The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-08

enough sergeants To supervise the IA
troiDien. and three additional SER
geahts should be appointed from the
ranks of the patrolmen The mum
Der of sergeants on patrol should he
increased also by transferring the
plain CLOTHES sergeants In the third
district TO active patrol duty. A rule
should he adopted requiring uniforms
TO be completely buttoned when worn.
and prohibiting smoking while in uni@
form.
one Of the most effective ways Of
obtaining better service and increas-
ing the interest OF the members Of
the force in their work is through a
beard Of honor Such board should
be established and should award an
nually medals to the policemen and
firemen performing the most notable
acts Of bravery and to those as well
who have made the best suggestion
during the yenr for the Improvement
OF the departments. The members Of
the force should he graded on the
basis OF efficiency according to a sys-
TEN Of merits ard dement's. and those
having the gre Attest number Of m artts
should be marked accordingly in pro-
motional examiuAtiols
"As a disciplinary officer, the de-
partment physician should not have
any business relations whatever with
members Of the polite or fire depart
ment or their families, and the mem
bers of the force should not be re-
quired TO make any contribution TO.
wards his salary.
Ffhe maintenance OF separate po-
lice station in the annexed section
known as the South side was required
fer five years by the annexation
arrr1re1.,t Fpt,,. r1ay4l hafs Of
the department are detailed thereto.
Z Is uestoned whether the law re-
quires thar this separate force be
maintained Cor longer than FIVE years
after annexation Whether the law
requires this or not. II should not
be continued and the law should be
amended If an amendment is neces-
sary. The territory now included IN
this district should be made a part
OF the first police district.
A peculiar practice is followed in
the police court of allowing police
men 20 request the dismissal of their
cases and the discharge of prisoners.
~ is practice has been abused, to
Judge from the record of the past
year, and is one that opens the way
to the nos' serious irregularity. The
mayor and the chief should exercise
the greatest care in reviewing the re-
suits obtained By the policemen In
the prosecution of their cases and the
mayor should strictly prohibit the
mem bers OF the force from request
ing a dismissal of tire complaints they
have made.
Police School of instruction Recon-
mcpded,
That the members of the force be
given proper training for their work
and that for this purpose there be
established a police school OF instruc-
ton
That the school he used to deter
mine fitness for police duty as we'll
as for instruction of the force, and
that the course OF instruction include
training for detective service;
That members OF the force be pro-
vided with printed instructions as to
procedure in homicide cases.
Uniforms.
That the shield worn by sergeants
be of a different design from those
ttvertf-h-~ parretrTlc-1:
That as soon as the city is hnan~
eially able all uniforms and equip
ment of policemen and flremen be
furnished without cost to the men and
that pr DIVISION be made for the pur-
chase o. uniforms and equipment I'M
der contract;
That all revolvers be carried In q
; holster in the blouse instead OF the
= hip pocket.
special Details 10 Be Revoked,
"That at such time as the statute
is amended all details to courts be
revoked,
) That the details of the telephone
operators and the policemen now serv-
: ing as clerks be revoked and civilians
/ employed In their place
third district Tlare1
= under the command of a sergeant
t and the forces reduced TO thirteen
pending the amendment Of the law
permitting the abolition of this dis
trict;
That the captain in charge OF the
Third district be assigned to head
, quarters as night captain
That the practice OF detailing a po-
, liceman to Forest I'm Park be dis
: continued and that the owners of the
park be required to furnish their owr
policemen.
Reapportionmcnt of Patrol Posts
That the chief be required to make
a complete census and study of every
block in the city ana that as a result
! of this study a reapportionment OF
! the patrol posts be made;
( That circular patrol posts be aban'
, doncd and straight avenue and side
= street posts be substituted.
! That police patrol booths be estah-
/ llshed in the suburban and restden'
tlal sections and that mounted and
! foot patrols be abandoned -
t That an immediate reapportionmeni
of the patrol posts on Broad street
J he nj ade and the new posts established
on a straight way basis
That the number OF men assigned
= to patrol Broad street be greatly re.
lduced;
= That the superintendent of the sig
. nal service be instructed to plan for
, and furnish an estimate as to the cost
9 OF installing fashlight signals through
out the city.
Special Patrolmen.
/ That the method Of appointing spe
cial patrolmen be revised so as tc
provide that they will he required &c
> furnish a bond TO the city, wear g
uniform OF a design established by
: the department which should be off
I ferent from that of the regular ser
= Vice, report regularly to the chief OF
police, be under his supervision and
- appointed only upon his recommends
ton.
Traffic Control
That the officer in charge of traffic
be regularly promoted TO the ranh
Of sergeant and paid the salary OF tht
: sergeant
That the sergeant in charge OF traf