New-York tribune., 1920-12-19
Police Commissioner. in
Letter to Mayor, Admits
Lawlessness and Failure
of Force to Meet Crisis
Returns TO W oods's
System of Patrol
900 More Uniformed
Men, so Detectives. 35
Auto Squads Assigned

Police Commissioner Enright in a
letter to Mayor Hylan admitted yes
terday that a crime wave existed in
New York and tacitly confessed that
he had erred in abolishing much of the
system which contributed to the sue
cess of his predecessor, Arthur Woods
The Commissioner in his letter said
that he had inaugurated twelve extra
precautions to meet the present situa-
ton; that he had appealed to the dis
trict attorneys and judges to use
harsher methods with men arrested for
violent crimes and that he felt GER
tain newspapers were attacking him at
this time in order ,s embarrass the
work Of the police.
Some Of the methods used bv
Woods and abandoned by Enright only
to be revived in the present emer-
gency are (1) the touring of the city
by trained detectives in autos at night
seeking dangerous criminals; (2) re-
organization of the patrol system, so
as to increase the patrol force by 500
men, bringing it up to the standard
OF the last administration: CD send
ing detectives on patrol in infested
DISTRICTS; {4) holding up all suspicious
looking automobiles by detectives and
patrolmeu; (5) increasing the detec-
tive force by fifty to bring it up to
the strength Of the Woods administra-
ton.
Says Newspapers Embarrass Him
Nh. Enright said that certain news
papers were concentrating in an en-
parrasslng attack on his department.
He also said that he had requested the
district attorneys and judges to hold
prisoners charged with vicious crimes
in high bail so as to prevent their i'm
mediate return TO black jaching, rob
bing, etc.
Mr. Enrights statement in full fol-
lows:
December 10, 1920.
Honorable John f. Hylan, MayoN
the City of New York. City Hall,
New York City.
MY Dear Mr.. Mayor: | have the
honor 20 report to you precautions
which have been taken to cope with
crime conditions confronting The peo-
pie OF this city:
Il. Thrty-fve automobiles have
oeen secured. and many Of the most
experienced detectives in the depart
ment have been organized into an
Emergency Auto Squad to aid in hunt
ing down the desperate criminals who
are attempting to operate in this city.
2. Detectives will travel through
out the city on day and night patrol.
on foot and in automobiles. WORKING
in cooperation with members Of the
uniformed force 6
SO. have ordered all men or vaca-
ton to return to duty.
"a. Officers in various precincts
have been requested to do an extra
tour IN uniform or in plain clothes
alter their regular tours of patrol.
Reserves Are Called
-. Special Deputy Police Commits
sioner Wanamaker, in charge Of the
police reserves, has been requested TO
have as many members Of the police
reserves as possible report for duty on
the streets in uniform for day and
night tours.
'G. Pending the delivery of eighty
motorcycles, with sidecars. for which
funds were recently granted bv the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment
motorcycle men have been directed to
keep up an intensive patrol in all parts
of the city.
-. Police inspectors and captains
have been ordered to remain on active
(Continued on rexf page