New-York tribune., 1920-12-04

with its attendant fine Of from one to
ten days pay.
But more alarming, from the patrol
mans standpoint, is the announcement
by Acting Commissioner Leach that
Chlef Inspector Lahey and staff IF
meH have been out for a week study
ing conditions on the late, or Mid
night, tour. To the patrolman, this is
return to the dreaded "shoo-f1y" sys-
tenn of checking the men on their posts.
One night this week Lahcy was IN a
Brooklyn precinct. 1t was raining
heaViiy. Every man in the precinct
mad from two to four posts tc cover.
Lahey kept circulating in the precinct
until daylight, keeping tabs on the
men. One man who had four posts to
cover was accosted three times in two
hours by the chief inspector in three
different parts Of his hfteen-block post
and questioned as to his name, number
and the length Of his post.
Veriticatlon of the patrolmen's opin-
ion that the "shoo-fy" system has been
revived was furnished yesterday by
Acting Commissioner Leach when he
appeared before the Board of Estimate.
He asked for the transfer of $50 900
/ department accruals to be used for the
( purchase of side-car motorcycles for
/ supervising lieutenants.
Cars Answer Two Purposes
He was asked if the motorcycles
would be used by the lieutenants for
patrol duty, and replied in the atlirma-
tive. When he was asked if they would
be used to check all tours he said he
could not say until Commissioner En-
right returned. He said he knew they
would be used a great deal at night
and as often. as possible during the
day.
With sde-car motorcycle it will be
necessary to have man who can drive
such machine. The driver will
answer 4 twofod purpose-that of
carting the lieutenant about the pre-
cinct and of furnishing the corrobora-
tion necessary to convict a patrolman
Of not properly covering his post. That
I IS, according to patrolmen, the "shoo-
fly" system with a vengeance.
But despite all these things the men
have proved their mcttle in emer-
gencies.
On Thanksgiving, for example, de-
spite the fact that their number should
/ have been double, the l54 men assigned
to the Sim Fem riot at the Union
Club worked fast and efficiently. 1t
took them less than an hour to break
up the rioting mob, scattering them
IN all directions, and to restore Fifth
Avenue to its usual aspect.
Evidence of the work of the police
is shown in the record that not one
of the rioters was hurt severely. In
fact there was nothing for the am
/ bulance surgeons who answered the
riot call to do. This despite the fact
that here and there over territory
of two blocks were scattered the brass
buttons torn from uniform overcoats,
indicating that the crowd gave the po-
Ncemen d hard fight.
Perform Duty Faithfully
Still another example Of the faith
fulncss Of the average patlolman is
the patience with which they per-
formed their duty during the weeks Of
thc recent g. K. r. strike. Patrolmcn
from Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten
Island and Queens worked day after
( day with only enough time off to get
a change of linen and a bite to eat.
They lost their regular days off and
some of them were compelled to cancel
their vacations. But there WAS prac-
tcally no protest even when they
were compelled to 90 twelve and ff-
teen hours Of active duty in all kinds
Of weather on station platforms, on
The front or rear Of cars unprotected
from the elements.
What these men, the rank and file
Of the department. think Of the men in
authority is clearly indicated in the
following interviews with patrolmen
and detectives obtained by The Tribune
reporters. For obvious reasons the
names cannot be used. These inter
views we're obtained in the Hcadquar-
ters district:
A patrolman-I think Enrght knows
his job, but Lahey bullics his men and
they do only just what they have to.
What The Tribune said about I.ahey is
on the level.
A detective scrgeant-Enright is q
good Commissioner as far rs the uni
! formed men are concerned. but what
ne md Lahey have done TO the Detec-
tive Bureau IL fierce. We can't see
Lahey at all, but we can't make a holler
+ because he'd get square by Bhifting US
10 Staten Island or some other place.
A detective Let met tcl you that
Lahey and Enright have lot to cx-
plain for what they've done TO the bu-
r~nu. They are going TO have a sweet
job making people believe that shelving
lnspectorn Gray and Faurot Former
heads Of The bureau and nov Deputy
Comminnionsrs) want politics. Why.
Ciay and Faurot have nothing 10 do
now. They come here to headquarters.
report, sign couple oY papers and
then 20 homenbout an hours work
II The Tribune sticks hard enough It
can get tho real dope. but you know 1t