Manual of the St. Paul Police Department, 1923 — 4

PATROLMEN ASSIGNED TO MOTORCYCLE DUTY

P. 58. Patrolmen assigned to motorcycle duty shall provide themselves with the required uniform, with such other equipment as provided for patrolmen and be under the same rules and regulations as patrolmen assigned to other uniformed duties. They shall provide themselves with a motorcycle and sidecar of standard make and keep same in repair and running order. Extra compensation fixed by a City Ordinance will be allowed these men for their added expense of motorcycle and upkeep of same.

P. 59. The officer shall keep his motorcycle clean and in good condition.

P. 60. He shall not allow any person to ride his motorcycle while on duty or carry any person with him on the motorcycle, unless on order of his commanding officer.

P. 61. Motorcycle officers assigned to substations for emergency calls shall be directly under the supervision of the officers in command of such stations.

P. 62. Speeding, driving with muffler open or any violation of the automobile laws by motorcycle men will be followed by suspension of the offending member. When answering an emergency call, such as a burglary, holdup, or murder, or when timing speeders, the officer is expected to go fast but only on these occasions will speeding be justified. Driving with the muffler open or cut out will not be tolerated at any time.

PATROLMEN ASSIGNED TO TRAFFIC DUTY

P. 63. Patrolmen who are regularly assigned to traffic duty will equip themselves with the regulation uniform and the other equipment required by the bureau.

P. 64. Traffic patrolmen will report for duty at the hours designated by the Chief of Police.

P. 65. Patrolmen will strictly enforce the traffic regulations and will not leave their beats unless properly relieved or on police business or at lunch hours as designated by the Chief of Police.

P. 66. Patrolmen will see that U. S. Mail Wagons, Ambulances, Fire and Police vehicles have right of way.

P. 67. When the Fire Department apparatus is about to cross street intersections, traffic should be directed to the curb to give apparatus clear right of way and to keep traffic at a standstill until last piece of apparatus has passed, so as to avoid accidents.

P. 68. Patrolmen will not hold conversation with citizens or policemen, except on police business and then not of unnecessary length while on duty. They shall give all their attention to the traffic duty.

PATROLMEN

P. 69. Prevention of Crime.—The prevention of crime and the arrest and prosecution of criminals being the most important duties of policemen, their best efforts shall be constantly directed to accomplish that end intelligently and efficiently.

P. 70. Patrol Duty.—When doing patrol duty, the policeman is expected to acquaint himself with his beat and to inspect every part thereof as often as practicable and to inform himself relative to the location of fire boxes thereon. At night it is necessary to examine frequently both the rear and front doors, and where possible, the windows of stores and vacant houses. When a door or window of a building is found open or insecure, the same should be made secure and the matter reported to the Sergeant at once. If the Sergeant is not near at hand, headquarters should be notified and the patrolman should act according to instructions. If there is any cause to believe that a robbery has been or is about to be committed, then the patrolman should communicate with headquarters without delay. It is a good plan to follow, when finding a door open at night, never to enter alone, if it is possible to get help. This practice will increase your chances of capturing a thief and gives you a witness to the condition of the place and to your actions after entering. In case of vacant buildings, care should be exercised to see that they are kept secured and that no loafers or boys are allowed to enter and that no depredations are committed.

P. 71. Report for Duty, When.—They must report at the station house for duty at the hours designated, uniforms neat and in proper condition.

P. 72. Posts, Reporting from.—During their respective tours of patrol duty they shall report to the operator from patrol boxes or otherwise, at such times and places as may be designated by their commanding officer. This, however, should not prevent an officer from remaining at any particular place for any length of time if his presence is required to watch suspicious characters or by any other police business, but he shall satisfy his superior officer that there was sufficient cause for such action. When signaling from patrol boxes they should not leave until assured that their signals have been duly received by their respective operator, unless the apparatus is out of order, in which case reports shall be made from the nearest box or telephone. An officer missing reports shall notify his commanding officer as soon as possible. Officers sent on a case shall report back to their commanding officer as soon as possible, explaining what action was taken in the matter.

P. 73. Vigilance at Night.—They shall exercise the utmost vigilance and activity at night, and closely scrutinize all persons whom they encounter, especially after midnight, and in the early hours of the morning. When in their opinion occasion demands it, courteously but rigidly question such persons as to their names, addresses, cause of their being on the streets, or such other particulars as may be required to prove that they are law-abiding citizens. Should any person fail or refuse under such circumstances to give a good account of himself, he should be taken to the station. If patrolmen see anyone carrying or otherwise conveying goods under circumstances which lead to a strong suspicion that such goods were stolen, they should stop and closely question the person. If the appearance, explanation and manner of such person, together with other circumstances connected with the case. indicate that the goods were stolen, the suspected person should be arrested and sent to the station with the goods; but if the suspicion be slight, patrolmen should quietly follow with a view of discovering where the goods may be deposited. In all such cases good judgment and discretion should be exercised.

P. 74. Not to Leave Beat.—A policeman is authorized to leave his beat only in cases of serious import. Upon such occasions he should immediately telephone his report to headquarters. In ordinary routine, matters, all reports should be made to the Sergeant in charge of the relief.

