The Indianapolis times., 1928-12-18
NIBLACK SETS
STATE POLICE
QUALITY MARK
Senator Would Put Indiana
Troopers on Par With
'MountieS.'
ASKS $500,000 YEARLY
Newly Drafted Bill Seeks
Military System for
Indiana.

"A move 10 put Che indiana state
police on a par with the Royal
Northwest mounted police of Can
ada, and the state police of Penn
sylvania and New York is embodied
in a bill for creation of state de-
partment of public safety which
State Senator John L. Niblack of
Marion will introduce in the legisla-
ture next month.
The bill embodies the best features
Of the three model systems, Niblack
says, and would place the police on
an actual military system, providing
Two years enlistment periods and
housing of men in barracks.
The bill would create three
bureaus: Clerical, criminal identi-
f1cation and investigation, and state
police.
A superintendent appointed by
the Governor with approval of the
Speaker of the house, president pro
TEN. of the senate and opposition
leaders Of the two houses, would re-
ceive $4,000 a year. A depupty su-
perintendent would be paid $1,000.
The chief clerk would receive
$4,000 with such assistance as re-
quired.
Identification Head at $500
The head of the bureau of identi-
fication would receive $500, two
assistants not more than $4,000,
finger print experts, and photog-
raphers, not more than $4,000, and
such general clerks as needed, not
more than $1,500.
The identification bureau would
be required to cooperate with all
police in the state.
The bureau would be required to
take finger prints and convictions of
every criminal convicted in county
courts in Indiana. The bill would
make such records competent evi-
dence of a conviction for use in
subsequent trials. The bureau would
be required to gather and broadcast
criminal data by all modern meth
ods, including radio"
The bill establishes this state
police organization, all appointable
by the superintendent of the safety
department;
Three troops, each consisting of
one captain, $2,400; one lieutenant,
$2,100; first sergeant, $1,500; five
sergeantS, $1,38O; ten corporals,
$1,320, and Sixty-five privates,
$1,000.
One school troop of a captain,
lieutenant, sergeant, and three cor
porals.
The bill provides an increase
whereby the police shall receive $50
a year added pay for five years.
Qualifications for police include,
passage of physical and mental ex-
animation similar to that given In
dianapolis police applicants, between
21 and 40 years of age, ability to
ride and swim and be of good moral
character.
vided.
Troops to Be Mounted
The troops would generally be
mounted on horses, motorcycle or
automobile.
They would be distributed through
the state to serve the best strategic
purpose in the war on crime. They
would have the same powers of ar
rest as other peace officers. State
police now are limited in arresting
power.
The bill specifically states, how
ever. that state police may not be
used within the limits of any city to
suppress "riot and disorder" except
by direction of the Governor or upon
the request of the mayor of the city
with the approval of the Governor"
This, Niblack pointed out, obviates
the possibility of promiscuous use
of state police in labor disputes,
which has been one Of the chief OBJ
jections to establishment of a real
state police department in Indiana.
The bill appropriates $5OO,0O0
year to operate the department.