The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-17
SPECIAL DUTY OFFICERS.
An Objection to Assigning Old Lieu
tenants to the New Job.

tenants to the New Job.
To THE EDITOR or THE suN--sir. A
few weeks ago the Police Commissioner
made his semi annual report to the
Mayor. 1t contained a good many eco
nomical reforms and showed that he
saved over three-fourths OF a million
dollars. This was. OF course, highly
pleasing and delightful to our frugal
and economical chief executive, whose
watchword IL economy"
There was one item in that report
to which / wish to take exception as
taxpayer. and show to the public how
Its money is being spent. The Commits
sioner stated in his report that he had
assigned sergeants and l!eutenants who
have reached the age OF retirement as
special duty officers" What this duty
In scarcely one in the department knows.
They don't even know themselves. OF
course, according to orders. they are
supposed to visit INDECENT families, way
ward children, &c, and advise them.
Just think OF assigning to this foolish
and unnecessary work about 100 lieu
tenants, whose salary is $2,450 a year
each. or $245,0o0 all told.
Suppose this work is necessary. Are
these men competent to perform It? Alb
solutely no. Most Of them are nearly
fifty years in the Police Department.
Some Of these old men can scarcely
walk. and yet they are expected to climb
stairs and chase after hayward children
1t is my opinion. and have had some
experience in welfare work, that any
person doing work OF this kind, in order
to perform II thoroughly. must have a
social training and education. Above all
others, a policeman Is wholly unfit for
this work. because Of his training and
occupation. His position makes him
naturally scept!cal.
have been interested in police work
for a good many years. / know that
Commissioner Woods in the latter part
Of his administration assigned young
patrolren. who were known as welfare
officers in congested precincts, to look
after hayward children. Those men did
good work because they were young,
| active and energetic. and as conse-
1uence were able to follow up disor-
derby boys and bring them to their
parents. Commissioner Enright revoked
this assignment.
II the Commissioner IL serious about
this work, why did he discontinue the
assignment of those few young patrol
men and instead assign a large num-
Der Of old lieutenants to perform It?
| II is astonishing. because the salary Of
| a lieutenant is nearly twice that of a
patrolman, who is far better able TO
a. ha ka To I'D
more active and more subject to disci-
pline.
Why not assign these old men to desk
| duty II they are able to perform it? II
| not, pension them in accordance with
| the provisions Of the charter. In the
latter case we would save half their
salaries. or s122, 500 year. Why doesn't
| the Mayor. who Is always Boosting of
his great economy, look into this matter
What is the reason OF this uselesa
and extravagant reform? j have been
informed that the reason is that these
| men are members OF the lieutenants' as
| ISOLATION and are known as "stickers,'
that is. they held loyal to the associa-
ton while Mr.. Enright was its president
| during Commissioner Woods's admins
tration. when he (Enright) had fallen
from grace. Therefore. in order prop
| eriy to reward them for their loyalty
| and fealty to him he gave them this
| sinecure. OF in other words pensioned
them with full pay at the expense OF
| the taxpayers.
! Is there any necessity OF having high
salaried police officers doing welfare
work in the outlying precincts Of Brook
| Ign, The Bronx, Queens and Richmond
or in any part Of the city? None what
ever. Are the taxpayers going to stand
for this? 1t is evident that some OF
them have been fooled by his elaborate
| and exaggerated report, because the
Broadway Taxpayers Association SEM
him n letter OF commentator for his
great economical feat
| Should not this important matter be
thoroughly investigated with the view
| Of preventing public servant from
recklessly spending the taxpayers
money in order to ,oblige his former
associates? TAXPAYER.
NEW YORK. September IS.