Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-31
REVIEW OF HIS
WORK GIVEN BY
FITzSIMMONS
Commissioner Tenders General Re-
port 81 Department Of Public
Health and Safety.
nv WILLIAM II. FITZsmMONs.

lIOmmisstoner OF RUNE h'
and Safety.
AT the general election held in
AurI AZ which time the members OF
.ihe present city commission were
elected. the proposition providing
Tor the board Of fire and police
rommissioners was adopted. Con.
seouentlv one OF the first acts OF
4 The new commission was 10 appoint
member OF this board. who serve
without compensation. Edward
. Bauersfeld, John H. Pender and r.
j Mueller were duly appointed by
. The city council and after organiz-
ing and drafting bylaws and rules
. FOR the two departments. eXamina-
/ lions for various positions on the
. police force we're held. Thomas
/ COZ was chosen chief. a. he was
noxt IN line for promotion after
n the resignation % former Chief
Miller.
All applicants for positions on
4 to ere and police departments
. must successfully pass n physical
and mental examination before the
hoard 81 Ere and police commits
sioners 80 that all applicants have
An equal chance for appointment
4 and the departments are no longer
I Allied by political friends. Efhcien-
cy rather than favoritism Is now
. the trademark Of these depart
msnts aa the following resume will
show
Another duty Of the board Of IRE
and police commissioners iE TO re-
tire on a pension Of One-halt OF
their salary at time of retirement,
arv member OF either department
who has served 20 years Three
members OF the police force. PM
Miller. Dave Fitzgerald and Dennis
\ McCarty. had served their required
time and were placed on the pen
sion list Two members OF the FIRE
department, George W. Newberry
and Peter Fry we're already draw
ing pensions under the provisions
OF the iiromen's pension fund law.
and these pensions are still being
paid.
Police Department.
There are 20 members in the po-
lice department under command OF
Chief Of Police COX. Thefe should
be more. as our city has expanded
greatly in the past few years in ter
rltory and population, while the
police force has not increased in
equal proportion. But great credit
II due the department for the work
e has done during the past year,
considering its handicap from point
OF numbers. Salaries have been
Increased to a living wage COM
mensuratc with the present high
cost OF living. thus Gripping the
department from u financial stand
point Fines and fees collected in
police court amounted to S21 ,5S1.S5
N and the chief OF police turned In
si,307C0 in dog tax. The total dis.
bursements OF the department from
Dec. I. 1918, to Dec. l. 1919, were
S33.t72.75.
A number of improvements have
been made at the police station. A
private office was bullt and, furnish
cd for the chief Of police. and tbs
old rooms used by this official
which were anything but private
have been fitted up into room,
where attorneys may consult will
their clients. The entire interio
was cleaned and renovated ant
presents a much better appearance
but nevertheless the present quar-
ters are far from adequate and sat
isfactory. The garage was enlarg
nd and a workshop installed unde
the able supervision Of tho newl.
appointed mechanic, Dave DeSmet
who repairs all city cars. thus saw
ing the several departments severa
times HIS salary In expense.
The city ambulance was founl
90 be untitled for further service a
such and arrangements were mad
by the council with the Knox un
IN dertaking establishment 10 tax
over the city ambulance service
This IL the practice In PRACTICAL
all cities They have purchased
$1,000 up-to-the-minute ambulance
complete I'm all details and e wen
ia service Dec. 10, All ambulanC
calls In the future will be handle
by this concern.
The chief OF police will subm
n report, which will cover all d.
tails OF his department. Arrest
made. amount OF hnes and fees co
lected. amount Of property recoN
cred. etc.
Fire Department.
Under the able direction Of Fir
Chief August Schmidt. our Gepar
ment consists OF 80 men. divide
into six companies. During the lai
year OF the former administratio
Il was deemed expedient to clio:
two stations. Nos. and 5. The.
stations were reopcned at the b,
ginning of this administration an
fully manned. All stations wei
given thorough cleaning and tv
stations were redecorated. Son
slight improvements were made
the various houses and equipmei
are In first class shape.
A REQ truck was purchased ar
the body OF the horse drawn no,
and chemical wagon at station n
was set on the chassis. making
first class fire truck for a small e
penditure. At tho present time q
old Kissel kar ambulance Is beiT
torn down and the body OF u
horse drawn hose and chemic
wagon NJ station No. will be pla
ed on this chassis and first ella
motor will he ready for service
this station In that portion OF Il
city which was formerly Seal
about Jan. 15
The heavy horse drawn hook al