The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-29
To Cooperate With Mayor In
ReOrganized Police Dept.
Committee of Three Selected to
Confer With Officials.
GORWIAE HAS A new PLAN
Police Department Head Will
Probably Get $4,000 a Year.
New Chief win Not Come From
Ranks of Present Force.

The Chamber of Commerce will
cooperate with Mayor Herbert ]. Cor
wine and the other city officials in the
reorganization of the city's police
force.
AT the regular meeting of the direc-
tors Of the chamber, held at noon to-
day, a committee was appointed which
fm to confer and advise with the may
or, not alone on the selection of a new
chief of police, but of general meas
ures for the securing Of an absolutely
efficient force as a whole.
The members of the committee
were George McEntire, A. E. Van
Petteu and r. r. Baer. The motion
was made by McEntire.
Mayor Corwine this morning firmly
denied rumors that he had made ten
tative selection of a new head for the
police department.
Il have no definite selection. and do
not expect to start the reorganization
for several days" he stated.
Plans Reorganization.
Mayor Corwine is planning the re-
organization of the police department
along new line, which may include
an increase in the chiefs salary to
$4,000 a year. This move it was stat
ed today. would be necessary in order
10 get man of efficiency and expert
cnce.
The principle of civil service will be
applied to the chief if the mayors
viii be insured against removal by
every mayor who is elected. This will
put the police department more on
par with the fire department. where
he is efficient.
That the new chief of police will not
come from the ranks of the present
force is practically certain. It is the
mayors plan TO go to some larger
city in an attempt to procure a man
of extensive experience to handle the
Topeka department. No such man
could be Induced to come to Topeka
and take over the department. how
ever for the meager salary of $500
a year.
An Efficient Police Force.
Mayor Corwine asserted this after
noon that whatever steps may be nee
essary in giving Topeka a thoroIy eff
uclent police force will be taken. He
animated that an ordinance will be
introduced raising the salary of the
chief and making such changes as
may be necessary to assure perma-
nancy In office for an efficient police
The problem of pensioning old mem
hers of the department is also being
considered by the mayor. on the |
Present force there are several men.
who, by reason of their age. are unfit |
for the work. but who would also find 1
IL practically impossible to get other I
employment. The protection of mem /
bers of the police force and their fam !
lilies from the hazards of police work !
is also under Amusement. Several To-
peka officers have been killed. leaving
their families practically destitute 1t !
was stated that an effort will he made
to work out some plan of insuran nee
for all policemen.
No New Chief For Few Days.
The announcement Of the new chief
will not be made for several days,
Mayor Corwine said. He said 1t was
his intention to scan the metropolitan
for such man as he has
In mind.
Officers of the internal revenue de-
partment here today were said to be
ma king an investiga ton of the rev. 4
enue obtained by l. NJ. B1itz. now un-
der arrest on a charge of attempting
to bride public officer, from bonds 4
which he has signed for prisoners In
police court It is the object of the
government men to ascertain if BlitZ
has reported all the money obtained 4
by him in this way in his income tax
report Failure to report the full
amount of money received CIring the
past year when making an income tax
report is a serious offense under the Z
government statutes