Evening journal., 1913-10-01
.,
ASKS FOR TEN
PATROLMEN
Chief Black Calls Attention in
Report to Inadequate Police
Protection
PLAIN CLOTHES MEN
SUBJECT UP LATER

The matter OF the increase to the
police force, however, was brought up
at the meeting of the Police Commits /
sion yesterday afternoon, the follow
ing recommendation by Chief OF Po-
lice George Black, in his annual re-
port, to the effect that an increase in
the police force had not been made
since 1908, when five members we're
added. He stated that an increase
was badly needed to protect the cii-
zens Of the city.
Upon motion of General Wicker
sham, the Board adopted a resolution
instructing the secretary to send
communication to City Council, ask
ing that body to allow ten additional
members for the force and appro-
pirate enough money to pay for the
additional men. This action is the re-
suit of a conference held by the Po-
ice Commissioners, with the members
of City Council, in the mayors office
last Saturday afternoon, when the sub
| ject of the increase in the force was
discussed at length. No mention was
made of the matter of having a PLAIN
clothes squad to act in conjunction
with the police force, but this VIII be
settled after the ten additional men
have been appointed.
Chief Black submitted to the Board
his twelfth annual report for the Ms
cal year, ending June so, 1913.
Chief Black urged an automobhe
for the accommodation OF the force,
a traffic squad. a detective squad and
more patrolmen. He says more nea
should be added to the force every
year until the number attained some
thing like what it should be for a
city the size of Wilmington.
Chief Black added:
During the year 3,S49 arrests
of the force we're summoned before
your honorable body charged with
violating the rules and regulations,
which resulted in one member being
fined 5 days pay, two we're fined ,
days pay; one had his pay withheld
for 10 days, the cases against six
, were held up against them, and nine
> were reprimanded and warned.
During tn year 3,S49 arrests
we're made as against 4.009 for thf
year previous, showing decrease q
/ 240.
II have repeatedly -gested that
the force be increased no increase
having been made in the force since
1908 when five additional patrolmen
r were employed. ] have frequently
/ given statistics showing that the city
is improperly policed In my pre-
vious report | said. your attention
. / is called to the necessity of increas-
p ling the force. additional patrolmen
Z should be authorized every year un-
E I'll the force reached a sufficient (n-
I ber VIC not only need detective
E bureau and a traffic squad. but we
need additional patrolmen in order
to reduce the size OF the districts
Take for example the Ninth ward
which now contains but two police
districts and has a population of r.
600. and is rapidly increasing. or The
Seventh ward, which with one block
81 OF the Fifth ward contains but three
n police districts md has a population
: Of over 10000. This in itself should
/, demonstrate TO the Council the fac
that the department lacks sufficien
patrolmen to give to our citizens th'
S protection which they of right de
e mand. / would again ask, ever
) though our past appeals TO the Coun
lcil have not been granted, that tn
board petition them to pass resolu
q ton, and to make tie necessary ap
O preparation to make a substantial in
q crease in the police force"
The report gives the financial state
ment of their appropriation.
shows also that the earnings of tn
police department amounted to $11,
d 22l.S7, which includes the fines an
q costs collected in the City Court an
n the dog license money The tota
: value of the police property is $50,
II 600.