Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-13
CITY POLICEMEN
LIKELY TO HAVE
E|CHT-HOUR DAY
Commissioner Favor Plan and
Will install it if Appropriation
is Given.
MEANS BETTER SERVICE

From indications, the Wilmington police
force will operate on an elght-hour platoon
system after july |. Definite information to
this effect cannot be secured, but from
various sources there does not seem to he
much doubt that the finance committee
OF City Council and Council itself will
approve the request in that behalf Of the
Board OF Police Commissioners.
1t is known that the financial estimate
Ter the next fiscal year Of the Police Com
1nissioners provides for one schedule for
the l2-hour system. with s226000 re-
duired and another for an elght-hour
schedule. which will require $3.50, 600.
Under the present system, provision Is
made for 9s patrolmen with Sl47 900
needed for their pay. The eight-hour
system will require l25 men, with $751;
500 for their paw. The other changes under
the eight-hour system would he an adj
ditional matron. sergeant, captain and
three detectives
Under present conditions. according 10
reliable authority, the cight-hour system
is impossible. as more money and men are
necessary before such plan can be made
effective II is understood that the Board
OF Police Commissioners look upon the
plan for an eight-hour system with much
favor and that they are doing everything
possible for IT'S adoption.
1t is understood that a petition has
been presented TO the board signed by q
number OF members OF the police force,
asking for more money. The plan 70 ha We
both an eight-huur system and more
money Is not looked upon with much
favor. according to the report, but the plan
Of an eight-hour system alone will meet
With very little objection, ii any II Is said
II was reported in police circles today
that this petition will be withdrawn by
the members Of the department, as q
number Of the men were unaware OF the
plans that were being vigorously pushed
for the adoption OF an elght-hour system
for the Wilmington police force
BETTER SERVICE.
Under the proposed eignt-hour system,
the city would be divided into 20 police
districts. with four patrolmen assigned 70
each district. One man would be on from
s q IN. 10 4 p. N +. another one from 70
midnight and third from midnight until
S a. m. In addition TO this there would be
an additional man on night duty IN each
district, who would work from p m to
4 a m This would give much better
police service than at present.
There would be two new districts
created under the plan, comprising the
Union Park Gardens and Waw8set sec
tions. This provision is made under the
eight-hour plan, while there is 10 new
provision under the l2-hour plan. as a.
present these sections are patrolled by
cycle officers.
II is explained in support Of the eight
hour plan that the force would then be
filled 10 its maximum strength, which
would make it much better for the men
and the department
The adoption Of the budget as pre-
sented by the Board Of Police Commits
sioners and its Incorporation in the general
appropriation ordinance Of Council is the
one thing that will assure an eight-houT
system. One advantage that the members
of the local force have that Is not in
pcration in other cities is that the Police
Department makes provision for the
clothing of the men
The present Council has granted $50
bonus, which was given TO the members
Of the police force Hast Christmas. The
Council previous TO the present body
made two increases for the department.