Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-13
SURVEY RESULTS PUT
UP TO CITY COUNCIL
CONTINUED From First Pagcl


CONTINUED From First Page1
by the Civic Committee of the Cham
Der OF Commerce, declared that all
records of complaints received by the
department are incomplete. The need
of concise accounts of all complaints,
arrests. disposition of cases, and other
similar information was pointed out
by the following statement:
THE crime conditions of COM
munity are disclosed in the records
of complaints. The success or failure
OF the department officials in the in
vestiation of these complaints is dis
closed by the action taken and the
results obtained. Therefore it will be
seen that the records of complaints
and the action taken upon them con-
stitute the most vital record of po-
ice service, and consequently the
most valuable aid to a wise admin
istration.
Lack Information
Without attemptin gin this brief
memorandum to describe in detail
tne defects of the present system of
records, and the insufficiency of the
records OF the Bureau of Police, it
should be necessary only to recite at
this time that the department is prac-
ucally without detailed information
concerning the personnel. compre-
hensive information concerning the
causes or arrest and complete in
formation such as is necessary in the
management of a police service and
operations and activities of the force.
That these conditions prevail may
pc due TO many reasons, the principals
OF which is of course the constant
chagninS in the personnel of service,
due to the absence of civil service
| protection. Another apparent reason
is the fact that there is not included
in the personnel of the department
at present any person with sufficient
police experience to have developed
comprehensive system of records.
TO say nothing of the apparent alb
sence of a desire to maintain detail
eq Information concerning police con-
dltions. Therefore it Is recommended
that there be appointed a complaint
clerk, or clerk to the Chief of Po-
lice, whose sole and only duties shall
De TO maintain the records of the
Bureau of Police. This clerk shall
serve directly under the Chief and be
gwen police powers. The reason
that the appointment of this clerk is
urged is that he may be present dur
ing the course of the survey to receive
instructions and training from our
representatives firsthand, and at the
same time that the new records are
being installed.
Men Have No Training
IN advising the abolishing of the
detective force, the system of appoint-
ing men nthe force without regard
Tor civil service or previous train
ing is again scored.
The detective force of the no1ice
service consists of one SUPERINTENDENT
OF detectives and four detectives, all of
Whom are selected by the Mayor and
Couhcll without regard for civil SER
vice or without regard for previous
tralning. 1t has been the custom to
! appoint detectives from without the
force, although some of them nree
Vlously had served in the police de-
partment. The ordinance establishing
the position OF superintendent of de-
tecltVes provided that he should be re-
sPonsiDle TO and report directly to
tne Mayor Thus the detective SER
'-oe vas organlzed as separate unit.
NO Need For Superintendent
our observations and study of the
cohultlons in the city and the meth ODDS
ana procedure enforced in the Bureau
oL Follce indicate that four detectives
are suincient to meet the needs of the
community. but there is no logical
need for the city employing a super-,
intendent of detectives to SUPERVISE
me actlVltles of these four men. While
on the other hand, there is every oh
Jectloh' 10 maintaining this branch of
service in force as small as Harris
purgs as separate unit.
Our observations show that the sery-
ice rendered by the superintendent of
uetectives is by no means commensur
nte with the compensation maid. and
mat there is u lack of harmony bc-
Iween the detective service and the
UNIFORM force, which is conductive tn
lhenclency. 1t is therefore recon- :
mended that Council abolish the posi-
tlon OF superintendent of detectives"
To Appoint Clerk Soon
IT is understood that a clerk will be
appolhted as soon as the ordinance
becomes effective when passed finally
Mayor Meals in sending tie resigna-
tlon of Superintendent Windsor to
council, included with it his personal
acceptance, together with renIv
which he made to Windsor. In the
reply he explained that he had de-
cided to abolish the position of super-
lntendent of detectives and stated that
superintendent Windsors knowIedre
OF legal affairs has been a great helm
to the department.
Council postponed action on the
awarding of a policy for worl5men,s
compensation for city employees. and
also on the ordinance increasing real
estate dealers tax.
Assistant City Solicitor E. Bruce
Iaylor was authorized to dispose of
am aafhltuTe from the City Solicitors
office which will not be needed i'm the
new offices in the Kunkel building,
A fine of S25 which was imposed nv
Alderman DeShong on Samuel Fish
man last October was ordered re-
FUNDED upon recommendation of Chief