The Detroit times., 1913-05-17
TALK OF FRILLS
IN POLICE DEPT.
AMUSES CROUL
"We're Not Perfect, But You
Don't Hear Many Kicks on
Our Efficiency"
SAYS MEN GIVE LOYAL,
SPLENDID SERVICE
Defends Detective Bureau,
Where Shake-Up Under
Gillespie Is Planned

Police Commissioner Frank H
Croul. while inclined to sidestep when
asked to comment <on the statement
that the Marx administration intends
TO make changes In the police depart
ment after July, when John Gillespie
becomes commissioner. Loyalty de
Tended his men In an interviey with
The Times, Friday morning. He de-
clared that he was very we'll satisfied
with the work Of the detective bureau
which 10 under the direction Of Capt
Robert Palmer, and produced records
TO prove the efficiency of the bureau
The commissioner laughed at the sug
gestion that there were too many
frills and burbelows In the police de-
partment. He added that the Detroit
department is one Of the best in the
country In point OF efficiency and that
he was justly proud OF the work OF
his men.
If were to remain at the head OF
the police department for another
four years, l would contemplate very
few changes of importance" said the
commissioner II realize that the de-
pxrtment Is not perfect and that we
are not the brainiest men In the
world, but you must admit that you
hear very little kick on the depart
ment.
Il was q novice when | came into
this ONCE and | realize now that II
takes the average man couple OF
years to get the swing Of things here
The system In the department has
been gradually improved Things were
in a bed mess when took hold four
years ago. The officers were working
at cross-purposes and there was more
than the usual amount of wire-pulling
II you will investigate now you will
find that harmony exists In all
branches Of the department.
Capt Robert Palmer Is doing good
work as chief of the detective bureau
nothing wrong. The neighbor happen.
ed to be Caspar Jaeger, Of No. 374
Personally, have no fault to find
with the men In the bureau. The rec
ords speak for themselves. The men
behave themselves and do their work
conscientiously. A few Of the officers
are getting a trifie old for regular
duty. but they are capable Of doing the
ordinary routine work. You cannot
expect to get a force of experts in an
Office where the highest salary paid ia
1850.
''All the promotions l have made
have been on merit. l had q hard
time when l first came into the Office
TO put a stop to city hall and street
corner appointments. Naturally there
was considerable objection to my pol
icy. Also, the men under me are EN-
ployed tor police duty. l discouraged
the practice Of allowing police officers
to work OH cases Of a private nature.
have always supplied officers on
proper authority.
AS far as the dead timber In the
department Is concerned, | will an
swer that by saying that II had any
men to retire | would retire them.
Since | have been in ONCE l have re-
tired over so officers.
The flying squadron 10 a necessity
and II would be wrong to do away
with 1t. You can easily find out what
the flyer does by reading over the
monthly reports.
There are no frills, so-called, In
the department that | am aware Of.
We are keeping up with the other
cities and ahead of some as far as
police protection IL concerned. De-
troit Is q big city with large new
population as call it. 1t Ia q pros
porous city and, naturally, the crooks
follow In the wake Of prosperity.
II would suggest that a school for
detectives be organized In the de-
partment. Then the man with the
highest marks could be selected for
plainclothes duty. During the four
years In the once, have never tried
q plainclothes man for neglect OF
duty.
"Of course there is always room
for improvement In a big department
like this. My successor will prob
ably have new ideas. and l think they
will be good ones, too.
Personally. 1 will be glad to get
out Of public ONCE. speak gener-
ally when I say this, because there
are many strong ties connected with
this ONCE. The men have served me
faithfully and like them. They are
good fellows--every one of them.
TT IL no small task to govern q
large department. and the work has
been a great worry to me. like the
Job. but at the same time l will be
glad to have the responsibility lifted
OF my shoulders. l am not grumbling
and my relations with the admins.
tration have been perfectly friendly"
Commissioner Croul has not re-
ceived ofhcial word from the mayor
as yet. having to rely on gossip from
the mayors ONCE for his informa-
ton regarding the future plans Of the
administration In connection with
the police department. The commits
sioner refuses to make any new con.
tracts In the name of the city urs<ll
he is officially informed who his sue
cessor will be, and can confer with
him.