Evening star., 1926-03-17
PLEDGE TO SHIELD
| FIRE APPARATUS
Police to Enforce Regulations
to Protect Engines Re.
!. spending to Alarms.

Displaying a deep interest in an edi'
torial in yesterdays Star reminding
the Police Department that it is time
10 act in the matter Of checking acci-
dents between apparatus OF the Fire
Department, street cars and automo.
bileS. Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, chief or
police. this morning said there was
an order of the department directing
strict enforcement Of the regulation
that is intended to clear the way for
vehicles Of the Fire Department re-
spending to alarms OF fire.
Il spent four years in the Fire De
partment," Maj. Hesse stated, land
am with the department hook. line
and sinker in safeg harding the move
ments of its vehicles.
Mai. HeSse said arrests had been
made in instances of recent collisions
between fire engines and other ve-
hicles, and was under the impression
that some of them remained undis-
posed of in Police Court.
Complaint on File
Only as late as yesterday. he said.
he received a letter Of complaint from
the father of a boy who had been ar
rested on account OF a collision with a
said he had been informed that Maj.
Hesse. before hearing an explanation
OF the incident from the person ar
rested had said: ~ hope the fudge
will give you the liroit of the law"
or words to such effect.
Maj. Hesse told Star reporter he
thought he had been misQuoted. What
he was reported to have stated. how
ever. certainly expresses his sentiment
in cases of vehicles OF private individ-
uals colliding with those of the Fire
Department and hindering the work
Of the f1remen.
The order to which Maj. Hesse re-
ferred was issued June 9, 1924, while
Maj Sullivan, superintendent OF po-
lice. was still in office. and still Is in
effect, Maj. IIesse stated. 1t reads:
From and after this date sergeants
and privates mounted on motor
cycles or bicycles when on patrol duty
will Immediately respond to any fire
alarm coming TO their attention, re-
gardless Of precinct lines.
Immediately upon hearing the ap
proach or passage Of any fire appara-
tus they will at once communicate
with the nearest police station through
the nearest patrol box or telephone
ascertain the location Of the fire and
proceed with all possible dispatch
thereto. and upon arriving will take
such steps as are necessary to clear
all traffic out of the block where such
fire exists and out of adjoining blocks
and all approaches thereto.
Order to Policemen.
They will report to the senior pre-
cinct officer in charge as soon as
feasible, which officer will retain them
in service at the fire for such time as
may be necessary. and win then di-
rect them to report back to their re-
spective precincts. The said senior
officer will forward to these headQuar
ters a report showing the names OF
mounted men who respond In accord
ance with the provisions of this order
and the time at which he directed
them to return to their precincts.
Attention of members OF the force is
called to the section Of the police regu-
lations respecting traffic, in connection
with movements Of the vehicles of the
Fire Department, as follows:
"A vehicle, upon approach OF fire ap-
paratus. will Immediately draw near to
and parallel with the curb and stop"
Continuing. the order reads: Mem
bers of the force will see that this pro-
vision Of the regulations is strictly
complied with and all members OF the
force on duty at or in the vicinity OF
fires will see that all streets which
form approaches to the scene OF such
fires are cleared of all vehicular traffic
and other distractions, to the end that
fire apparatus may move to and from
flres without unnecessary delay