New Britain herald., 1917-03-24
0!n1''''Hj , 1''' ! I 'opicI's

1!l opiH 1opics Even though they do not care to ! bind themselves at this time to the I National Guard, army or navy, or even the Home Guard which obligateS Ia member for service within the con- lines of the state. the New Britain | City Guard, the military company within the Rifle clubs offers an sxcel-s lent opportunity for the men o8 the city who profess their patriotism and love of home. It also opens an actual l field for the numerous patriotic orders from which members could be re- cruited to the City Guard. The aims. ambitions and plans of the New Brit ain City Guard are too we'll known to need much in the way of explanation. i Briefly, 1t isT a. private military or ganization, bound. by no oaths to state or federal government and submissive | only to the city administra atton In pro- | It will be in reality . suDeTnunnorary police force with military powers in New Britain should any emerSenfy occur with which the regularly Z, Ap- pointed officers could not cope. ia MA 1t is called upon to do nothing more than drilf it will yet be a great benedt to the members for a. knowledge Of military drills in these days.1s almost necessary for every man: When 1t Is understood that the men will be fur nished unifoEuls, guns and ammunt- ton free of charge and that the only duty they are, sworn to do is to pro tect the city, their own homes as 1t were, 1t is plain to see that this is absolutely theTgleast that any red blooded, patriotic citizen can do for his city, state and nation. And In kj0ining this company it is underst6Od Ethat his status relative. to military Heduey &or the federal government, s4s EndE ehangeds one bit from that of the prfyate citizen who does not bsl0ng. ! It As q xoon move and similar one Is raining. sreat strength in Watsr-
 bury. {. x. Col Tlaompson's fervent plea AtstlD council meeting Wednesday nlghk kt4 business be hurried along tk might 90 home. while unusuxF and comical, was nevertheless heartily in accord with the personal ,feelinGs sof
 each man present. sl'yis VA ses&
 On April. i william J. Rawlings, ck1ief of police, will start upon his |edghteenth year as head of the po- lice departRents In this city.Sx si1 significant to note that the present incum bent has held office longer than any of his predscassorss 1t Is also Isnoteworthy that the Dntest police cases In the cits,s hove oc- cured during htp e 5 and admitted that tp had M tatialice and moral uprist 1Sness ls due the fact that Now lrt tGin s n, ss morally, the clean city .skilat 1t is Dlis city is no Utopia, but compared with other cities throughout the country it's morals are shown to be very good. This Is because the police depart ment has enectually nipped in the bud all attempts to fiagrantly transgress
 The appointment of Chief Rawlings came on March 20, 1900, but he. did not take office until the first of the following month. He. Is the fifth man who has served the city as chief of police. A. w. Whitaker was the first incumbent. He was followed by A. w. Spaulding who resigned to .beL come sherin of Hartford s4 county. Washington l.. Morgan then served for ten years and at his death Chief
 Johnson took up the reins He re-
 signed after about seven years o1
 service. At that time the police de- partment was in a, state of chaos and
 following a sensational npheaval Chief Rawlings. was named. At that l time the late Captain Patrick Leo was
 an active member Of the force, but
 he steadfastly refused to permit his
 friends to even mention his name as
 candidate Detective Sergeant
 samuel, Bamforth was groomed at the
 tune by some of his friends for. the posation, but made no aggressive f1Rht
 Tor the ohice and on Chief RawlinRs'
 appointment assured him Of his loyal
 ty. When the present chief took of-
 ice in 1900 the day patrol force con ! sasted or one man who strolled about
 the center of the city. The entire de-
 pertinent consisted of but dozen
 men, including the chief himself. In
 those days It was the custom for the I chief To LOCK up the police station dur I Ing the noon hour while he went home
 to dinner. It became apparent, how ever, that the noon hossr was one of
 the most important and soon Chief
 Rawlings secured twdaday policemen
 and threw away the Headquarters key,
 Since then the police station has
 never been closed. Then began the
 long light for additional policemen
 For several yearsg two officers were
 added annually. Then none were ap.
 pointed, but finally the departmen,
 has been increased until. at present fl
 numbers ffty-two regulars and forty
 three supernumeraries.
 During his seventeen years of ser. vice Chief Rawlings has seen ssafety