The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-30
Police Head To Quit Public Ser.
vice For Good If Not Re-
appointed
WILL NEVER RUN FOR
MAYOR, HE DECLARES
Couldn't Accomplish Anything
in That Office in Two Year
Term, He Says

Il shall not run for mayor of De
rroit, two years hence" said Police
Commissioners Frank II. Croul. in con,
tradiction OF a persistent rumor. ever
since John Gillespie's name appeared
as that of Mr.. Croul's probable suc.
cessor, that the commissioner would
De candidate against Oscar Is
Marx In the next mayoral primary.
Mr.. Croul spoke positively and with
determination
Not even II the people insist?" he
was asked
Not even then. What can mayor
do, In Detroit. under present circnm.
stances? he no sooLer learns the
duties OF his Office, and formulates
>hls plans, than he Is forced TO seek
security in office at another election.
IL the mayor had a four-year term,
and brought In his cabinet with him,
] believe the city Monld have no dit
hculty in finding the best OF men for
the place.
When June 80 comes. | shall have
spent 10 years in the public service
six years as fire commissioner and
TOUR years as police commissioners.
Then. unless ! am reappointed. | am
through ! admit that | would like
TO be reappointed. for there are sew
eraf Things I would IKE 20 put through
in this department. But nothing could
induce me 10 take any other position
in the city's employ.
Il am sorry for my successor when
thine OF all that De will have TO
learn 1t has taken me nearly four
years TO know what | now know about
the working of this department, and |
know only one side OF 1.-THE business
side. The other, the criminal side, |
know little about. | have left that
10 my men who have made a study
of IL all their lives.
IL know what IL is to come into this
department and lay plans for it's
maintenance and Improvement. When
took this position. found my
hands tied by lack OF money. Soap
and water were about all we could
get for the first year. Then | asked
for the 'buzZ-wagons and began work
on my mounted squad. The estima-
tors were surprised They looked for
padding in my budget, but | con-
WINGED them that knew what / want
ed to do. and | got my 'buzzwagons'
Now, under the Lresent system,
I wherein the old commissioner makes
up the budget for the first year of the
new commissioners term. the new
man who comes in with plans of his
own is bound TO feel that he can do
nothing for a whole year-until he
can get money TO carry ont his de-
sires for the department. | don I
Il In
under that condition.
Il think that the department Is now
in good shape. I'm rot going to ask
for many improvement Is next spring
merely enough money for horse barns
and enough additions TO the force 10
keep II in proportion to the city's
growth. We've got 10 have better ac-
commodations for the horses OF the
mounted squad. Ne4 barns would be
an economy in the long run.
There are 932 splendid men in this
department. | believe that 900 or
them would gladly stand on their
heads. If ! gave the order and they
found themselves physically able.
There may be 80 who don't like me
very well, but If there are, | don't
know It. | haven't heard any COM
plant. I've tried TO instill the proper
spirit. and, perhaps, you may have
noticed that the men are courteous
and are trying hard TO treat the pub.
lie well. I'd like II If there were more
money for some of them. There are
captains who have spent their lives
in the department who could get
$4,000 or $1,000 in business. | wish
; had some OF them in my plant"