The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-04
MIR. TURNER KNOWS WHAT HE IS ABOUT IN POLICE DEPARTMENT Has Systematized Matters at Headquarters-Individual
 Record of Each Officer MANY DIFFICULTIES
 WERE IN HIS PATH
Has Given Proof of His Ingenuity in Avoiding 12-Hour Shift-Justice and Mercy Predominating
 Characteristics of Inspector
By ALLEN J. KREBs. JR.


 The improvement in the police depart Turner has been at the helm is very po- ticeable. Despite the fact that he has the smallest police and detective depart ment in the entire United States in pro- portion to the population he has whipped the men into shape and through his steadfast determination to make effi- ciency the watchword he has been able to drive his men at the topmost speed and in this way accomplish results hitherto un- thought of
 The Birmingham police department con- sists of 132 men, including detectives. plain clothes men and patrolmen The population of Birmingham according to the basis arrived at by the new directory, Is approaching 100000 This means that there is one man and small fraction to each 2O0O inhabitants. Nearly every city in the country has from two to three and in some instances four policemen to the the thousand. When one takes into con- sideration the crime record of Jefferson county. which exceeds in proportion the crime record of any state in the union.
 
 may be able to conceive the magnitude of Inspector Turner's job.
 Individual Record
 In the past week the police department has made classified list of all the men in the employ of the department, which is the official dope sheet" on the record of each individual. The weight. heighth. length Of service, age, ana record are all written down in plain English. Inspec- tor Turner can sit at his desk and direct his whole department. He has merely systematized and regulated the depart ment to the point where he knows how he stands at any point in the game.
 Perry Turner has demonstrated the fact that he is a big man. He sees and acts in such manner as proves there is no smallness in his make up. He has demon strated above all things that he has the nerve of an ancient gladiator. When he sees fit to reprimand a man in his charge he does it. When he issues an order he means it. and if it isn't carried out, some- body will be in bad. And that is the req son why he is loved by the men who work under him. Of course, he has his enemies. like all men who are worth while. but none of them are capable of bothering him in the least. He does as he sees fit, and lets the rest of the proposition take care of itself
 Probably no other man has ever entered upon a new Job. with such difficulties al was in the way of the present inspector of police To begin with, the committee of 100 recommended big cut in the al ready pitifully small department, and also recommended that the remainder of the men be put to work on a 12-hour shift in- stead of an elght-hour shift. This was the first time Inspector Turner had a n ho y,pn to icnla 1,t sx,n n.,i& sure that the little force that he would have left after the knife had been ap- piled would be incapactated by 50 per cent in the event they had to stand on their feet for 12 continuous hours The result was that he got busy and figured out a method whereby the men would only have to work eight hours for six days and 12 hours once every week. rhis method gave him the extra men he would need on duty and accomplished the same results, with more efficiency, than ,he plan of 12-hour shift
 It was then that the populace and es- pecialy his men commenced to sit up and take notice. They realized that the com missioners had picked out a real man to head their department and that Perry Turner, although he had never been taught the rudiments of police work. knew what he was about and had the nerve to do what he knew to be best.
 Cops Were Fearful
 The writer recalls a great many com ments made by the older men in the de- partment when they understood that the youthful judge was to head their Apartments. What does he know about a police department?" "I wonder how long he will experiment with us?" and Gee. but he Is a young fellow to be given this job" These and many other were expressed by the men, But they did not say them with venor.. they were merely voicing their opinions In an honest way. The Birmingham public can remember distinctly a great many Experiments with the police de- partment," and the last experiment, which called for chief of detectives, was adjudged by all as dismal and horrible failure
 Perry Turner Ia in his carly thirties. l but in years of experience and actual fife he may be judged as an old man. He has lived, by living. I mean that he nas seen the various sides of life in all 1 their glamour and sordidness and while | ne was seeing this grim old life. this young man was taking 1t all in. Noth- | ng escaped his keen mind, he took note | ,f everything. Endowed with a bril- | liant mind, keen, analytical sense of | observation. and big healthy streak l ,f mercy running through his whole | makeup, he rounded out into a man of | nature judgment with a sacred sense of ] ustice. and an understanding and for