New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-10
Dillon Succeeds
Schmittberger as
Chief Inspector
He Rose From Ranks and
Has Served 80 Years
Without Scandal

Police Commissioner oods endeu
Yesterday the speculation as to the sue
eessor of Chief Inspector Schmittber-
ger. who died last week, by appointing
10 that Office James E. Dillon, borough
inspector for Brooklyn. Inspector Dill
lon has been acting chief inspector for
more than two months.
He is a native New Yorker and a
Tammany Democrat Of the "Al' Smith
tvpc. He il characterized as - good
cop" by policemen, and has served
thirty-two years in the department, ten
Of them as an inspector, without scan
daL
First a Park Policeman
The new chief inspector in 1885 re-
ceived an appointment TO the park po-
lice. which was then under the juris-
diction Of the Park Department, and
was a source Of petty patronage for the
party in control. He became a mem
Der Of the metropolitan police force
when the park police was merged with
the larger body, and in 1895, when the
police departments Of Brooklyn, Queens
and Staten Island were combined with
that Of Manhattan. he had reached the
rank Of sergeant.
In 1907, four years after he reached
the rank of captain, Chief Dillon passed
the civil service examination for in
spector and was appointed to that rank
He served only few months. wnen he
was reduced TO a captaincy by Com
missioner Bingham after the Commits
sioner had secured the passage Of leg
islation permitting such reduction IN
rank
After Mayor Gsynor had been elected
on Tammany ticket in 1910 Dillon
was reappoirted an inspector, and IN
1911 was assigned as borough Inspector
for BROOKLYN. A few months later
Commissioner Waldo gave him an in
definite leave of absence, without pay
and Mayor Gaynor appointed hum a
DEPUTY Police Commissioner IN charge
cf Brooklyn. The appointment carried
en- increase in salary from S5'oUV 70
$500 a year. y,
The election Of Mayor Mitchell
brought 10 an end Dillon's service as
y civilian in the department, and ne
went back as borough inspector. On
several occasions he served as chlet
INSPECTOR. and when Chief Schmitt-
berger was stricken two months ago
he again received the assignment.
INSPECTOR Dillon was born and reared
in the section of the East Side, just
above Fortv-second Stree, known
years ago as Corcoran's Roost. In
later years. when Jones's Woods was
cleared. his family moved further up
town. He now lives in East Eighty
seventh Street. He is ffty-ive years
old and married.
He is q combination Of the old and
new type Of policeman. He is noted
as two handed fighter Of powerful
thvsiuue. and in his formation and
working out the details Of the Home
Defence League and other difficult as
signments has earned a reputation Of
being one of the brainiest men in the
department.
Under the act passed by the last
Legislature Chief Dillon will have
three assistants. They will be known
as borough inspectors and will be
responsible to the chief for conditions
in their territories.
Inspector Thomas II. Murphy, who
gained some publicity three years ago
by censoring the cabaret shows at Co.
ney Island, will ne in charge Of Brook
Ign and Queens; Inspector John
O'Brien becomes borough inspector for
Manhattan and The Bronx. and In
spcctor Cornelius Cahalare will take
charge Of Richmond, and the headqusr-
ters training school.