PARK POLICING 751 



Civil service commissions and executives, as a rule, welcome the help of 

 the chief executive, if he himself is qualified, in formulating the examination 

 questions, and may actually ask his help in conducting the examinations 

 or at least parts of them. Under an organized system of this kind the 

 examination is likely to be more thorough than if the chief executive or a 

 committee of the board made the selections directly. There is usually lee- 

 way provided in filling any particular position from the certified civil 

 service list. Thus the first in the list can be passed for the second and the 

 second for the third before an appointment is obligatory. The various 

 plans for a probationary period of three to six months or a year, before 

 appointment is made permanently, give opportunity for observation of 

 whether the appointee has the necessary personal qualities to make a good 

 guard or not. The personality factor cannot always be determined by first 

 contacts, and herein is one of the chief weaknesses of the civil service system 

 of appointments, but this is largely overcome by the institution of a pro- 

 bationary period. 



On the whole, therefore, the selection of guards through civil service, 

 providing there is close cooperation between the chief executive of the 

 Park Department and the officers of the civil service commission, is a very 

 good plan through which to select park guards. There seems to be no 

 doubt of the preference that the guards themselves have for this system 

 because it gives them a measure of security, when their appointment is 

 made permanent, that they otherwise would not have. This security is 

 more theoretical than based on fact, however, for the governing authority 

 of a park and recreation department may easily abolish the guard service 

 or parts of it at any time. 



EXAMPLES OF CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS FOR PARK GUARDS 



The Milwaukee City Service Commission announces who have filed registration cards in the City Service 



an original examination for Park Policeman, Class S, office must also file a formal application before the date 



Grade I. of examination. 



Examination on the seventh floor, City Hall, Mil- Duties. To patrol the parks and boulevards in a given 



waukee, Wis. Persons reporting after examination has district; to enforce laws, ordinances, rules and regula- 



been started will not be admitted to the examination. tions; to guard park property, and to perform other 



Applications may be filed up to May i, 1924. Physical police duties as directed, 

 and mental examination will be held later. 



Salary. First year, 1,680; second, 1,740; third, Qualifications and Requirements 



1,800; fourth and thereafter, #1,860. A deduction of Citizenship. Applicants must be United States citi- 



4% per cent of the salary is reserved for a pension, the zens. Naturalized citizens must show their papers when 



same rate as other city police. Salary not subject to filing application, 



federal income tax. Residence. Legal residence in the City of Milwaukee 



Application. Application blanks may be obtained in for a period of at least six months immediately preceding 



the office of the commission, seventh floor, City Hall, date of examination is required. Persons living in ter- 



and must be returned, properly filled out and executed, ritory for which annexation petition has been filed may 



prior to date of examination. The notary's oath may take the examination, but cannot be certified for ap- 



be executed in the City Service office free of chargy. pointment until such annexation to the city has been 



The registration card is not an application and persons completed. 



