South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-03
Mayor Keller an dSafety Board
Name Kerr, Shock, Bunker
and KueSpert as Heads of
Police Department.
WILL CARRY OUT ALL
CAMP PAIGN PROMISES
New Officials Insist That They
Stand Ready to Make Good
on Program Beginning Next
Monday.

Frederick Killiam Keller, mayor;
Burr f. Augustine, John A. Hibberd
and Clement SmogOr. members of the
board Of public safety; Millard i.
Kerr, chief of police; John Kuespert,
chief of detectives, and Guy l..
Bunker and James +. Schock, police
captains-upOn these men fall the
responsibility for carrying out the
most vital of the campaign promises
made by the mayor-elect and citizens
party in the fall campaign.
Appointment of Chief Bunker ana
Sergeant SchOck to captaincies, and
former Patrolman Kuespert as chief
of detectives was admitted Saturday
by Burr +. Augustine, president OF
the board of safety, the decision 10
make the appointments having been
reached Friday afternoon.
Kuespert succeeds William cas-
sidy, at the head of the detective
force, the latter to go on the street
as a plain clothes man.
Schock's appointment is in a sense
a promotion as it places him in po-
sitiOn of Semi-asSistant chief while
that Of Chief Bunker is a one-notch
reduction in rank, due TO the ap-
pointment of Millard L. Kerr as the
department head.
Under the present regime, all be-
low the chief, assistant chief ana
chief of detectives, are sergeaEts
patrolmen and plain clothes men,
oaptaincies in a sense being a crea-
ton of the new board, next to the
chief The Office Of assistant chief is
to be abolished, the captains acting
i'm that capacity when the chief is
absent.
Present Asst Chief Joseph Chapel
will probably be made a desk ser
geant.
Will Call Old Men Inside.
Captains Bunker and Schock are to
alternate, by periods, as night ana
day officials and with the aid of the
sergeants, take charge OF the stfeet
forces. 1t is understood that a
number of the older men who have
been doing patrol duty outside for
years, are later to be called in and
given some of the inside work, while
some of the younger men VINO nave
been working inside will have to go
out on the street.
Definite plans in this regard, nave
not, however. been made, and IL the
suggestion is carried out 1t will PROB
ably come BY degrees.
The appointments Friday virtually
complete the reorganization OF the
police department by the new board.
1t is understood that the cleaning-up
OF the city is to begin almost imme-
diately upon the new administration
being mustered into office Monday
noon.
Chief Is In Full Charge.
Chief Kerr is to have full sway
over the police department, subject,
of course to the rules laid down by
the board, and general announce
ment of policy. There will be no
going over his head to the mayor or
members of the safety board by the
members of the force. All orders are
to come from the chief. To be sure,
board, on account of grievances
against the chief will be permissible.
but the board will not be allowed to
step in and disOrganize the force by
giving direct orders.
With regard to policy. this will
probably be announced after Office Is
assumed. 1t is understood. how
ever, that all gambling dens, and
gambling devices, no difference how
insignificant, Will have to go; that the
saloons must close and keep closed,
after the hours appointed by law;
that all prostitutes must leave the
city or suffer arrest If caught plying
their trade here.
1t is expected that public warning
will be served upon the VlolatorS OF
the law against whom the policy is
directed, that they may get within
the line Of obedience if they wish.
and save themselves the trouble
promised 10 eDure If the law VIOLA
tions are continued.
There will be no compromise on
this law enforcement program" is
the declaration of Mayor-elect
Keller. Men who obey the law need
have no fear, but the chronic violator
must go"
The policy outlined by the mayor
elect during his campaign will be the
policy of the board in police mat
ters." declares Pres. Augustine of the
board of safety.
Chief Kerr appears TO be of a
similar frame of mind, but wlthholds
his declarations until the orders of
the mayor and board OF safety have
been officially delivered.
The safety board plans TO take up
the further reorganization of the fire
department early next week, and also
the appointment Of a city electrician
or the turning Of that department
over 10 the Indiana inspection bu-
reau. which is still a matter Of con-
temptation.