The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-02
WEEK
OPENS AT POLICE
HEADQUARTERS
Worried al
Threatened Report
of Infractions
New System of Records in Ef.
feet Causes Great Activity
Through Department

Aviation week is being celebrated at
police headquarters and about the va
rious police precincts and the flight
of tombstone with its resultant fall
is nothing to- the mental perturbation
records made at headquarters this
morning when the newly inaugurated
record system went into effect.
At the outset the sailing was smooth
and after circling around without a
record slate in the court room, as
case after case was called higher and
higher attitudes were attained At
the conclusion, however, the recording
dial of barometer registered many
feet above ground level, as patrol
men, officers and even Clerk Smith
of the police department were en-
crossed among multitudinous records
which they were trying to perfect and
whip into correspondence with old
records still in existence.
Upon the streets it became rurnored
that sergeants who are now taking
the part of ''roundsmen'' in larger
cities, had seen and reported, they
must, many violations of the new pa
trolmen's rules such as converSing
with citizens, reading newspapers,
leaning against a building, or enter
ing a candy, fruit, cigar or grocery
store. While no apparent notice has
been taken of these delinquencies by.
sergeants, it is known that as they
turned the next corner written notes
have been made indicating that by
nightfaIl this Information will be in
the hands Of the superintendent whose
duty it now becomes to either repri-
mand the officer or report the occur
renee to the Board for their action.
Many of the new patrolmen who suf-
fered with feet-burn yesterday are
wondering If they will be the first
upon the carpet. Many of bhe older
men long custorned to converse with
many friends unrestrietedly, are also
worried remembering their transgres-
sion.
Explaining the new system at some
length Supt Birmingham said that
following the recommended atIons of
Capt John Russell, the slate had
been abolished at the desk. and would
be replaced by a card and book sys-1
tenn which would permit Of records be
ing kept both alphabetically and num-
An arrest now made in any precinct
station will call for a card being sent
with the prisoner to headquarters.
where additional record will be made
both in a blotter for public inspection
and record book, containing the
name of the prisoner, residence, age
and officer making the arrest. In
addition to extra detail it will devo1ve
upon the arresting officer to follow
the case through the higher court and
report disposition there.
In the office Of Police Clerk Smith,
it was Impossible to secure accurate
of the system owing to
the mass of work which kept both
himself and his stenographer busily
engaged. It is believed that here are
some discrepancies between the old ana
new system, which without more ad-
equate assistance and office arrange
ments being immediately made by the
commissioners will involve the records
for many days to come.
A mass of report sheets and cards, |
at precinct stations is perpiex1ng the
lieutenants and men, and on every
hand the desire for high-soaring is
evidenced as soon as reporter ap-
proaches. The only officers with an
''I Should Worry air this morning |
were Assistant Court Clerk George P. |
Burnes and the detectives who were |
busily enga ged on outside duty during |
the morning hours.