohio cities
as well, asking for information in re-
gard to our rules, regulations and our
system here and few police superin-
tendents have visited Richmond for
the express purpose of securing such
information.
But We need night reserve
force, even though only one man is
provided. One man on a motorcycle
would assist us greatly in cases such
as the occurrence Monday morning.
have talked this matter over with the
police board and with others, but this
of course would increase the police de-
partment's expenses. Whenever I
bring uprsuch matters some one is GER
tain to say that 'Gormon wants to in
crease his force l don't bring such
things up for the sole purpose of in
creasing the force >but because they
are required. I have made a study of
studying them.
I'VE have but four day men. One
man is stationed at Eighth and Main
all day, two others have the Main
street beats while the fourth is sta
toned at the Pennsylvania depot. A
reserve man for day work would help
CONSIDERABLE
Chief Gormon is also in favor of hav-
ing two Winchester rifles and two shot
guns at police headquarters to be used
in emergency cases. However, he is
not particularly anxious about a too
strict rule about target practice for
members of the force.
1--WE have target practice" said Cor
mon although / do not insist on a
regular target practice because a pa
trolman is only supposed to injure his
man and not kill him
Main street merchants are unani-
mous in statements about Richmond's
police force being one of the best in
the state but they also say that it is
handicapped by conditions. One busi-
ness man declared that since Chief
Gormon has made the police districts
in the business sections of the city
smaller that he has felt safer about
night protection of his place of bust
ness.