Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Report Says Present system OF Di,cl-
plinr Among: Patrol
men IL Poor.

In some ways. the control over APP
puin,memts and promotions appears to
be the most important matter in con-
:cction with the mama cement OF the
HIS. III this summary of recommends
lions. All appointments to the Police
and Fire Departments should be made
only as til. result OF Il competitive civil
service examination. The chief should
be selected rs Il result OF a competitive
civil service promotional cNaminat ion
arbitrary removal. he should be given
the right of an appeal TO court of
record upon dismissal.
The police force appears 10 he large
enough at present. and by rea-rangc-
mcnt of patrol posts and the abolish
ment Of special details. the number or
men available for patro! can be in
creased materially.
All promotions in tho Police and
Fire Departments should he made only
from one rank 10 the next as 4 result
tests.
THE Mayor should be given power
jhr Police Department who. after scrr-
ing proba tionary period OF six
months. is deemed unit for the service,
and no appeal should be allowed TO
dismissed probationary policemen.
Instead OF having a physician en-
ploycd on a fee basis. the position of
and Fire Departments should be estab-
i!shcd and the law should require that
appointment to this position he made
only a. result o. competitive civil
AS a disciplinary Office. ~. depart
H.ent physician should not have any
business relations whatever with mem
hers of the Police and Fire Depart
:ncIis or their families. and the MEM
h.rs OF til" force should not be re-
CURED TO make any contribution to-
1.-THE maintenance of 4 separate po-
lice station in the annexed section
iino"n as the South side was REQUIRED
for Ave Years b. the annexation agree
mcu- T%cn;y-four members Of the
department are detailed thereto. u is
questioned whether the law requires
mat this Scbaratc force he maintained
for longer than five years after annex
alton. Whether the law requires this
or not. il should not be continued and
'he Law should be amended !f AN
anne niincnt IL necessary. The territory
now included in this district should he
made "a part Of III" first police district.
: peculiar practice is followed III
the Police Court Of allowing policemen
TO request, Tn" dismissal OF their cases
and he discharge of prisoners. This
practice has teen abused. to judge from
The record Of the past year. and is on
ihnt OPENS the way TO the most serious
/ irrcs iIarity. The Mayor and the chief
reviewing the results obtained by the
policemen in the prosecution OF their
cases. and the Mayor sl.ould strictly
prohibit the members Of the force from
plants they lave made.
Pollen it~rOIn me nda ions.
Recommendations are made for the
Police Department as follows: That
thc members Of the force be given
proper training fOr their work. and
that for this purpos" there he cstab-
I !l.hed police school OF instruction.
THAT III" SchDoi be used 10 dctc-mina
I fitness Tor police duty well as for
& instruction of the force. ana that the
course Of instruction include train
ing Tor detective acr"i"". That mem
/ b"rs nf the force be provided with
printed Instructions az to procedure In
{ hrmicid. cDscs. That the shield worn
/ ~ scrEeants be Of different design
/ frr:l those worn by p5trolincn. That
~ fpcl Hs The city ~ financially able.
All uniforms aud equipment OF police
men anJ h'cin"n h" furnished without
! cost 20 IN" men. and that provision
+ 10" mad" for the purchase Of uniforms
ana equipment under contract That
I an f'yplN"ih he Cnrricd in "a holster
"a M oipHs" instead Of the hip pocket.
I 'Ihai . such time the statute is
h n.ii, nH"d al details 10. courts. be re-
/ F@iN"d. That the details Of the tclc-
!. phone operators and the policemen
4 nov hcrylng as CLERKS be revoked and
. rlNlil"hs Employed in their place. That
/ t"c IhiIn District be placed under the
| C"ihHanh OF sergeant. and the force
tcduced 10 Nh rtccn. pending: The amend
! ..H'ht - "" Law permitting the hb"li.
| Won Of uiis district. That the cap
| ,ain in charge OF the Third District
| u" assigned 10 Lcadqu8rtcrs as night
| '"p'"W' JUat the practice Of detailing
| q policeman TO Forest IiiiI Park be
lh' harH h~ required 10 furniah their
D"n b"iif"hen. That the chief bc re-
/ rh'r'h 10 make "a complete census aud
Stupy oi every block IN the city, and