The New York herald., 1921-01-23
Efficient State Police.


There is no more efficient public
body in this State than the Depart
ment of State Police. Although 1T
has been in existence only few years
it has become powerful influence in
the maintenance of law and order in
the commonwealth, especially in the
rural regions, which were poorly
policed before its establishment.
Modelled on the same general lines
as the Pennsylvania Constabulary,
which has achieved favorable recog-
milton throughout the United States,
the New York State Police has grown
to q point where it's Superintendent,
Major GEORGE FLETCHER CHANDLER,
feels the need Of an additional two
troops; one for the northern tier OF
counties and the other for the south
ern. The original force Of 232 men
would be increased by 116. Major
CHANDLER, with a desire to keep the
personnel of the service at the high
est peak, asks the Legislature in his
latest report for an increase in pay
from 5000 to $1,000 year for troop
ers, with a proportionate increase in
the compensation of non-commis-
stoned officers.
One Of the strongest features OF the
force comes through the fact that it
is non-partisan. By keeping 1t out Of
politics it has been possible to secure
the highest type of recruit for the
service, the personnel Of the force be-
Ing such as to command the respect
and admiration of all who come into
touch with its members.
The taxpayers of thes State will
find comfort in the announcement
that the body instead of being q
charge has from its inception been
self-supporting. The sum turned in
from delinquents in the payment of
automobile tax licenses has been sur
prisingly large. Major CHANDLER's
report for the past year shows that
his force confiscated $225,OO0 worth
Of opium and that In like period
more than $5OO,OO0 worth Of intoxi-
eating beverages were seized. Stolen
property to the amount of $709, ,O6S.2O
was also recovered. The net result
for the year shows profit to the
State Of more than $500, 600 over and
above all expenses.
There were 2S,625 Investigations
without arrests, which indicates the
activity Of the force. Mounted patrols
covered a total of 242,647 miles, as
against 721022 by members employ
ing the use of small cars and motor
cycles. A total Of 1862 arrests were
made for crimes ranging from murder
TO vagrancy, and Of this number 9,9S3
convictions were secured, with 22S
cases pending. The discharged cases
totallcd 3S1. This places the remark
able average OF convictions at "a per
cent. The number Of arrests made by
the force shows an average OF 90 for
each man. AS there were only $3.50
arrests during the first year and 4,2E1
in the second, the scope Of the force
is extending, and Major CHANDLER
should have sufficient men for the
work his force must do.
There was no appropriation In the
bill creating the force to take care of
the housing problem. The character
OF the work rendered everywhere,
however, has made communities eager
to render aid in this respect, the
chambers Of commerce at Oneida,
Batavia and Troy having recently
placed suitable buildings at the dis
posal OF the force at low rents, with
the provision that they can be taken
over by the State at any time for the
original cost plus 10 per cent.
Major CHANDLER pays tribute to
the horse and says for certain work
his use is imperative. He announces
that mounts to supply the troopers
hereafter are being bred from the
Western mares bought at the time the
State Police came into being. The
breeding bureau of the Jockey Club
donated the use Of the thoroughbred
sires Fashion Plate by Woolsthorpe,
Otis by Sain or Foul Shot, Marse
Henry by Ben Brush, Oyama by Com
mando, Pharaoh by Mcddler, Cock o.
the North by Hamburg, and Chief
Lacey by King James They were
kept at the Batavia, Syracuse, AL
bany and White Plains depots for
the nrst two years, but It was found
asxssohI~ n ,c~nfraIfxA xhA work aun