The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-11-16
POLICE SHAKEUP
DUE ON RETURN
OF GILLESPIE
Commissioner and Inspector
Downey Are Talking Over
Matter" on Trip East
LATTER WILL BECOME
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
Change in Captains Status
Probable and Palmer May
Be Eliminated

Inspector John b. Downey. acting
as superintendent of police until the
announced retirement of his father
Supt. John J. Downey. becomes effec
tive Jan. 1, II accompanying Police
Commissioner Gillespie. Mayor Marx
and the other Detroit junketers, on
their trip to Philadelphia, New York
Baltimore, st. Louis, Chicago. and
other cities, lin search Of pointers,
and It is freely stated that when the
travellers return, 1t will be with q
very definite plan for some big
changes In the Detroit police depart
ment.
That Inspector DUwney will be
made superintendent of police. when
his fathers retirement takes effect. ID
regarded as foregone conclusion
though Commissioner Gillespie has
declined to say what appointment he
will make.
Also, Commissioner Gillespie has
practically announced his intention to
remove all precinct captains. by pro
|moting" them to the rank Of In
|spectors, the real purpose of the move
being to eliminate the police captain,
who Is regarded by the commissioner
as more or less Of q figurehead. with
the lieutenants and sergeants, in
command at the stations, doing the
actual executive work, while the cap.
tain merely overlooks the reports.
Just before leaving for the trip,
Commissioner Gillespie declined to
say whether he would abolish the OF.
fee of precinct captain, the first OF
the year.
I've are going to talk the whole
business over while we are away"
he said. Inspector Downey is going
along. We are going to pay particu-
lar attention TO the police departments
of the various cities-the way they
do things, and the way the depart
ments are organized. can't say just
now that there is any particular plan
for q rumored shake-up In the de-
partment. The whole business will
be talked over while we are away"
That Chief of Detectives Robert 8.
Palmer's job will probably be one OF
the big points Of the talking over
10 taken for granted by those who
know conditions in the local depart
|ment.
inspectors, subordinate to the chief
|of detectives, are In sub-command in
the detective bureau, and have been
for months. That the position OF
chief OF detectives may be eliminated
entirely, when the other police cap
taincies are abolished. il one pos
sibility.
Inspector Downey, now acting gu
perintendent. was q lieutenant Of de.
tectives under command of Chief
Palmer when the Free Lance squad
was organized, Downey. as an inspect
or, being placed in command.
As head Of the free lance squad, In
spector Downey ran that institution
az distinct and separate part OF the
department.
II became the FIRST instance Of a
curtailment Of the authority OF the
chief OF detectives. Inspector Downey
held himself and his squad account.
able only to the commissioner, and
not to the chief OF detectives.
That that attitude was approved by
the commissioner, was indicated when
the latter appointed Inspector Dow
ney as acting superintendent, whom
Supt. Downey retired from. active
duty.
There is q great deal of gossip and
speculation inside the department as
to Just what will be done by the CON-
missioner, on or before Jan. l.. Some
prophecy that Chief Palmer's lob is
safe as long as Gillespie IL commits
sioner. Others declare that II In.
spector Downey Is made superinten-
dent, one of his first efforts would be
TO displace Palmer, either by getting
RID OF the once, or arranging for the
retirement Of Chief Palmer, who has
served 25 years. but has no idea, Mt
present, Of asking for retirement.
That his administration has been
successful n not questioned, as he
has succeeded In working out an ex.
cellent organization, that Is getting
results. The detective bureau II In
better shape today than It has ever
been, which Is realized by the men
themselves. whether they are inclined
to give credit to their chief, or not.
There are two inspectorships In the
detective bureau to be filled, In ad.
dition to the other changes that win
result from the retirement of some of
the older ranking Officers of the de-
partment, and the probable shift If
captains.
Inspector Downey's position will be
vacant II he Is made superintendent
and Inspector Bert B. Highs retire
ment. left another place that IL be-
,ng filled by different detectives, act
ing AZ inspectors while on duty dur
Ing the eight-hour SHIFT.