Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-05-12
LEGISLATURE
| DOUBLES STATE
| POLICE FORCE
new LAW PROVIDES ADEQUATE
MEANS FOR PROTECTING LIFE
AND PROPERTY IN WEST
VIRGINIA
Increased Pay Attracts Many Recruits
Of Desirable clsss-Service Men
Get Preference.


livered the death blow to outlawry in
this state when it passed, by an almost
two to one vote, Senate Bill No. 1T
which authorizes the West Virginia
State Police to recruit up to maxi
mum strength of 2S9 officers and men.
ct the same time increasing all sal
aries approximately rs per cent. It
police force and will permit the estab-
hshment of a state police post in ev-
tery district in the state.
he new bill gives the Department
OF Public Safety four companies of
state police instead of two. Each
company will be commanded by a cap
IN and lieutenant and will consist
a first sergeant, five sergeants,
int corporals and not less than 80
more than SIS privates. Two of
ne companies, 1t is understood, will
Be mounted This can be accomplish
ID without heavy additional expense
1nasmuch as both of the present COM
panies rank as mounted organizations
possessing large number of horses.
The West Virginia State Police at
present numbers "a officers and men.
Within the next three or four months
however about 100 recruits will be
taken into the department. The new
police officers will be chosen from a
list Of several times that many appli-
cants. AS predicted, the increased
salary inducement-the minimum sal
airy is now 500 a MONTHS attract
ing the best young men in the state
and this permits Colonel jackson Ar
mold, superintendent of the West Vir-
ginia State Police to carefully pick
his troopers, selecting only men of
the highest type. physically, mentally
and morally.
Cost to Be $225,00o.
Basing figures upon the maintain
ance cost last year, Colonel Arnold
estimates that the actual cost of the
increased organization will not ex-
coed S225,000 annually, very likely
falling short Of this figure. The bill
carries no fixed appropriation. Tie
present state police appropriation is
$225,00O of which only 100000 was
spent in 1920.
A field organization, similar to that
Of the Pennsylvania and New York
police organizations will be worked
out
The establishment of fixed posts in
every district to work in connection
eJ,o ffe, ofE ,~ta er;x,
every section powerful force for the
hunting down and prevention Of crime,
but materially reduces maintenance
expenses inasmuch as the larger force
eliminates the necessity of moving
men from one section of the state to
another.
Service Men Preferred.
In the recruiting of the larger state
police force, preference will be given
men who have seen servic in the
army, navy or the marines. Col Jack
son Arnold and all of his officers and
men are overseas veterans and every
effort will be made to fill the ranks
with men who have served their coun-
try in time of stress.
II you are young man between the
ages Of 21 and As; if you are intelli-
gent, honest and law abiding; if you
desire to live clean moral life in the
great outdoors; if your name is en-
graved on the honor roll Of your coun-
try; II you are strong and healthy and
willing to enforce the law of the land
without thought of personal sacrifice,
then you possess, all of the desired
qualifications of West Virginia
State Policeman and you will be more
than welcome to cast your lot with
the other splendid young men of this
organization