The New York herald., 1922-04-07
ENRIGHT CALLS FOR
1892 MORE POLICE
Continued from First Page.

the quota for the reason that con-
siderable number Of them must neces-
sarily be in court at strikes, at pa
rades. public ,tings and other special
assignments .ch must have the atten-
ton OF the de .artment. so that the av-
erage number Of men that can be placed
on the street for patrol duty during any
hour of the day il approximately 1900
men.
THE city of New York has an area
of 314 square miles and there are 5000
miles of streets which must be patroiled
by the uniformed force, and II is there
fore self-evident that our effective pa
troll force of 1900 Is utterly inadequate.
"The police forcc-of the city Of New
York is probably the smallest police
force pro rata to the population OF any
of the great cities Of the world. For
instance. London, a city approximately
the game size OF New York city. with q
homogeneous population, and far less
difficult police problem. consists of APP
proximately $4,000 men, or about one
police officer TO every ESQ of the popu-
lation, while the city Of New York has
a total force Of 1850 men, or approx
mately one policeman to 515 Of the resi-
dent population. or one to about 500 OF
the daily population. when million In
transient population is taken into con-
sideration.
",rhe department has handled police
conditions in this city during the critical
period which we have passed through
with commendable efficiency, and the
lawless elements have never been al
lowed to get out OF hand.
"Crimes OFF 10 Per Cent"
There are four crimes of violence in
the criminal calendar. nancaly, murder.
felonious assault assault and robbery
and burglary. During the first quarter
OF 1917 we had 3,410 of such crimes,
while during the first quarter of 1922
we had but 2,789, a decrease Of about
10 per cent, Notwithstanding the in
crease in population. the presence Of a
large army of unemployed and the un-
usual industrial conditions now prevail
ing.
1.-The press Of this city, from time to
time, has taken occasion to criticize the
department and to exploit and glorify
criminality in this city. and they have
invited criminals from all over the world
to come to this city. where they falsely
allege that crime may be committed
with impunity. Hundreds of desperate
criminals have stated at Police Head
quarters that they were induced to COM
nit crimes because the newspapers had
advertised that 1t was easy and safe to
do SO.
"The perpetrators Of the crime COM
mitted at the home Of Mr.. Albert r.
Shattuck, No. 10 Washington Square
North, came from without the city. and
this is true Of a large number OF GRIM
inals who have recently been captured
redhanded in this city.
"Police Hampered by Press"
"The hue and cry which has been
raised by the press Of this city from
time to time has alarmed the people
and has served to make the work OF the
department still more difncult, and for
this reason. as we'll as for the reasons
previously stated, / deem It absolutely
necessary that there should be an In
crease in the police force Of this city, SO
that our citizens may be reassured as to
the safety Of life and property and re-
main confident that the department will
deal efflciently with these conditions to
the fullest extent of its power"
: The Commissioner said ne welcomed
such action as was taken by the Cham
Der of Commerce OF the State of New
York and other commercial bodies to
investigate conditions and to suggest
ways and means Of cooperating with the
police. He added:
"It's a good thing. All that ask Is
that such movements approach the sit
uation in good faith; with real de-
sire to help and not merely to hector
and to criticize. I shall. as always. De
willing to meet and confer with any
committees of citizens and be glad to
accept any constructive. practical sug-
gestions."
do you still consider tnat there II no
crime wave In New York;"
"The term crime wave 10 rnisnomer
and a most sensationally overworked
phrase. There Is a great deal OF crime
yes and the causes therefor should be
quite obvious 20 any Intelligent person
All society is still suffering from the
restless aftermath Of war and the APP
parent Inability OF many young men tc
return to plain hard work.
Moreover, there has been great
deal Of unemployment, and In such lear
periods there is invariably migration
to this city Of bad characters There
are sporadic outburst Of crime, but the
facts and figures. all on which one car
safely 60, show that there has been a
distinct decrease in crime OF serious
r,ature since the first quarter OF 1917.
decrease of 10 per cent. despite the great
increase Of population, the unrest ano
unemployment. confess j d. not think
that Is a bad showing"
what would you suggest TO be the
duty of the ordinary citizen In such
times as thsse-what personal precau-
tions should be taken In the way OF
assisting the police?"
"CareIessness Tompts Crooks"
"A more prudent guardianship Of
money and jewelry and other valuables
Many people have more money thar
they used to have and more Jewels, anc
as a rule they seem TO be more careless
about displaying them and taking care
of them. When crooks. with their pc
culiar systems OF intelligence, md out
that thousands and thousands of dollars
worth of diamonds or a large sum Of
cash is to be found In a certain house
1t Is putting In their way a temptation
to exercise their craft.
Another thing. Too many business
concerns have TIE habit of sending giri'
or young men after payrolls. Frequentl,
girl stenographer will be sent TO IT,.
bank for very large sums, and she WI
bring It back in the handbag where she
carries her powder puff. Such careless
business habits are well known to ths
professional thieves. and so, oItes
enough, they lay their plans for a hold
UP and get away with II.
why not pay by check? We used 4
pay cash in this department. and ths
captains In the district would go to tbs
banks and come back TO the statior
houses with satchels full OF greenbacks
Now we pay by check and everybody Il
just as well satisfied. particularly the
wives.