The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-06
NEED MORE POLICEMEN
. TO GUARD NEW TERRITORY
Chief Werner Advocates tho Use OF
Automobiles for Sub
urban Beats.
PROTECTION IS GUARANTEED
Annexation Decree Does Not Bind
City TO Specific Number of Officers.
but Says II Shall Give Police and
Firc Protection.

The fact that Judge a. a. Capmbelrs
recent annexation decree made no spe-
cial mention Of provision for the police
and fire projections OF the annexed ter
ritory. but merely stated that adequate
protection should be provided by SEN
TENDER /. has caused some speculation
a s to the means to be taken by the two
departments toward carrying out the
terms of the decree.
No arrangements have been made by
either department.. and 1t is yet Il mat
ter of uncertainty as to whether the
new territory Will be divided into addi-
tional police districts or arranged to
become part of those already In use.
The Fire Department will maintain a
house in Ginter Park equal to that pro-
vidcd by the town, according to the
decree.
one of the considerations which will
play an important part In the police
districting OF the new territory liz the
fact that the force is already thought
to he insufficient properly to patrol the
territory of the city.
In the consolidation decree OF 1910.
when Manchester became part Of
Richmond. IL was specified exactly
what additions should be made to the
police force TO care for the new terri
tory. and these additions were accord
ingly made. Ten men were added al
the time and the Third Precinct Sta
ton was opened on the Southsidc. The
general force has since been enlarged
by the addition of twenty-five men.
SUDURBS MAY ASK
FOR GUARANTEE;
Citizens Of the suburbs are said 10 be
planning to have II. NJ. Smith. Jr.. who
aided llenrico County in it's fight
against annexation, ask Judge Camp
bell to insert in the final decree ex-
actly what additions arc to be made to
the police and fire forces.
Major Louis Werner said last night
that he had already begun to consider
the proposition. and at the present time
was OF the opinion that the most elf
cicnt means of patrolling the additional
sixteen miles would be by means Of an
automobile patrol. lie said that the
method had been tested I'm other cities
and had been found to be very salts
factory. The chief said lie advocated
a wagon which would allow the officer
in charge 10 bring his prisoner imme-
diately to tho station, the Second sta
ton, and return to his beat with less
than half an hours loss of time. II is
said that the trip from the suburbs to
the station-house can be made by au-
tomobile In about fifteen minutes
In giving his reason for advocating
the use OF automobiles, Major Werner
said:
ITO establish 4 station in the north
ern suburbs would mean that cap
tain. three scrgcants and the corps of
patrclmen would be necessary. With
the present force this would mean "A
great hardship on the men. and l fear
would be impracticablc. X man on Il
beat cannot patrol more than flve
miles a day. The mounted officer
makes ten and the man equipped with
greatest ease. This. with the fact that
the territory to be partoled will be
Increased just 1913 per cent. convinces
me that the automobile is the logical
solution of the proposition
There seems TO be no doubt but that
tho police force is In need of addi-
ttonal men for the protection of the
Greater Richmond, which will result:
from the annexation, and il is be-
iicved that the new men will be added
At an early time. When these addi-
tons are made. officials of the depart
mcnt VIII advocate that several moro
men be added to police Headquarters
force. to handle the mass of business
which daily comes there. and 10 give
the public adequate service
Under the present conditions, with "A
force of eight men it Is necessary that
TWO or them remain ut headquart ars
during the first half OF the night. one
- ''A'.' e"IIS ana the otncr to re-
main In the office for emergency cases
This means that the men are forced
10 40 on an average of fourteen to
sixteen hours OF work each day One
or the solutions. which Is being adyo-
Gated is the installation OF Il house
sergeant. who will remain on duty In
the office throughout the night, and
thus leave the detective on duty free
10 respond to calls and work on the
many cases which demand the atten-
ton OF tho officers at night
The question of securing additiono,
men viii be taken up by the Board OF
Police Commissioners a s soon as il has
been decided whether there Is to bo
an appeal and whether the anneyafion
Will become effective on September /
as proposed.
DlCTAPHONE RECORDS