The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-05
Chief BURGESS WICFIELD
SUGGESTS IMPROVEMENTS
In Annual Message Suggestions Are
Made How to Secure More Efficiency
of Police Force-Special Cell for
Female Prisoners Recommended

the local borough Council was the an
nual message of Chief Burgess Wigfeld,
which was read last evening and which
contains some very practical suggestions
10 the home lawmakers for the better
ment of the local police system, i'm
provement of the borough lookup from
sanitary point of view and the install
lation of special cell for female pris-
oners only. The message is as follows:
The police department, | am pleased
to report, has shown some improvem
during the year. Forty-six (46) arrests
were made. have conducted forty-four
(44) hearings during the year. The
fines and costs accruing from the same
amounting to $3.50, were collected. Of
this amount $1S.05 was paid out as
witness fees and costs and the balance,
amounting to S63.25, was turned over
TO the Borough Secretary. License fees
during the year amounted to S337 and
pole licenses amounted to $443.75 max.
ing total of $S62.0o turned into the
Borough Secretary by this department
During the year the desk sergeant
responded to forty-seven (47) calls. In
some cases the call was responded to
IN as low as one minute and in no case
was it over ten minutes. During the wear
the various officers lost time aggregat-
ing $50 days.
"This great loss of time shows de-
ploralble condition of affairs and. mas
much as there is no substitution when
an officer is off duty, it shows that part
of the town was without police protec-
tion for that length of time.
AS remedy for this, 1 would rec
ommend that one special policeman be
appointed by Council from each ward
of the borough. / would suggest that
these special police be selected from the
members of the fire patrol, inasmuch as
these men now have police power. |
make this suggestion, too. because these
men already have uniforms which would
be appropriate for police duty. These
special police should be appointed to
dill demands made by the public for
special occasions.
base my reasons for the above
request on the argument that during the
year there has been times when the en-.
Tire Patrollng force has been engaged
on special duty at entertainments, etc.
leaving the borough without any police
protection, other than the officer in the
central station. Furthermore, if we have
need for six patrolmen for one night we
have need for six patrolmen 365 nights
of the year and there should be sub
strtute when patrolmen are off duty.
trust that Council will soon an
point a desk officer, as was promised
about year ago, so that the night ser
geant can be placed back on his former
duties. This is very essential
- would f,,r+bo.
cell be fitted UP in the lookup for the
accommodation of females, as condi,
mons there now are unsanitary and in
humane. We must not forget that the
Offenders in our lookup are not convicts
merely awaiting trial-and l think
more suitable place should be fitted
out especially for the weaker SEX
~ trust that these recommendations
Will be given due consideration and
acted upon as soon as possible by Coun.
ELL ,.. Oo'"
viii Act on Suggestions
The recommendations made by Bur
CESS Wlgheld will be considered bv
Council at later meeting. Progress
was made ON the removal of snow from
the borough streets occupied by the
tracks of the Harrisburg Railways
company when it was decided to charge
half the cost of the removal to the
traction company, the other half to be
borne by the borough. A resolution TO
this effect will be presented at the next
meeting of Council. Councilman Wag.
enbach, OF the Third ward, fathered the
snow removal proposition last winter.
hut 1T slumbered in committee until last
month, when the Third ward Council.
man had 1t resurreeted and favorablv
acted on
The annual statement of the Dor.
ough's finances shows balance in the
borough treasury on December 81,
1914, of s13,221.12, with $4,000 ad
ditional in bank drawing per cent.
interest The receipts for the year
1914 were S216,2S6.22 and the ex.
penditures amounted to $211.146.01:
The report of the annual inventory
showed the value of the borough's prop
erty to be $331,064.56.
Bids of 900 feet of fire hose were
awarded to the Eureka Fire Hose Manu-.
featuring Company at s1.1O per foot
Board of Health Appropriation
An appropriation Of $2,400 was
made to furnish operating expenses for
the Board OF Health in 1915, this
amount being the same as that made
for 1914.
The fire companies received the same