The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-20
EQUIP POLICE
WITH PROPER
ARMS,|S URGE
Isaac Burns, Police Commis-
sioner, Advocates Ordin-
ance Improving Equipment
Bankers Favor Move.
SAYS CAR IS NEEDED

"Tf the average man were to shoot
across the street at someone on the
sidewalk, he would kill somebody In
an upper story" said Isaac Burns,
police commissioner, in urging the
passing of an ordinance by council to
equip the police with standard size
firearms and ammunition. The ordin-
ance for the purchase Of the equip
ment will come up for consideration
by the council Monday evening.
William E. Eversman, chief Of po-
lice, said that unless the police de-
partment is equipped properly, it will
be necessary to hire an additional six
or seven men order to keep the city
properly policed. The addition of one
light car, for the use of the plain
clothes men. would enable the depart
ment to cover the entire city with
these two men instead of adding more,
he said
Car Would Save Money
Each new man added to the force
means an additional expenditure of
$115 per month";" said the chief Mon
day. AT that rate, it would not take
long for the city to have expended
enough money to pay for the car. In
addition, the police department would
have to hire cars to answer calls. So
the taxpayers would be paying for the
car anyway, and carrying an increas-
ed expense on the police payroll.
"At one time last week we had three
cars out on calls. We owe the tax
payers duty to try to recover ma
chimes that have been stolen, but ii
the department is not as well equipped
as the auto thief, that duty cannot be
fulfilled.
Two Autos Taken
Two machines were taken Sunday
evening. One, belonging to A. A.
Mumbower, was found in front of the
courthouse at Liberty, Monday morn
Ing. Another machine, belonging to
Karl Wolfe, was taken while he was
attending church services.
The police announced Monday that
the machine belonging to Curtis Daw-
son, stolen March 2, had been recov-
cred in Newport, KY.
Our men have their hearts in this
work. Some of the day men work at
night, too, when needed" said the
chief. "In many cases they will come
TO me after their days work is done
and ask IL they will be needed for
night duty.
Crooks Better Equipped =.
THE question has been asked rs
the city worse ridden by the lawless
element than it has been before? Are
The people getting worse? The an
swer to that question is this: The city
and the people are not getting worse
but the crooks are better prepared
than they have ever been before. They
have good guns and high powered
car when they need It, If a crook
wants to get out of town stealing g
speedy car looks just the same to hin
as stealing a small machine, and he
knows that with fast car he has the
advantage over the police department
The police are entitled to as good q
machine as that used by the yeggs
This department has never beer
equipped properly. | give the pub
lie my word that if we get this equip
ment, it will be used for police pur
poses only and official inspections
win be put into effect to insure tha
1 It's kept in the best of condition.
of town is robbed. the criminals can be
in another town before the police ge
started under present conditions" ht
said
Bankers Favor.
Bankers were strongly in favor o
police department equipped to thu
same standard as that in use in othe
cities when interviewed Monday A
c. Matthews. vice-president of the Sec
ond National bank. said: 81 think i
would be well to furnish our police
department with equipment at leas
equal to that used by other cities o
this size in the state.
Charles Jordan of the American
Trust and Savings bank and A. D
Gayle of the First National also ex
pressed themselves as being in accord
ance with this policy.
Il would like to see everything
right up to the limit in equipment
sand Mr.. Gayle.
.ir. Burns also emphasized the fac
that the policeman is fighting the pub
lies battles. THE service requires a
much ability as any other line of work
and the officer must have good jude
ment and some knowledge of tn
law" he said. 'The policeman is fight
ing th- public's battle and should b.
equipped by that public to carry ou
his duties"
A. ordinance providing for the ad
iition OF one new car to the presen
equipment of the city police force, an,
FOR new standard guns and ammuni
tion for the department will come u
FOR first reading at the council meet
ing Monday evening. In addition a.
ordinance to amend the building cod
will come up for discussion
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