The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-04
Present Methods Absurd, De.
clares w. g. Tandy.
Would Have Motorcycles fol
Practically Entire Force.
MODEL ON FIRE DEPARTMENT
Keep Policemen In Readiness at
All Fire Stations.
Could Then BE Found and
Used Quickly When Needed.

w. G. Tandy. city commissioners
would motorize the entire police force
To him the idea Of policemen patroling
, .bseat" seems absurd. He believes
police force should be p; termed after
| the methods used by city fire depart
ment.
I'VE do rot have firen.en out patrol
! ing the streets looking for fires,
says Tandy. Instead, we have the
firemen stationed at different places
over the city prepared to rush with all
possible speed to wherever they may De
needed There is no delay in getting
in touch with the fire department The
| people know where the fire stations are
| located, and imagine anyone telephon-
| ing to a fire station that his mouse ID
burning. ald receiving reply tnat
| there are TO firemen available at the
time, but that the man at the fire sta
ton thinks he will be able to get in
| touch with one when lie calls up In
: fifteen minutes.
I such a thing would not be tolerated
a day, but to me the present police
methods are no less absurd. Time is
Just as Important to the police In run
ming down the guilty when crimes are
committed as getting to the scene OF a
fire quickly is important in arreStinS
the flames. There are many instances
F., in which persons have telephoned to
police headquarters either that hOld-ups
had just been committed OF that criml-
nails of different kinds were at the time
plying their trades.
In North Topeka a short time ago a
| thief was locked up in the pantry of a
house and the police notified. 1t was
nearly an hour before a policeman ar
rived. The thief had. of course, es-
/ capped.
| Experience of His Own.
Il discovered one night that my own
| l~ I'd v<,a HnYx
phoned the police Immediately. The
night jailor answered the telephone. He
told me he was sorry. but that at the
time he was the only officer at the
station and could no, send anyone un-
til some policeman walking beat
might call him up. Until some police
man 'phoned in he could send no aid
Finally two policemen were located.
They walke'l out tc my residence in the
| southwest part Of the city. The burglar
might have been in my house when we
returned home and discovered what had
taken place, but of course, by the time
the officers arrived the fellow could
have been miles away.
Under the present arrangement some
policemen ore walking beats which are
q mile square. One patrolman has all
west OF Kansas avenue and south OF
Huntoon street as his territory. 1t is
ar easy matter for a criminal to learn
in which pert of this large territory
the officer will be at given time and
to take advantage OF this knowledge
but what chances has a person living
in this area, and who does not make q
business of studying the officers move
ments, to locate him when he wants
him in a hurry?
Few policemen should have walking
beats. Kansas avenue should be pa
trCled and men should be stationed at
| the railroad depots. The rest would
have motorcycles, and they would not
all have their headquarters at Fifth and
| Jackson streets
Il would have two with their motor
| cycles located at each fire station over
the city and it would be their business
to remain at these station where they
could be found and sent quickly wher-
ever and whenever they might be
needed, just as firemen are held in
| readiness.
! Thoro ora fiftv ipAononAonf omar