New Britain herald., 1925-06-19
AN EMERGENCY

AN EMERGENCY Sentiment for increased police protection and an improved super vision over traffic conditions evident ly has percolated into the Common Council, as was indicated by the &C., ton taken al the meeting Wednes' day night. The action taken, how ever. might be termed nothing de- finite" as the board Of finance and taxation will have the final say-so through its grip upon the citys purse strings, The police board, in asking for the appointment of five more patrol men. by so doing gave citizens to understand what 1t considered nec- essary, The board will be criticiz- cd by some citizens for being too eonseryative; in the estimation of 
 many citizens at least ten additional ratrolmen are needed. The boards request for more patrolmen. in be- ing referred 10 the board of finance and taxation, ought to find favor able response at that stopping place; whether 1t will find sufficient money to meet the demand is another mat ter to be- heard from later. The situation being in the nature of all emergency, however, the finance board or the Common Council should find a way 10 get sufficient money. An emergency requires ener- getic action, not discussion over statistical technicalities about the budget and appropriations. Citizens who pay taxes require proper police ptotection; 1t was stated that 10000 residents are without police protec- ton at night, which would indicate that the matter is serious enough to demand emergency action.
 The resolution to double the motorcycle force in the police de- partment, from two men to four in being referred to the board Of fnsncce and taxation, naturally will meet the same condition as the police board request for five more nolicemen. The resolution appears reasonable; the present motorcycle force of two men seems ridiculously small for a city of this size. Large areas needing efficient traffic polio inr do not receive them, stimulating reckless motorists to take chances because they feel that they can do go with slight chance of being de- +ected or deterred. Whether the rroposed two additional motorcycle po,icemen would come under the proposal to add additional policemen to the force, or would be in addi- ton to the five desired, is not quite clear.
 The resolution of the Council call- ing upon the police board to strict Iv enforce" motor vehicle laws was .imely, to say the least, The person who does not see motor laws violat- cd continuously upon the city streets must be blind. The difficulty facing the board at present however, ap- pears to be a paucity of sufficient natrolmen to attend 10 the enforce ment of the traffic laws. There are approximately 1000 automobiles owned in New Britain, and some think the total of accidents is not excessive, yet this is a matter oi opinion. That there would be de- oidedly fewer such accidents if the motor vehicle laws were properly enforced IS more a statement of fact than an expression Of opinion II may be impossible to eliminate al accidents. but it is certain that they can be reduced to a minimum tha' doesn't exist iu this city.
 linen there was the petition foI better police protection at the Naih an Hale school. which was referred to the police board. There cal scarcely be any two sides to thi question. and it was unfortuna'' that it required a fatal accident t' emphasize conditions at the school Police protection should have Oeel given at this place before the ac elaent when it might have beel avoided.
 Adequate police protection is no a fad or a sudden whim; it is necessity. Public sentiment has be gun to make itself felt and it is tn duty of the city to meet it at leas half way,