The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

Waldo for use in New York "A traine<
man, verbally, or with chalk and {
blackboard" Commissioner Waldo says
can describe face In a few word!
with such accuracy as to enable de
tective to identify the subject in a larg,
crowd. though the detective, has nevel
seen him.
The 500 detectives under Waldo have
been kept In motion with the result that
the number Of their arrests for felony
has been doubled. There are Jewish
detectives for work among the Jews, and
Italian detectives for work among the
Italians. "A few men," Waldo says,
'are maintained in various sections to
live and associate with persons who may
be suspected Of criminal tendencies.
These men do not make arrests or ap-
pear In court. Their identity is known
only to the official to whom they give
their confidential Information"
The Strong Arm squad.
Besides. there is a school for recruits.
where young men soon to be policemen
learn about fire and other alarms, are
taught how to write reports of acci-
dents and arrests, and are drilled in a
knowledge of laws and ordinances.
Wrestlers show them how to defend
themselves and subdue pugnacious pris-
ing blood. Brutality in making arrests
has ceased" Waldo declares. recruit
must attend the school for thirty days.
Then he is tried on the street for six
months before he is admitted to reg
ular membership on the force.
Men belonging to, what is known as
the strong arm squad" and dressed like
the other male passengers. ride on steam
boats and street cars returning from
.thI ~ NJ
Rowdies and gangsters. starting fights.
insulting women and doing a little steal
ing on the side, arc promptly collared
and given a rough dose Of their own
medicine. The squad was organized in
July, last year. 1t made 3,sf1 arrests
the first six months and 3,l5s of the
persons taken into custody were con-
victed on trial Of their cases In police
court.
/. The $3.50 patrolmen, constituting the to-
tai active force, are divided into twelve
main squads. Three squads are on duty
from a m. to p. m; three squads
from p. m. to IL p. m, and six squads,
or one-half of all the men. from II p. m.
to a. m. This three-platoon system. MILL
tary in character. was worked out by
Commissioner Waldo, as was the fixed
post system by which a part OF the pa
trolmen on duty at night stand at the in
tersection of two streets, out in the mid
die OF the road. where they can look
thousand feet in four different directions
and can easily be found when wanted
Ordinarily, they remain at their station
ary posts for an hour. when they are re-
heved by the men who have been walking
about meanwhile in the old fashion. So
they walk and so they stand, alternately
from II o'clock until o'clock the next
morning Therefore. crime Of violence
at night and on public highways" said
the vigorous and optimistic Mr.. Waldo.
before Rosenthal was murdered on a side
walk glIttering with electric light, sew
eral policemen being at post in the
neighborhood. have been almost entirely
eliminated
Just the same Rhinelander Waldo has
done much for New York. the city of his
birth and upbringing. What kind OF GRIM
inals give you the most trouble?"
asked him, blasting once more in the
caverns of his silence. and he replied.
talking from the roof OF his mouth and
in his best art of saying nothing: "Al
criminals give US trouble"
Wherefore, II will again be perceived,
that r. Waldo is a personality as well as
a man of action.
Copyright. 1872 by James B. Monor)