New-York tribune., 1921-04-07
Enrigg g hit Asks
ForlOOOMen
'ToFiigghtRu1n
Commissioner Requests
500, 900 to Obtain
Evidence of Violations
of the New State Laws

Police Commissioner Richard E. En-
right has requested the Board of Esti-
mate to provide an appropriation for
1000 additional patrolmen, whose serv-
ices will be necessary, he asserts, to
enforce the new state prohibition law
A letter to the board, written on Tues
day, was made public by the Commits
sioner yesterday. 1t also asks that an
appropriation of 100000 be added to
the contingent fund of the Police De-
partment to cover the expense of OBJ
tanning evidence for the enforcement
of the dry law for the balance of
1921.
The Police Commissioner spent yes
terday studying the Mullan-Gage laws,
which make him responsible for dry
in New York City, and pre-
pairing orders for all the members of
the department. In the morning he
held a long conference with twenty
four police inspectors of Greater New
York City and last night announced the
establishment of special prohibition
squad of thirty detectives under the
chief inspector and the assignment of
ten additional plainclothes men to the
staff Of each inspector.
VIII Enforce Law
The Commissioner said that the
order creating the first special police
for prohibition enforcement
means the transfer of more than 200
men from the ranks to plain clothes
duty. There are twenty-five inspec-
after, will have twenty-five instead of
fifteen men under his personal super
vision.
The Police Department is going to
enforce the new prohibition law liter
ally, at least until we get definite
decision on it," Commissioner Enright
said.
"There have been forty or more court
opinions on the old liquor laws and
about forty regarding the Volstead
law. We may also expect good many
on the new excise law. but in the mean
time we are going ahead to enforce it,"
"A synopsis of the new laws several
thousand words in length was issued
over the signature of the Police Com
missioner late yesterday for study by
the members of the force. 1t is pref
aced by the statement that "the duty
OF enforcing these laws within the
City Of New York is hereby imposed
upon each and every member Of the
Police Department." At the same time
the Commissioner made the following
statement, which explained the depart
ment's attitude in the past:
under opinions rendered by compe-
tent authority, including several
Judges of state and Federal courts,
the police departments throughout
the country were not chargeable with
any possibilities for the enforce
mcnt of the Federal prohibition law
known as the Volstead act, but the new
law fixes responsibility upon peace off,
GERS of this state, including the police
force of this city
while this is the law of the land
this city will efficiently perform their
full duty"
Revokes Gaynor Rules
The Police Commissioner announced
the revocation of police regulation 141
and paragraphs "a" and "b" Of regula-
tion 139. These are known i'm the de-
partment as "the old Gaynor rules"
They forbid policeman in uniform
a saloon, directing him to OBJ
serve violations of the excise law from
outside the saloon and file all informa-
tion given him with the District At
torney. These rules were also known
as "the outward order and decency
rules" They are completely abolished
and patrolmen are instructed to enter
saloons and make summary arrests in
every case where violation of the dry
law is brought to their attention.
Revocation Of these rules, it is said,
also gives the Police Department bet
ter control over gambling and dis
orderly conditions
The Commissioners orders are in
scribed General Orders No. H." and
include a chapter on Special duties
of commanding officers" Part of these
instructions to precinct commanders
are:
Commanding officers will prepare
and forward on the first and sixteenth
of each month to the Police Commits
CONTINUED on page four)