The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-02-12
Only 100 Corrupt Policemen.

VI lohS SAuhNiiS uftp Scultu
Only 100 Corrupt Policemen.
But justice requires us to always
remember that only q comparatively few
of the members OF the police force are
thus corrupted and infected. There are
not as many as 100 out Of the whole
force of 10000. The great body Of the
force throughout the city, in Brooklyn,
in Queens, in the Bronx. in Richmond
and in most Of Manhattan is doing its
duty faithfully day after day. 1t Ia only
In two or three localities that this graft
Ing evil exists. But the corrupt doings
of the corrupted policemen in these
localities give the whole force a bad
name. at all events in the minds Of un-
thinking people. The result is an un-
favorable effect on the whole force more
or less. Ii distracts it from Its duty
And the indlscriminate abuse heaped
on the whole force by corrupt and sen
sational newspapers for the derelictions
Of a few must OF course have a bad
effect also.
To Take Away ControI From Police.
1T therefore seems tha, /, would be a
wise thing to take away from the police
with the three things ] have mentioned
and confer the same on a separate force
to he created for that purpose or
course that new force would also be-
subject 10 the same temptation, and
would he corrupted more or less. But
their misdeeds would not reflect on the
police force. The police force would be
engaged solely in preserving the peace
and keeping outward order and decency
and in the detection and prevention OF
ordinary crimes, in which the opportu-
mites for graft are small. Ii would have
nothing 10 do with the enforcement of
the laws concerning excise, gambling
and prostitution and would not be sub
ject to the infection of corruption
therefrom.
AS have said, this new force would
he open TO such corruption. But the
danger thereof would be minimized II
the commissioner OF the new force were
given the power To appoine and dismiss
at Will. That would enable him TO Sc
lect competent persons and TO get rid
of every member Of the force OF whom
he had any suspicion. As It Is now no
member of the force can be dismissed
except on common law proof showing
him to be guilty OF some dereliction.
II the same rule would be made appli-
cable To tho new force then / do not
see that anything would be attained
bN creating such force.
After careful consideration | am i'm
favor of creating this new force But
| am not In favor OF putting II under
board OF commissioners to serve with
out pay. On the contrary, to be effec-
tive 1t ought 10 be under a paid conf
missioner who would have to devote all
Of his time To his duties. ] have no
doubt that better results in government
are obtained from paid officials than
from voluntary oIicials. ! have all the
more reason To bc in favor of this new
method for the reason that have
adopted similar method in the police
force Itself and it has worked we'll
Il have a letter to-day from Assem-
hlyman Greenberg. who IL restless
aoout introducing his bill shall send
him copy of this letter. and II may he
that he will wait until you have care
fully revised his bill or drawn a new
one or II may be- wise for him to in
troduce his bin and have II printed 80
that II may be circulated. In that way
we would get the cooperation of many
others, shall he glad to confer with
your committee further about this
matter and to have IA session with you
in the near future"
Mr., Robinson replied yesterday after
noon, arguing for volunteer COM
mission acting with paid executive,
woh should correspond to the uniformed
head Of the Police Department. Mr.
ltobinson's committee seat to the Mayor
an analysis Of Asscmblyman Green.