New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-07
POLICE SCHOOL USELESS,
CURRAN PROBERS LEARN
No Discipline. Recruits II|iterate
and Lack of Tests Shields
the Unfit. Report SAYS.
LECTURES ARE IGNORED
Bureau of Municipal Research
Finds Only Two Features of
the Institution of Value
to the City.

The work OF the police school for re-
cruits is exposed as practically useless
except IN the two particulars OF pistol
practice and humane treatment of prison
ers in printed report submitted to the
Curran aldermsnic police inquiry com
mittee by the Bureau OF Municipal Re
search. and made public Yesterday by
Chairman Curran
This printed report is the first Of six
which Will be incorporated in the record
OF the aldermanic committee. and repre-
scnts the same investigation and status
as the oral testimony given by the COM
mittee's Investigators on the witness
stand. I'm view Of the fact that the COM
mittee is planning to have its general and
final report ready by May 7. IL was de-
cided that much OF the evidence on spc-
cial phases OF the police inquiry could he
more easily incorporated in the record by
reports than by oral testimony.
The investigators made detailed study
OF she methods Of the school for recruits
and attended sessions Of the school to
gather their data Their chief criticism
is that the school Is OF absolutely no
service 10 the city in wedding ont men
who would make inefficient policemen.
because il Il school without examina-
tiors. and while the new policemen are
supposed 10 listen to the lectures. there
IS no method OF aScertaining whether
they have listened or understood.
Police Commissioner Could Act.
is. 81, e b.,
Police Commissioner by virtue Of his
power 10 drop probationary policemen
without cause within six months OF APP
pointment. has the power 10 weed out
prospective policemen whose unhtncss
could be demonstrated by an examination
at the end Of their thirty-day session in
the school for recruits
The criticisms are thus summed up.
Classroom instruction Is defective be-
cause instructors. being members Of the
uniformed force. are lacking in teaching
experience.
Tile work OF the school is not sde-
quatelv supervised. instructors are In
charge OF q captain. VINO nominally -
under the supervision OF deputy COM
missioner. but uo report is ever made by
the captain To- tine deputy commissioner.
NO records are kept either Of attend
auce OF work done. Instructors do not.
and are not expected 10. report 10 the
commissioner or to the deputy in charge
facts respecting the qualifications OF re-
cruits iu the school
The school is not used 10 determine tho
fitness of recruits for police work All
recruits are passed from tie sehoo. 10
police duty. irrespective Of intelligence or
ability shown by them while under in
struction."
Under the head ~ Men Taught the
report goes on 10 show that the school
assumes that all the men are equally
prepared. Irrespective Of previous cdGca-
tior. occupation or ratings iu civil service
examinations and that. despite the char
ter requirement that no person shall be
appointed In the police force
VINO cannot read and write under
standingly the English language" the
civil service papers written 10y thy re-
cruits before admission To the department
show innumerable evidences Of inability
10 spell the simplest words. 10 write
legibly or to use even fairly grammatical
English