The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-14
ABBOTT is NAMED
sold. ABB Is Made Plain
Clothes Man.
Tim Donovan, Terror OF the
Thugs, Is Another.
THERE WILL BE MOTOR COPS
Chief Parsons Will Select
Young Men for job.
Bert Richardson Is Sworn In as
Patrol Driver.
THERE WILL BE MOTOR COPS

First steps in reorganizing the To-
peka police department were taken
| today when Spencer A Abbott ana
Tim Donovan, better known as Ser
geant Tim, were appointed plain
clothes men on the force by Harvey
Parsons, chief. and Jay e. House.
mayor, and Chief Parsons announced
that two motorcycle policemen would
be added to the department in snort
time. Still another addition to the
force was made when Bert Rlchard-
son was sworn in driver of the po-
lice automobile.
Abbott is an ex-ball player and is
well known in Topeka He Will as
sumo his new duties Immediately. Tim
Donovan has been for the most part
of the last thirty years connected with
the police department. 1t IS expected
that another plain clothes man Will
be appointed SOON Finances of the
city provide for four. During the Cot
ran administration this number was
sliced to one.
The budget covering the annual ex-
pense of the police department pro
vides for the salaries of two motor
cycle cops and for the purchase OF
two motorcycles at cost OF $500
each. Appointments for the TWO places
will be made soon.
One Of the motor cops will serve
on the day shift and the other on the
night. 1t is the plan of the new chief
to keep one of the men at the station
in readiness to answer calls at mo-
ment's notice.
Will Name Young Men.
Chief Parsons stated this morning
that it was his intention to give the
appointments to young men between
the ages of 25 and 80. The machines
which will be purchased will be two
seated and the applicants for the job
must be heavy enough to mold the
machine down" and carry man be
hind him. Applicants must also be
competent to do clearical work at the
station, as this will be one of the
duties of the motor cops while not out
on calls.
For several months, since c. B.
Arthur was injured, when his motor
cycle collided with an auto near the
station, the department has been
without a regular motor cop. Since
that time G. e. Richards has been
filling the position at various inter-
walls.
Prior to today the department has
for the police auto Charles Lytle, |
while on the force as city detective,
acted driver.
Following Lytle's resignation to be
come assistant marshal in the court |
of Topeka Sergeant Lon Sauls has
been driving the tin lizzie" as the |
police car has been dubbed. Owing |
to the fact that Sauls is stationed at |
the station during one shift. the de- |
partment has been seriously handicap |
ped in answering calls that require |
number of officers. The appointment |
H1CnarQSOn as OrlVeT Solves ILLS
problem
Veteran Tim Donovan.
Another valuable addition was made |
to the department Tuesday evening |
when Tim Donovan. better known as |
Sergeant Tim, was appointed plain
clothes man by Chief Parsons and
Mayor House. For the best part of
thirty years prior to 1907 Donovan
was connected with the Topeka de-
partment. Appointed a patrolman
in 1886, he served through many adj
and was regarded as
one of the necessary units of the thin
blue line. He was appointed captain
IN 1893 under the metropolitan SyS-
lem and was appointed chief in 1905
and served in that capacity during the
administration of Mayor w. H. Davis.
w hen he left, disposed of by political
means, he was later connected with
he court of Topeka and served in the
santa Fe special service department..
Donovan received his appointment at
o'clock Tuesday evening and went
o work Immediately. He was not APP
pointed to displace anyone but as an
addition to the plain clothes depart
nent.
Chief Parsons is endeavoring to
build the department into a criminal
machine as efficient as pos
'ible with the material that he has to
work on. He went into Office quietly
Monday morning, and unlike chiefs of
previous administrations did not sum-
non the reporters for interview en-
titled My Policy as Chief of Police"
Make own bet