New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-02
Commissioners Survey of
Inquiry Reveals Glaring
Faults in Detective Bureau
Red Tape and Lack
Of Authority Barred
Investigator Will Urge
Sweeping Changes in Quail
ihcations for Appointment

vision OF detectives and the unWleldy
character of the machinery upon which
the city depends TO reveal crimes and
apprehend criminals arc faults dis
cerned in the Police Department as a
result of one week of public inquiry
into the Cruger case conducted by
Leonard VI. Wallstein, Commissioner
of Accounts. The investigation which
was ordered by Mayor Mitchell a week
ago to-day has besn adjourned by Com
missioner WallstcIn until next Thurs
day morning.
A complete analysis of the police
work in the Cruger case was made yes
terday at the offices of Commissioner
Wallstein. The final report of the
Commissioner, it is believed. will be
largely an amplifcation Of this analy-
sis. supplemented with further recon-
mendations.
Departmental shortcomings in the
case were resolved first, under the
head of negligence and bungling in the
primal inquiry into it. These were
found 10 includes:
Ten Hours Lost at Start.
1. Inexcusable delay in starting an
inquiry into the cause of Ruth Cru
GERS disappearance. Ten hours were
lost, it is pointed out, because of the
failure of Lieutenant William Brown
to report the case until the day after
he had learned she was missing.
2. Entertaining an unjustifiable as
SUMPTION that il was the usual case of
runaway girl, without taking into &C
count circumstances indicating that the
contrary was the truth. These circum-
stances were found to be:
(a) Ruth Cruger was last seen in Coechfs
shop. ., -,
(c) The shop Is located in district topo.
graphically favorable 70 the commission OF
(d1 Helen Cruger's three unsuccessful visits
10 the hop in search Of information.
(e1 Edward Hughes Wards pertinent infor-
nation 90 Deputy Police Commissioner Guy
SOUL ard Captain Aionzo ?. Cooper as 70
Ruths leaving home in house dress ana
with les than a dollar, after having asked
her sister TO accompany her--circum-
stance which preclude the possibility OF
runaway.
testifying to Ruth Crugers good charac-
(sG The fact that Cocchi said the girl went
east from his shop at 20 p. m, whereas
the witnesses Rubin. McCarty and Beach
said the girl they saw went east in taxi
CAT between and p. m. .
(hl Weaknesses IN the taHlea5 story itsed.
ouate. dark hat and dark coat merely be-
ing described. Such apparel Is common at
the season in question.
Cocchi Slipped Through Police
3. Being Iut to the necessity Of con-
Meeting Cocchi's disappearance with
that of Miss Cruger, the willingness OF
the police to explain his absence by
rumors of his domestic infelicity; their
failure TO make a proper search OF his
premises and a proper investigation OF
his previous character; the reliance
placed by the police on the statements
of motorcycle policemen as TO the good
character of Cocchi; their failure to
apprehend him if, as appears TO have
been established, he sailed from New
York on the steamer Giuseppi Verdi,
despite the fact that Detective Edward
Dillon was assigned TO watch the YES
sci.
On the constructive side the analy-
Sis shows that the Police Department
is suffering,
/. Because each detective is law
unto himself and is not properly super
viscd by his superiors. He is checked
I'D only on how much time he spends
and not on what he does with his time
,. Because the reports which detec-
tives submit under existing regulations
are absolutely valueless. They set
forth no facts except those which agree
with and support the pre-conceived no.
tions and theories Of the detective
Even then not all these facts are re-
ported, but many are displaced to make
way for conclusions.
3. Because high salaried lieutenants
do the work Of telephone and ONCE
bows instead Of assisting their captains
in keeDing in touch with criminal cases,
suggesting possible solutions and as
sisting in giving instructions along
lines 70 be followed.
Forty of Forty-three Reports Nalueless
As an example of the general worth
lessness of the Detective Bureau re-
ports submitted by detectives, II was
pointed out that ous of forty-three
such reports on the Cruger case only
three showed that any initiative had
been taken by the men reporting. These
three had done merely the obvious
thing visit and question neigktors Of
Miss Cruger. The others merely had
"flled in the blanks" under the regu-
lations.
Under the head Of Possible Rene
dies" the analysis suggests improve
ment:
/. In the method Of selecting detec-
tiycs. Under the present system can
didates for the Detective Bureau have
70 pass the general examination for
patrolmen, which includes a physical
test. Il is suggested that the physical
tests for detectives be omitted, so that
small men with brains may not be
eliminated by big men without them.
A separate examination for detectives
is therefore suggested. Let candidates
for the bureau be required TO solve
hypothetical cases and let successful
ones be drafted into the Detective Blu
rcau direct
.. A change in the regulations as 20
tho making out Of reports. Too much
reliance is put on forms and Blanks.
Under the present system. the depart
raent rs compiling comparatively use
less statistics, instead Of getting yalu
able information.
g. A change in the duties Of detec-
tiyes which will prevent them serving
IN capacities in which their knowledge
and experience are not properly and
gensibly utilized.
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