Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-14
STNCLE-HEADED
7 POLICE SUCCESS
Boston Force Taken From
Politics by Method
/. Rotan Urges
(. WANTS SYSTEM HERE
: Legislature Aiming at General
= Purpose Pending at
Harrisburg
WANTS SYSTEM HERE

), A single-headed metropolitan police
: force, such as advocated by District At
= torney Rotan. has taken Boston's police
out of politics, made them independent
/. of leaders. more attentive TO their duties
and given them a pride in service that
has gone far toward making the force
the best in the country
: After many years in close touch with
Philadelphia policemen and the political
y system responsible for their appoint
ment, Mr.. Rotan and Others associated
with him have reached the conclusion
that a metropolitan force headed by
commissioner or chief would help Phil
adelpha.
Conditions almost similar to those
existing here forced legislative action
IN Massachusetts back in 1905. At that
time the police were active in politics.
had organizations of their own and owed
their positions and promotions to poll
tical leaders
The appointment of a commissioner
with full authority TO make all rules, ap-
point trial board which he, on occa-
sion, could overrule. appoint his own
superintendent, employ his own office
force, etc, caused a change which Bos-
tonians point to with pride.
Governor Appoints Commissioners
The Boston commissioners are APP
pointed by the Governor and this plan
is believed to be one that could be put
into effect here by legislative enact
ment at the present session. District
Attorney Rotan is not alone in his
advocacy of a. metropolitan force, indc.
vendent of politics and under central
ipower. Several measures, ostensibly to
take the police out of politics. have al
= ready come to light at Harrisburg.
There is no division of opinion in
Boston as to the practicabilty of a
gngle--headed police commission. The
department has been conducted with en-
tire absence of scandal or OF public
criticism.
The system has had remarkable sue
ecsses because the man who put it in
operation, Stephen O'Meara, who died
recently ruled with justice. lie was
appointed commissioner by the late
Governor Curtis Guild, and the police
system was changed from a board OF
three commissioners at the Governor
suggestion.
In 1873 an act was passed establish
ing a board of police commissioners
three in number appointed by the Mayor
and confirmed by the City Council In
1906 the number was reduced to one and
the Governor given appointive power
At one time Boston was regarded as the
most severely political city in the coun-
try. with the possible exception OF New
York. Politics governed everything IL
city affairs. The police department was
dominated by men in political faVor
men got into the police department OF
the merest pretext of fitness. CRIME
was rampant.
When Commissioner OMeara tool
n Office he let it be known that every pa
Ntrolman and superior officer would stant
ON HIS own merits. All promotions
would be made according to his owl
Judgment, and were not to be influenced
by any outside agencies. In the ole
days of the board of three, policemen
often engaged counsel to prosecute theil
claims before the board, or to stimulate
a movement through political friends fo
promotions. Commissioner O'Meara wal
little troubled.
Promotion Based on Personal Fitness
Promotions were based on civil service
examinations and by personal assess
ment of the candidates abilities. Tn
commissioner would get all availabl
facts OF a candidate, weigh them care
fully and then see for himself, by con
versatlon, what ability the maj
possessed Few promotions were eve
criticized.
The police department rules, as pre-
mulgated by Police COMMISSIONS
OMeara and assented to thus far b.
Police Commissioner Edwin u, Curtis
have worked with general satisfaction
They had for their main object, nat
urally the establishment of discipline
which had been sadly lacking.
Nobody who has not lived in Bosto
under the old and the new dispense
tions can appreciate what the rules i
their strict compliance has meant I
the police force. There are compare
lively few complaints against police
men for brusque treatment to the pub
lie. whereas in the old days complain,
were many. Police captains have bee
specially. careful In bringing up the r,
cruit to impress upon him the necessit
of obeying that rule. When there wei
violations that reached the commits
sioner's ear he would usually read til
yiolators lecture, warn them of POI
sible penalties and advise them to adol
esssa = different attitude.