P. 75. General Appearance on Patrol.—Patrolmen must not walk together on their respective beats while on duty, or stand conversing with other officers or with persons whom they meet, unless it be on matters relating to police business. Officers who are careless in their personal appearance or demeanor shall be subject to reprimand or suspension.

P. 76. Not to Use Baton.—They shall not use their batons except when necessary to subdue a refractory prisoner, or in the utmost cases of self-defense, and shall not swing or toy with their batons, but (except in the winter time) they shall carry them in their hand.

P. 77. Beats. Secure Information as to Condition, etc.—They shall endeavor to ascertain the character of the residents on their respective beats, their occupation, etc., and communicate such information to their commanding officer, particularly in cases of all forms of gambling and other vices. It shall be the duty of all officers to acquaint themselves with all persons, hotels and other places where suspicious characters hang out and to promptly report all violations to their commanding officer and he in turn will report same in writing to the Chief of Police.

P. 78. Information Furnished.—They shall furnish such information and render such aid to all persons when required as is consistent with their duties, and they shall at all times when on duty in uniform keep their badges in sight, and give their names and numbers when requested.

P. 79. Street and Sidewalks, Reporting Dangerous Condition of.—If they observe anything on the streets or sidewalks likely to prove dangerous or inconvenient to the public, they shall, if possible, remove or cause the same to be removed without delay. If such obstruction exists in violation of any ordinance, the person responsible should be notified to remove the same, and if he fails to do so, the officer in command should be informed, and his direction in the matter followed. They shall also report the location of all street lamps which are not lit at the proper time or in any way out of order. They shall be held to be guilty of neglect of duty for failure to report promptly to their commanding officer any dangerous condition of the sidewalk, streets or alleys on their respective beats.

P. 80. Saluting.— A patrolman in uniform, on meeting or passing a superior officer when he is in uniform, shall salute him in the manner hereinafter specified. It is the duty of the subordinate to offer first the prescribed salutation and of the superior to return it. The salute will be made: (One), by raising the right hand smartly until the forefinger touches the lower part of the headdress above the right eye, thumb and fingers extended and joined, palm to the left, forearm inclined at about 45 degrees, hand and wrist straight; (two), drop the arm smartly by the side. Men in ranks will not salute unless ordered to do so by the officer in command. Members of the force on duty in citizens' dress are not required to salute.

P. 80(a). Should you wish to speak to a superior officer always address him by his title as "Captain Smith" or "Lieutenant James," or "Sergeant Adams," as the case may be. Never shorten this to "Cap," "Looty" or "Sarge," as this does not show a proper respect to the superior officer addressed.

PATROL WAGON CHAUFFEURS

P. 81. Chauffeurs shall be under the direction of the commanding officer.

P. 82. Report for Duty, When.—They shall report for duty at the hours designated by the Chief of Police at their respective stations in full uniform, and remain on duty until regularly relieved by the chauffeur of the succeeding detail or the commanding officer.

P. 83. Use of Patrol Wagon.—The patrol wagon must not be used for errands or calls at the different stations, except when necessary, and no person other than members of the force on duty, and those in custody, shall be permitted to occupy the wagon at any time. Employes of the Bureau of Police or the Department of Public Safety, other than those regularly assigned to police or detective duty, are prohibited from responding to emergency or patrol wagon calls unless specially detailed thereto by the commanding officer of the station. Employes injured in accidents to police conveyances, where such employes were not detailed to such duty, shall be deemed responsible for their injuries.

P. 84. Response to Calls.—Calls for the patrol wagon must be responded to as promptly and expeditiously as safety will permit.

P. 85. Sleeping on Duty.—Chauffeurs while on duty will not be allowed to lie down and sleep; they shall be on the alert, ready for any call or emergency at all times.

P. 86. Use of Gongs.—The gongs or sirens on the patrol wagons shall not be sounded unnecessarily.

P. 87. Patrolmen detailed as chauffeurs other than Patrol Wagon shall perform their duties as prescribed by the commanding officer.

P. 88. Reckless Driving Prohibited.—Careless or reckless driving is strictly prohibited. Chauffeurs shall be held responsible for the apparatus at all times and for all collisions or accidents occasioned by their carelessness or incapacity. Whether a collision is caused by the carelessness of the chauffeur or that of any other person, or by unavoidable accident whereby any vehicle or other property is damaged, or any person injured by the apparatus of the detail, the chauffeur shall ascertain the extent of injuries to person or property and submit a full report, with the names of all witnesses, to his commanding officer in writing.

P. 89. Responsible for Irregularities.—They will be held responsible for the care of apparatus during their tours of duty. On reporting for duty they shall carefully examine the apparatus before assuming charge, and if they detect anything irregular, they shall notify the commanding officer at once, otherwise, it shall be taken for granted that such irregularities occurred during the tour of duty of the driver in whose custody the apparatus is when the discovery is made. Parts of apparatus shall not be removed unless by orders of the commanding officer. Any failure to report a defect in apparatus or injury to it will be considered neglect of duty. Chauffeurs will keep a record of the cars they drive, regarding gasoline, oil, mileage, etc.

P. 90. Right of Way of Fire Department.—Drivers shall at all times give the right of way to fire engines or other vehicles of the fire department.