Hamilton Spectator. November
30, 1883.
“If you ask any man who is
at all observant, what class of the community works the hardest, he will tell
you without a moment’s thought, ‘Why the newspaper reporters, of course.’ And
after the reporters come the policemen, who are naturally in there with the
scribes to a great extent, and so, perhaps, a good example of the eternal
fitness of things is furnished when the two hardest worked classes of modern
life are put in close connection. A policeman’s life is not a happy one, taking
one consideration with another and as much can be said for many another class
of toilers, who groan under darn’d daily grind, spurning the whips and scorns
of time, the oppressor’s wrong, and the proud man’s contumely. The world is
full of injustice and wrong, and there must soon be a change for the better, or
we must perforce declare our boasted civilization an utter farce. There are
heaps of Don Quixotes, who are going to right things, but they don’t. Money
continues conquering, and the progress is small.
THE HAMILTON POLICE FORCE
Dates back a good many years; indeed, it goes back to the
time the time when to call it that by that name, would be the greatest misnomer
in the world. But it has grown as Hamilton has grown. Its history is Hamilton’s
history, and the progress of the two has been identical. The first chief that
Hamiltonians remember was Harry McCracken, who was superseded by Capt. Nichols,
and who was followed in turn by Ralph Davis, John Henery (now governor of the
jail), Matthew Logan, Alex. McMenemy, and the present chief Mr. A. D. Stewart. It
is some 25 years since the Hamilton Police force commenced to be anything like
police. The kindly old man, with the characteristic Scotch name, Peter Ferris, wears
on the collar of his coat two silvery figures and letters, the legend, ‘No. 1.’
‘No. 1’ he is. The oldest man on the Hamilton police force, and as good and
honest and faithful a man as you’ll find in today’s march. He has been
connected with the police in Hamilton since the days when the force was a wee,
sickly child, and the person has yet to be found who will say he hasn't always
done his duty like a man.
“The force now consists of
45 men in all. There are the chief, A. D. Stewart; three sergeants, Alex.
Smith, Nelson Parkes, and Joseph Prentice; two detectives, Bryan Doyle and Ian
Mackenzie and 33 constables.
IN OLDEN TIMES
The men were, in many instances, chosen without any
qualification for office, and some again were just as capable and efficient
policemen as one could wish. No man over 48 years was allowed to join. But
things have changed since then, and the rules now provide that the men must be
under 30 years old when they join, and that they must stand at least five feet
10 inches in their stockings. They must also be able to read, and write
understandably, and have certificates of good character from their previous
employers. Married men are preferred, because, as a rule, they are steadier,
and once having got a position, they are more careful to keep it. The
constables are all first or second class men. When a man joins the forse, he
remains in the second class for twelve months at $1.25 a day. At the end of
that time, if his conduct has been good, his progress satisfactory, he is
promoted to first class, and gets $1.50 a day. The pay is commuted for every
day of the year, but the men have to work every day of the year. Every man gets
two pairs of trousers and one summer tunic every year; a winter tunic and fur
cap and gloves every two years, and an overcoat and blue and white helmet every
three years. When a man first joins, he is given duty at one of the stations
with the station duty man, in order that may learn how to use the telephone,
how the books are kept, how to give reporters information, and in fact, general
police office work. Then he is put on the street with an older constable, and
fills in a couple week’s duty with him, provided, of course, that circumstances
permit. He is also, whenever possible, sent with men who are about to
EXECUTE
WARRANTS,
So that he may become conversant with this part of the
business.. At the end of the month, after having carefully studied the rules
and regulations, he is examined by the chief, and if he shows intelligence and
a fair understanding of what he has to do, he becomes a regular member of the
force. The average day’s work of the sergeants and constables is eight hours.
Not such long hours perhaps as the average mechanics, but it must be taken into
consideration that the guardians of the peace are, during the whole time, out
of doors, and there they must stay no matter how inclement the weather may be.
It is the invariable experience of all police forces that a longer term than
eight hours is bad, for a man at the end of that time becomes so enervated that
he is unfit for work. Besides this routine work, every man is liable to be
assigned extra work, as emergencies may arise. A man may be called off his
beat, five minutes before relieving time, for two o more hours’ work, and he
dare not refuse to go. Protection being mostly required at night, two thirds of
the entire department is on duty from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., this, of course,
entailing that two-thirds of each man’s time be spent in night duty. When the
men parade for duty
AT
THE STATIONS,
The roll is called, each man answering to name, at the
same time producing his equipment to show that he goes out all right. The
equipment consists of a baton, whistle, handcuffs, and a memorandum book, in
which everything that comes under their notice, that is worthy of it, must be
jotted down. Some of the men on night duty carry revolvers on the sly, though
the commissioners don’t sanction it, thinking that even if the authorities
refuse to arm them, self-preservation is the first rule of nature. If any
member is absent through sickness, one third of his pay is deducted while he is
away. Every man is allowed seven days’ holidays annually. The men are regularly
once a week, all but those on night duty being expected to attend. All reliefs
and duties are sent out from No. 3 station, King William streets, which is the
working center of the department, althoughthe chief’s office is at No. 1
station in the city hall.
AT
PARADES
All reports and warrants are read out so that the men go
forth with a knowledge of what they have to look out for.
“For
patrol purposes, the city is portioned off into beats, each one of which is
numbered and has its defined route and limit. These beats are closely watched
by sergeants and patrol sergeants, who relieve each other at intervals during
the whole 24 hours, and the men are visited at undefined periods. So well does
this plan work that only one man has been so far this year for being off his
beat.
“The
police, although invariably upheld and respected by the law-abiding portion of
the community, always find enemies in the roughs. In this city, the principal
features requiring control is the general run of rowdyism, assaults, disorderly
conduct etc. They are frequently interfered with in discharging their duty by
the rowdy gangs. There is also a floating criminal population, which is also a
source of anxiety and trouble. Just now there are upwards of 50
CENTRAL,
PRISON AND PENITENTIARY
birds in the city.
“The men
who have the longest hours and on whose efforts depend principally the good
name and reputation of a force are the detectives. A detective has to be
cunning, sober, hardworking and closed-mouthed, with great courage, a pleasant
manner necessary, and he must be attentive to detail. They do almost entirely
the secret work of the department, which does not consist of mere attention to
occurrences reported, but they have to keep on the lookout constantly for men
who have been ‘anted’ for a long time and whose crimes have been almost, if not
altogether, buried in time’s oblivion.”
“The Hamilton Police :
Something About the Ambitious City’s Guardians : A Policeman’s Lot is Not a
Happy One – What They Have to Do – Eight Hour’s Work a Day”
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