The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-24
LEAGUE GIVES WAY
TO POLICE RESERVE
Proposed BY Commissioner
Estrfght.

New York. Feb. 2s.-Reorganiza-
ton of the old home defense lea que
into regiments and brigndes of a
mobile reserve police force TO aid the
regular police in disasters or other
emergencies was proposed by Police
Commissioner Enright at a. meeting
OF 500 commissioned officers of the
league at police headquarters last
night. The officers aoquiesced in tho
proposed plan for a mor effective
force n voted to change the name
TO the New York reserve police force.
In beginning the outline of his
plans for q better reserve police force.
Commissioner EnriEht said mat he
wished to deny ~"faIacious reports''
that he was opposed to a plan for
enrolling civilians in q reserve body
to aid the police. He said he believed
such a force would be necessary IN
any great disaster. when the regular
police force were called TO n sec
ton of the city. and that regiments
ana brfgades OF trained reserves
would be needed to cooperate with
units OF soldiers and police in keep
ing order. The commissioner said he
wished to see this force trained TO q
higher state of efficiency than the
old regiments of the national guard
and ready In units for the same serv-
Ice in any part of the city.
The commissioner said that In
apeotor John F.. Dwyer. who had been
appointed by the department. TO make
y report upon the condition Of train
Ing and efficiency In the home de-
FENCE league, had said that the unit
was 'fn a ianguishing state" The
commissions said that he wished to
receive plans and suggestions from
the members of the reserve fercN for
the reorga nization, because he thought
that the IDEAS Of the men upon train
ing and duties would be essential to
the efficiency Of the force One OF
HIS proposals was that a board OF
control, composed Of a number OF
commissioned officers OF the reserve
force, with perhaps a smaller mum
her of inspectors and commissioners
from the regular police department
should undertake plans for reor-
ganiEing the reserve and perhaps con
tinue in the command OF the new orr
Rsnixa ton. His plan was approved
by the meeting, but the number of
men on the board and the OF
choosing them WAS not decided.
II this board of control found K
I'm posstbIe 70 form the scattered unita
into brtgades the commissioner said
he thought the present battalion for
nation ought 10 be expanded at least
into regiments, and that the present
grade of major IN the commissioned
force ought TO be raised at least 20
colonel. He said he believed thai the
smaller units ought TO have adequate
drill in close order formation so that
they could be combined easily into
larger units. and that the larger units
should have sufficient drill IN the ar
mories Of the national guard hat
they would have the discipline and
mobility q an army regiment No
periods for drill were given. bu the
commissioner said he thought that
drills ought 10 be. frequent
A set OF plans for the cooperation
n the reserves with the regular 20
lice and the army regiments on guard
IN the city and stationed IN the forts
near the city ought TO he formulated,
the comm missioner said. and he added
that the military authorities had
pointed out that plans for any erner
gency ought to be formed. no there
would be no confusion II there was
need for large bodies Of armed men
in the ~protAction OF the city or In po-
licing IT in a disaSt er. He added thai
h believed the larger bodies OF re-
serves could be utilized at Erea ter
speed than smaller units II need arose,
- Commissioner Enrlght said ne
thought all who lacked the interest
or the time TO attend drills and In
struction ought to be dropped from
active duty. ia the interest OF ~efficien-
cy. He said the effectiveness OF the
reserves, II there was ever need 10
call them out In units. would depend
upon discipline and confidence be-
tween men and officers that could he
gained only through drfll, He said
the reserves ought to know more tina n
10 appear at q rendezvous in an
emergency.
Mounted units should he recruited
and maintained at fun efficiency. 80
that they could do more than particf-
pate In the annual parade, the com
missioner said. He safd also that he
favored the organization of a unit OF
men between nineteen and twenty
eight years who might wish to take
the examinations for regular service
in the police department. He said he
favored allowing theas men to take
over all extra police beats when
only a few men were needed, so that
they could receive the training thai
would enable them to pass their po-
lice examinations. In all other units
the e for enlistment should be be-
tween eighteen ana forty-fve. except
that some OF the higher officers might
be older. the commissioner said. CUES.
tons Of the amount OF payment dur
ing service, insurance for physical
disability sustained in active service.
limit of numbers, and other problems
should be considered by the board OF
control In the work OF reorganization,
Observation-Disclosures T-pr{chf concluded