New-York tribune., 1917-12-28
Police Head, in Final Re-
port, Reviewing Work
of the Force
Politics Driven
From Department
Detective Bureau and Mo-
raIe Improved; Urges
Better Salaries

on the eve Of retiring from inc Ciiy
administration, Police Commissioner
Arthur Woods, in an official report OF
the accomplishments of his administra-
tion sent yesterday 20 Mayor Mitchell
serves notice on Tammany Hall Of what
New York will demand from the ineom-
ing director Of police affairs.
Some Of Mr.. Woods's major achieve
ments appear in the report only by IN
ference. When he took hold Of the de-
partment. almost four years ago, the
Rosenthal murder and the Harlem IN
spectors' graft scandals had robbed II
Of public confidence. MIR. Woods at
tackled one obstacle after another until
bo brought about public realization
that il was wrong to condemn the whole
department for the errors Of a few.
commissioner Woods's difficulties
were not confined TO the public. He
fought a powerful organization OF rank
ing police officers which had been re-
snopsiblc for the wreckng Of more
than one police administration, and so
complete was his victory that the Or
eanization to-day, for the first time IN
twenty-five years, has no influence III
the affairs Of the department.
Drove Politics Out
This he accomplished by driving pol
;,ics from the management Of the de-
rsrtment. In his report to the Mayor
Nr Woods points out that on the day
he assumed office he issued an order
n the department wiplng out the 'ol-
Gcial channels" system OF patron iilc 90
reaching the CCmmsslcEef' anu ~
etructed the men that be was "iiilHG az
anv time to have them come 70 ,-i ii.I'' @ lol
q conference on any SUBJECT inns y" 40
lC'r'.r,. q" tbe commissioner states, 10
cot tho sound. ambitious, ana eHlCieHI
6ody NEEDED TO successfully prevent
crime, maintain law ana oTder ana p-O
tect life and property. -,-..
Rufeted about for years, the play
tbi~os of civilian commissioners, the
rolice shied 1T Noods's offer TO cN-
rb.rCc condolences. But when men IN
fucrtial in other administrations were
ccurteously but determincdly rebuied
b,- ,bc Woods administration, the men
realized the offer had been made. ID
rood faith. Only a week ago, IN Ihi-
adeipbia. Commissioner Woods IN
nubic address stated that not one
transfer or one detail had been granted
as the result Of outside influence.
Commissioner Woods's second step
in reorgauizing the department was the
establishing Of cabinet made up oi
fac and tho IN
spectors. with q meeting every week
TO discuss new plans and old.
"These meetings were most valu-
able" the Commissioners report states.
"Thc inspectors are ranking officers Of
the uniformed force and are practical
policemen Of long and varied expert
enee. Their judgment is invaluable
when any new theory is being consid-
cred. and if il survives their examina-
tion it has stood the acid test"
Urges Better Salaries
The Commissioners report makes a
Plea for legislation that will permit a
wider discretion on the part Of the
head Of the department i'm making pro-
motions and rewarding good police
work other than the personal bravery
awards which now Gre considered by
the AlNll tNNINilF ANiIIiIllNr rINII ll l0k4lE
policemen seeking a higher grade. He
pleads, too, for better salaries for COM
manding officers in the department. and
points out that he has succeeded in
securing the increases, which he char
acterizes as being inadequate.
Mayor-elect Hylan recently attacked
the merit system as encouraging police
men TO make unnecessary arrests in
order 20 improve their records. While
not referring 20 the Hylan statement,
the report states that the need of some
system Of providing for the recording
Of efficient, as well as inefficient, po-
lice work had long been recognized in
the Police Department. As result of
this need careful study had been given
20 the preparation Of merit and demerit
schedules, accompanied by rules and
regulations that would prohibit merit
earning as the result of oyerzcalous-
ness, or the awarding OF merits or
charging Of dement's because of the
personal likes or dislikes on the mart
Of superior officers.
"Ihe system is as vet bv no means
perfect the report states. "Vc ne
lieve, however, tina. at least q PROMISING
start mas been made toward evolving "a
plan by which the good work Of a no.
hceman shall be automatically reflected
IN his record, thereby making n pos
slb.e 70 promote q man on the basie ~
ms actual day-by-day work. instead of
by the result OF outside Civil Service
examinations, which have proved about
as successful in putting the best mon
near the top Of The list as drawing lots
would be- ''''
Detective Bureau Improved
ln discussing the Detective Bureau
Commissioner Woods points 10 the elirn.
inatloa OF the precinct unit idea ~
favor Of the branch bureau system. IA,
establishing Of a homicide squad. whicf
Keeps one man at Headquarters az al
times Tor The purpose of arriving earl
at the scene OF murder 20 preserv,
ait evidence; the organizing OF the miss
ing persons and unidentified dead bu
rcaus, and the forming Of spcc.a
squads Of experts 90 handle crime o.
all character There has also beer
established "a bureau % criminal iden
tiheauon, replacing the old Rogues' Gal
lery system.
During the administration. Commis
sioner Woods states, there has been ,
steady decline in the number Of homi
cideS. In 1913 there were PCS; inl9l4
2i4; IN 1915, 222, and In 1916. lS6. Al
other branches Of detective work hay,
met with similar success, the repor
shows.
Gangsters and gunner are PRACTICAL,
extinct, the report shows. due. Nj
Woods believes, 90 putting the work o
rounding them UP IN the hands Of mel
who weIe familiar with their tactics.