This is taken from “Annual Report of the Police Department of the City of St. Paul,” an 1898 publication of the Saint Paul Police Department.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
CHIEF OF POLICE
FOR THE YEAR 1898.

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OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Dec. 31, 1898.

To the Honorable the Mayor and Common Council of the City of St. Paul,

GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to transmit herewith, pursuant to charter requirements, the annual report of the police department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1898, together with the report of the superintendent of the police telephone system for the same period.

The department at present consists of 181 employes, as follows:

1	chief.
1	secretary to chief.
1	chief of detectives.
4	captains.
7	lieutenants (including one mounted).
10	sergeants (including one mounted).
4	detectives
1	superintendent police telegraph.
1	license inspector.
1	driver workhouse van.
1	janitor.
1	matron.
148	patrolmen

Of the 148 patrolmen only 121, including 8 mounted and 12 bicycle patrolmen, are available for patrol duty, 27 of the 148 being detailed as follows: Four special detectives, 1 dog license inspector, 3 bailiffs in municipal court, 1 desk sergeant, 1 detailed at mayor's office, 1 detailed at Union Depot, 2 conductors of patrol wagon, 6 drivers, 7 jailers, 1 conductor workhouse van.

I consider this number of men entirely inadequate to properly patrol a city the size of St. Paul, with a population of 175,000 and an area of fifty-five square miles of territory.

The year just closed has been an uneventful one in police circles. This fact is proven by the marked decrease in the number of arrests.

The total number of arrests during the year were 4,086, a decrease of 992 as compared with the previous year.

The disposition of prisoners was made as follows:

Bound over to the grand jury	73
Bound over to keep the peace	212
Certified to the district court	24
Committed to probate court	17
Committed to workhouse	889
Discharged	1,622
Fined in municipal court	758
Remanded to authorities abroad	24
Sent out of the city	72
Sent to the reform school	12
Sent to the poorhouse	2
Cases continued	381
Total	4,086

The patrol wagons traveled during the year, 8,634 miles.

In addition to the arrests, 224 sick and injured persons were taken care of and 177 lost children taken to their parents.

During the year, the patrolmen and officers have performed 796 days extra duty.

Total amount of days absent on account of sickness	1,128
Total number of days absent on furlough	1,443

The fines collected from criminal cases in the municipal court amounted to $15,892, a decrease of $2,615.50 as compared with 1897.

The total amount collected from dog licenses during the year was as follows:

88	88 male dogs at $2	$176.00
3,509	male dogs at $1	3,509.00
197	female dogs at $3	591.00
Fines collected on dogs redeemed		145.00
Paid for duplicate license tags		7.75
	Total	$4,428.75

DISBURSEMENTS.

Salaries of dog catchers employed, including teams	$1,218.00
Repairs on dog pound	131.66
Record books	9.95
Dog meat	9.20
License tags	25.00
	$1,393.81
Net profit to city	$3,034.94

The ordinance under which we are now operating did not take effect until Aug. 8, 1898, consequently the time was too limited for making a thorough canvass. Prior to the passage of this ordinance the license on male dogs was $2, hence the 88 licenses collected at the $2 rate.

Officer J. D. Saintong, detailed as dog license inspector, has had the matter in charge, and has done excellent work. He expects to accomplish much better results during the year 1899.

During the year the amount of property reported lost and stolen was valued at $16,494.40, of which $11,044 was recovered and delivered to the lawful owners.

The total value of personal property belonging to this department is $17,000.

The total expenditures of the department during the year were $169,693.61, as follows:

Salaries	$164,623.37
Feed	622.41
Fuel	546.10
Repairs	1,044.27
Horses bought	500.00
Horseshoeing	229.35
Water furnished	149.98
Miscellaneous	1,888.13
	$169,603.61

In order that you may fully understand why there is such a difference of expense between the years 1896, 1897 and 1898, I wish to call your attention to the fact that when I took charge of this department—June 2, 1896—there was quite a large deficit. This deficit was made up during the years 1896 and 1897, hence the increased disbursements during, those two years.

The department had a balance to its credit at the close of the year 1897 of $3,755.30, and during the year 1898 a saving was made of $9,278.39. Therefore the department at the close of the year 1898 has a balance to its credit of $13,033.69.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

I respectfully call your attention to the deplorable condition of the police telephone system. This branch of the department should be always in first-class working order. The present telephone and alarm system is old and worn out and requires much labor and, expense to keep it in repair.

I recommend that either an entire modern system be installed or else a change in the telephone part of the present system and other permanent improvements be made. It is very essential that the telephone system be perfect, so that communication may be had at all times without interruption between the different stations and the officers and patrolmen while on duty; also with the Minneapolis department. I concur in the recommendations made by the superintendent of the police patrol telegraph department, and would call your attention to his report, wherein you will find a detailed statement of information.

The necessity of a central police station with modern improvements, and located near the city hall and court house, is apparent and earnestly recommended.

The detective department, under the charge of Chief of Detectives Phil W. Schweitzer, has rendered very efficient service during the year.

In conclusion, I wish to say that the discipline of the force and the general deportment of its members is worthy of commendation.

I desire to return to his honor the Mayor and the honorable City Council and other city officials my sincere thanks for the courtesies and assistance extended to this department during the past year, and to also express my sincere appreciation of the conduct of the members of the department for the zea1 and interest manifested in the, discharge of their duties.

The attached reports show in detail the work of the department.

M. N. GOSS,
Chief of Police.