New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-12
Evasion of Duty and Contempt
for Complaints Shown in
Report to Aldermen.
OFFENDERS OWN JUDGES
Becker and Other Officers Under
Indictment Would Have Been
Removed Under Proper
System, Says Prober.


plants and lack OF method in the Po-
lice Department are disclosed in a report
prepared by l.. V O'Daniel on the ad-
mnistrative methods of the department
in controlling vice. The findings, sub
mitted TO the Aldermanc Committee OH
Police Investigation by the Bureau Of
| Municipal Research are based upon a
direct examination Of the police files.
under difficulties. and on the evidence
adduced before the Aldermanic commit
tee at the hearings held at City Hall.
For a few days at the beginning OF
the study" says the report. direct ac-
cess TO the files and documents was per-
mitted. After about ten days. however.
this privilege was Withdrawn. Permis-
sion to go into the precinct and inspection
district Offices was also refused. The
documents and records examined. there
fore. were available only on definite re-
QUESTION.
! In addition. members of the Police De-
partment were not permitted To- answer
any questions relative TO their work ex-
cept as they were questioned before the
Aldermanic committee. This made it dit
iicult TO obtain information on many Of
| the details OF procedure. and conse-
quently. to place responsibility definitely,
OF suggest specific remedies for some OF
the defects found"
In spite of these handicaps the investi-
gators examined upward OF 10000 docu-
ments. letters reports. etc, and tabulated
analysed and classified with respect to
the action taken on them over 5000 com
plants.
Reports OF Subordinates Misleading.
In a recapitulation OF its criticism the
report says:
Administrative officials have failed to
use effectively the means for securing and
exercising administrative control Though
IL is essential for the Commissioner TO
have complete and accurate information
concerning existing conditions and the
steps taken IN enforcing the laws, the re-
ports submitted by subordinates have been
inaccurate. incomplete and therefore mis-
leading.
"Patrolmeu. captains aud inspectors
have continually disregarded the rules OF
the department governing the preparation
| and submission OF reports. without ques-
ton or reprimand from superior officers
or administrative officials such indiffer-
ence breeds contemp, FOR all rules
Moreover. through failure to report
accurate and complete reports the Com
missioner loses the opportunity 20 obtain
| regularly the information collected by sew
| eral thousand police officers through FIRST
hand observation Of actual conditions
Complaints from citizens constituting
a most valuable source OF information,
both with respect to conditions AMI TO
the conduct Of subordinates, have been
handled careiessly and with an ind!ffer-
ence amodntng almost 10 contempt Es-
pecially has this been true OF COM
plants accusing police officers OF graft
Ing. none OF which apparently have been
carefully and thoroughly investigated
IT IL not too much 10 say that had the
complaints against Becker and the police
officers now under indictment been
handled with intelligence those guilty
would have been removed from the force.
or at least from responsible positions be-
fore the Rosenthal murder made drastic
action from the outside necessary"
Accused Men Judged Themselves.
The report shows that complaints OF
this character received no more careful
attention than complaints of boys playing
In the streets. unnecessary noises and
similar nuisances" Many of them were
referred 10 the officer accused. thus pre-
sentng the most interesting spectacle OF
a man accused OF crime investigating and
passing judgment upon himself"
! 4 number Of letters from citizens de
| sirable and undesirable. were received
prior To the Rosenthal murder. complains
ing of just those things which were dis
covered 20 be true on investigation fol-
| lowing the murder. These complaints
| specifically accusing Becker II grating.
| were turned over to Becker himself for
investigation by direction OF the Police
| Commissioner.
! Charges OF grating by Sweeney and his
men were turned over 70 Sweeney for in
vestgaton and report. Inspectors Coha-
lane and Lahey are pictured as investi-
gators or graft charges against their own
plainclothes men.
1T is interesting." says the report to
note that practically all the men who
| have fallen under suspicion or who are
now under Indictment as a result of the
graft disclosures by the aldermanic COM
mittee or the District Attorney have been
accused in letters such as the following,
| which need no comment
The report then goes on 10 reprint the
complaints against Becker and his reports
upon them and the other communications
indicated above.
one OF these letters contains informa-
ton later included i'm the testimony of
Mrs. Goode before the aldermanic com
mttee. Another accuses Captain McDer-
mott and Becker OF protecting Dollar
Johns" places on the East Side. Still an
other is the letter to Mayor Gaynor from
Becker's brother-in-law. in which he ac-
cuses the lieutenant Of attempting to as
sault one OF his sisters.
Called Il a Family Row.
This was written on August 9S, 1911.
The Mayor referred IL TO Waldo. who on
September s wrote the Mayor as follows ::
IL have the honor to acknowledge re-
ceipt OF your letter OF september ! inclos-
ing communication concerning Charles
| Becker from his brotehr-in-law. This
seems to be a family row. Becker has
been with me for some time and doing
excellent work"
The report points out the inadequacy OF
the special squads employed under Waldo
TO cover the entire city. and their failure
To devote their energies TO the suppression
of vice.
During the period from August l. 1911.