New-York tribune., 1921-03-10
Special Park Policemen
Permanent Force Needed, Says Or
Hornaday, to Curb Vandalism


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In his desire to promote en-
actment by the Legislature that will
provide special park police force for
the parks of the City of New YORK
Commissioner Harman is endeavoriag
to render this city an important public
service which at this moment it great
" needs. His action touches mighty
sore spot in our municipal system All
those who think that this idea repre-
sents grab for patronage are greatly
mistaken, and any persistence in shat
idea is detrimental to the interests Of
the parks of greater New York.
1t was two years ago that Park Com
missioner Hennessy of the Bronx first
proposed that an organized effort
should be made to secure a special park
police force. I indorsed and encour-
aged this idea to the very utmost, and
when Commissioner Hennessy finally
brought it before the Park Board !
was invited to attend all the meetings
st which it was considered. The need
Of such force was so perfectly appar-
cnt that not one voice was raised
against it, and the Park Board was a
unit in agreeing that such force was
necessary, highly desirable and must
be secured If possible.
The enormous difficulty in now pro-
tecting the parks Of the city from the
vandals who would desecrate and de-
stroy them is thoroughly well known.
not only to all park officials, police
captains and park policemen, but to 4
million or more Of the ts.t citizens Of
greater New York. 1t l., 'dle to bring
forward proof of this -ssertion, he
cause the newspapers have brought it
forward and printed it again and aga;n
The police force is now inadequate for
The protection of the city outside Of
he parks, and in view of the demands
o. traffic, the hold-up industry, the
crime wave and other police-consum-
ing activities it is utterly impossible
for the city TO supply those major de-
nlands and at the same time afford tbe
parks enough policemen TO protee.
them as they should be protected. No
police captain ever was more friendly
to park than Captain levers, Of this
precinct, is to the Geological Park, but
1t is utterly beyond his power to pro-
vide US on Saturdays and Sundays the
half dozen policemen that are needed
70 control the crowds that visit this
park and violate the rules of good or
Ger.
The interests Of the parks Of New
York demand a special park police
force. The idea, as it was finally
wrought out and put before Mayor
Hylan and Commissioner Enright, was
l.-dorsed by both OF them, and then the
bill drafted by Commissioner Hennessy
vas introduced at Albany. Unfor-
tunately, last year it was q physical
lmpossibility for the campaign to oe
made in the Legislature that was nee
essary to put through that particular
bill. Whether the Legislature will con-
sent to pass the measure at this ses-
sion remains to be seen, but certain
ly hope that it will. Any one who Will
'ndorse and urge either the bill Of the
Park Board or the present bill of Com
missioner Harman will be acting the
part of a good citizen toward public
measure that very much needs trans.a.
ton into statute law.
w. T. HORNADAY,
Director of the Geological Park.
New York. March s, 1921.