New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-21
NEED CAR. SAYS CR0PSEY
He Would Give Commissioner
Full Power of Removal.

James G. Cropsey. formerly Police
Commissioner was the first witness yesteI-
day of several experts on the subject on
police administration whom the CurIan
committee intends TO call for the purpose
of obtaining suggestions as 10 the recon
str1Iction OF the Police Department
MI Cropsey advocated giving more
mower to the head OF the department. par
ticularly in the matter OF dismissals. a.
the one thing which would accomplish
most in increasing the efficiency oil the
department lie was emphatic IN ms ne
lief that the enforcement or the laws
against gambling. excise and disorderly
houses should not be- taken out OF the
hands of the police 1t would mean onlE
transferring the opportunities for grant
from one body of men To another. ana
would not mean that the problem "ouln
be more effectively handled. he said hul
give the Commissioner arbitrary power
Of removal and take away the chance q
reinstatement 10y the courts and ne Nc
lievad there would Ice a minimum of gran
and a much greater desree oil enciehcS
throughout the department
Under thu present law MI 'ropaeF
said. the members Of the Police Depart
ment and the Fire department have spe-
cial protection. which is not accorded III
the thousands % civil service employees lh
other city departments. The law 'ro''ues
that a policeman shall not be removed
unless sufficient evidence IS produced To
maxi. ont = legal case FOR review 10y the
L. fRF =
this section Of the Law should be repealed
The policeman should get no more. or no
less. protection than any other ci'il SER
vice employe.
The effect Of such power in the hands
of the Commissioner would b" To MAKE
most bad men in the department eood
through lear OF no redress IN tn" courts.
!; has been the experience In other de-
nartrnerts that almost no dismissals WEI
necessary"
Much would Cepend or getting the rghi
kind OF "A Commissioner. hut TINS "ould
no, be hard If there was the night klnd
Of Mayor TO appoin; him. the witness sara.
Ue did not believe that the Mayor Should
have ANYTHING TO DO with the Police de-
partment other than 10 exercise the same
super, lsion that h. did over all IN" ciiy
Departments The Mayor should not At
tenn, to be his own Police Commission
e." MI Cropsey declared.
Mr. Cropsey held that the term 81 Inc
Police Commissioner should not be fixed
but thought frequent changes IN the ONCE
undesirable The main responslblllty
should rest with the Mayor 10y allowing
him 10 appoint and remove the Conmis-
sjoner at Will lie said that the salaries.
beginning wits patrolman and on up
through most OF the grades in the depart
,n.pt to the Commissioner. should be
raised. considerable so In most cases.
natrolnlan started. he said. on salary of
$500 and $500 was taken out OF that Tor
uniforms and incidentals. besides Sls Tor
the pension fund. This left him ~ an
"lmDoverished condition and made II
much harder 10 overcome the temptations
encountered during the first months or
years of service the witness declared.
Captains should get ~ least $4,000. IN
spectors not less than $4,000. with $1,000
more for the chief inspector. no deputy
less than $500. $4,000 for the first
deputy and the Commissioner $4,000. A
rroportionate increase in the Mayors sal
ary also was suggested by MI. Cropsey.