The New York Police Force 229 



derers were received, forced to bathe, given night- 

 clothes before going to bed, and made to work next 

 morning, and in addition they were so closely super- 

 vised that habitual tramps and vagrants were speed- 

 ily detected and apprehended. 



There was a striking increase in the honesty of 

 the force, and there was a like increase in its effi- 

 ciency. When we took office it is not too much to 

 say that the great majority of the citizens of New 

 York were firmly convinced that no police force 

 could be both honest and efficient. They felt it to 

 be part of the necessary order of things that a 

 policeman should be corrupt, and they were con- 

 vinced that the most efficient way of warring against 

 certain forms of crime notably crimes against per- 

 son and property was by enlisting the services of 

 other criminals, and of purveyors of vice generally, 

 giving them immunity in return for their aid. Be- 

 fore we took power the ordinary purveyor of vice 

 was allowed to ply his or her trade unmolested, 

 partly in consideration of paying blackmail to the 

 police, partly in consideration of giving information 

 about any criminal who belonged to the unprotected 

 classes. We at once broke up this whole business 

 of blackmail and protection, and made war upon all 

 criminals alike, instead of getting the assistance of 

 half in warring on the other half. Nevertheless, so 

 great was the improvement in the spirit of the force, 

 that, although deprived of their former vicious allies 

 they actually did better work than ever before 

 against those criminals who threatened life and 



