Evening journal., 1914-04-08
Continued From First Page.


trials are conducted by the Commits
sion, and certainly are not conducted
IN manner calculated to impress the
defendants with the. seriousness OF
tho tribunal and Of the charge pre-
ferred. Even IN those cases where
trials have been held the verdict rem
dered and the punishments when in
ficted we're such as to indicate that
the Commissioners we're lacking In
appreciation OF the gravity Of the Of
fences Of which the offenders had
been found guilty Leniency in the
matter OF punishment seems to have
been the dominating spirit.
Charges IN some OF these cases
we're based on the failure of the mem
bers Of the force to report promptly
at the specified time from signal
boxes; for being asleep on their
beats and other offenses OF equal
gravity
"Thc punishmcnts imposed in these
cases were absolutely not in Keeping
with the charges. when such charges are
enalyzed as TO their significance TO the
public.
.l'or a policeman to neglect TO report
promptly must not be considered lightly
81 rs II rIIANI OININis III IiuIiN IT,. u
q most serious oilensc.
During the time he neglected TO re-
port there may have been some impor-
tant duty for him to perform or there
may have been an important message
70 be sent him from the police station.
A policeman who sleeps upon his beat
is n menace to tho public. A policeman
who become. intoxicated on duty is un-
HaI Of off
show wilful and deliberate disregard Of
orders and Indifference TO the rcsponsi-
bilitv OF the duties
In some of The cases tried by the
board the charges were sustained
months ago. but punishment, while dc.
served has never been inflicted.
The Commission Withholds from the
chief of police authority 70 suspend
subordinate or to iuilict punishment. cN-
oept IN rare instances. This Is an cvi-
dcncc OF the cncroachment by the Conn
mission upon the duties OF an executive
officer. II Is serious obstacle TO the
success of the chief of police. and d.
rect hindrancc to him in affecting disci.
pliuo and obedience TO duty on the part
OF subordinatcs
This is especially true in view OF
the fact that he IL accountable for tine
appearance. discipline and demcanor OF
his subordinatcs.'
Under the heading OF chief Of police,
Mr.. Taylor saws;
II find that this officer hps been a
member ct your department for more
than twenty-five years. Previous 10 his
appointment 10 his present position he
served IN the various ranks of the SER
vice. Tie therefore had had that police
experience which cannot be- obtained In
any other manner and which is 80 es-
scntial 10 efficiency. The Investigation
discovered 20 me that hc is proficient in
knowledge Of the duties of his Office.
Under your system Of police service
be- has cndeaVored TO give the best SER
vice possible. lie is the nominal head
of the executive branch of the police
department. but he has been but little
more. Some of the. duties for which he
has been held responsible have been as
foreign to his Office as they could pos
gihly be-
Chief Must Be Head.
"Thc chief Of police must be the ac-
tunl active. executive head and COM
manding officer of a police department.
He must be all of this without shadow
Of doubt as 90 his authority. Restric-
tion of the scope of the executive by the
administrators of the police department
Heakcns his authority and effectiveness.
"four system is such that the chief
Of police has no authority TO suspend a
subordinate except in rare instances. lie
has no authority TO impose fine upon
member Of the department without a
trial
''1hc chief OF police is without the au-
thority q changing a policeman from a
district OF a beat. This restriction is
placed upon him apparently without
thought that the reason or cause for
making such a change may be serious
or important
"Thc department has no detective SER
vice and virtually no special policeman
servicc For a chief of police TO BE- re-
quired 70 do clerical work which is
imposed upon your chief Of police, and
70 require him to personally make in
,i.stigations in rather trivial and petty
affairs investigations which he should
direct and perform through special po'
lccmcn or detcctiycsl. Is certainly IN
tericrine with the proper service in his
Office.
Executive ability rs the most valued
service IN the commercial world today.
and this is The ability which should be
demanded OF the chief of police. II is "A
comparatively easy matter 20 place upon
The chief OF police those duties which
arc strictly executive in character and
10 hold him 10 a strict accountability IN
for rigid performance OF those duties
"Iherc Is much IN the police scryic,
u hich might have been rcmcdicd by th,
chief and he should be condemned fOl
failure in those matters ~ IL We're not
for the fact that me has been required
10 perform duties which consumed tim'
and prevented the performance Of duties
actually important 20 his position.
"a chief OF police who is qualified 4
ill such an Office. and capably iil tn
post OF an executive head, has suilicicn
10 keep him busy.
Lack Of Cooperation.
"Thcre is a lack Of co-operation be
tween the chief OF police and some mem
bers Of the force. A force dividel
rather than force of public safety. Au
thority should be placed in the hand
OF the chief of police which would max
such a condition impossible.
"An executive head properly support
cd By the administrative branch shoul
make dissension within the ranks in
possible All that is necessary TO pr,
vent development OF anything but M
swerving loyalty and obedience on II
part OF a subordinate force is for III
chief the executive head of the fore
10 be clothed with such authority thl
ia case Of necessity he can infict sue
discipline as 70 make those responsib
81
ordinate 10 the authority OF the exccl
4ive and that IA IL a Serious matter