Manual of the St. Paul Police Department, 1923 — 9
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF POLICE DUTY
FOR THE GUIDANCE OF MEMBERS OF THE FORCE.
P. 232. Animals, Killing Humanely.—Humanity requires that animals be killed in the quickest and least painful manner. The accompanying cuts and instructions show clearly how horses and dogs should be disposed of:
P. 233. In Shooting a Horse.—Place the muzzle of the pistol within a few inches of the head and shoot at the dot, aiming towards the center of the head. Use a 38-caliber pistol.
P. 234. Blows.—Blindfold and with a heavy axe or hammer strike just below the foretop at the point indicated in cut. Two vigorous, well-directed blows will make death sure. Be careful not to shoot or strike too low.
P. 235. In Shooting a Dog.—Place the muzzle of the pistol near the head, aiming a little to one side of the center of the top of the skull, and shoot downward as indicated by dot on this cut, so th a the bullet will go through the brain into or toward the neck. Do not shoot too low or directly in the middle, because of the thickness of the skull at these points.
P. 236. Animals, Dead, Reporting.—The location of bodies of dead animals shall be immediately reported by telephone to the station every twenty-four hours until they are removed, and also written report thereof made and forwarded to the commanding officer, so that it may be sent to the Department of Health.
P. 237. Animals, Prevention of Cruelty to.—Every officer should at all times strictly enforce the following State laws relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals:
P. 238. Overworking Animals, etc.—Every person who shall—
1. Overdrive, overload, torture, cruelly beat, neglect, or unjustifiably injure, maim, mutilate, or kill any animal, or cruelly work the same when unfit for labor, whether belonging to himself or another;
2. Deprive of necessary food, water, or shelter any animal of which he has charge or control;
3. Keep cows or other animals in any inclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air;
4. Feed cows on food which produces impure or unwholesome milk;
5. Abandon any maimed, sick, infirm, or disabled animal to die in any public place;
6. Allow any such animal to lie in the street, road, or other public place for more than three hours after notice; or
7. Willfully set on foot, instigate, or in any way further any act of cruelty to animals, or any act tending to produce such cruelty
Shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
P. 239. Clipped Horses, etc.—Every person having the custody of any animal which shall have had its hair removed by clipping or shearing, who, within sixty days alter such clipping or shearing, and between November 1 and May 1, shall cause or permit such animal to stand on a road, street, or other unsheltered place, without being blanketed, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
P. 240. Exposure of Animals—Duty of Officers.—Any sheriff, constable, village marshal, police officer or any agent of the Minnesota or other societies for the prevention of cruelty, may remove, shelter, and care for any horse or other animal found exposed to the weather and not properly blanketed, or remaining more than one hour without attention in cold or inclement weather, or not properly fed and watered, or provided with suitable food and drink, and when necessary, may deliver such animal to another person to be so sheltered and cared for, and furnished with suitable food and drink; but in all cases the owner, if known, shall be immediately notified, and such officer, or the person having possession of the animal, shall have a lien thereon for its care and keeping and the reasonable value of the food and drink furnished, and the expenses of such notice. If the owner or custodian be unknown, and cannot by reasonable effort be ascertained, or shall not, within five days after notice redeem such animal by paying the expenses incurred as aforesaid, it may be treated as an estray, and be dealt with as such.
P. 241. Arrests of Mail Drivers, Engineers, Motormen, Conductors, etc.—When arrests are made of drivers of mail wagons containing United States mail, or other persons in charge thereof, it shall be the duty of any member of the Police Department making the arrest to accompany such driver, or other person, to the postoffice or destination of the mail wagon within the city limits, and thence to the police station, in order that the United States mail may not be delayed.
P. 242. When arrests are made for misdemeanor or violation of city ordinance of any engineer, motorman or conductor while he is in charge of such vehicle away from the depot or barn to which he belongs, the officer shall accompany his prisoner to such depot or barn before taking him to the police station; provided, however, that engineers of outgoing freight or passenger trains shall not be taken into custody until their return to the city.
P. 243. Children, Lost.—Lost children found by members of the Department shall be taken in charge, and their place of residence located if possible. If located, and they are living in the neighborhood of where they are found, they shall be taken home without delay. Otherwise, the member of the force shall immediately notify his commanding officer and receive instructions.
P. 244. Felonies, Perpetrators Escaping.— Whenever a person who has committed a felony escapes, the officer who is handling the case should, if possible, learn his name, description and residence, names and addresses of his friends and relatives, and notify his commanding officer and the telephone and signal operators without delay, who shall in turn notify all station and take such other action as may be necessary.
P. 245. Fires, to Turn in Alarm Promptly.—Upon the discovery of a fire by an officer, he shall promptly turn in an alarm from the nearest fire alarm box, unless he can communicate more rapidly by telephone.
P. 246. Fires, First Duty to Secure Safety of People.—Officers' first duty at fires is to ascertain if any persons are in the burning buildings, and if so, to use every effort to effect their rescue. At night time officers will be particular to see that all persons who may be in burning buildings, or in others adjoining, are awakened.
P. 247. Fires, Keep Outsiders Away Front.—While on duty at fires, officers shall keep all persons who are not firemen, insurance agents, reporters, or others having permits from the Fire Chief, outside the fire lines, so that the work of the firemen may not be impeded.
P. 248. Fires, Protect Property.—Any officer in command at a fire shall clear the streets of crowds and obstructions and establish fire lines, inside of which there should be sufficient space for the firemen to perform their duties. Onlookers shall be kept beyond danger from falling walls and other accidents. A space shall also be cleared for the deposit of property saved from the flames. Police officers must be diligent in preserving order and protecting property saved from being stolen or wantonly destroyed, and shall not permit any volunteer, idle or suspicious persons to interfere with such property.
P. 249. Fires, Protect Buildings.—After the departure of the fire department the officer in command shall make police detail to take charge of buildings damaged by fire, for the purpose of preventing unauthorized persons from entering therein, or removing property, and also to warn the public of any danger which may exist from dangerous walls or sidewalks.
P. 250. Fires, Note if Incendiary.—Police officers who arrive first at a fire must in all cases be particular to ascertain the exact location where the fire originated, if possible, and to examine the same carefully as soon as practicable for any indications of its having been set on fire by design. They must at once note in their memorandum books the relative position of particular kinds of goods and everythIng else they observe which might be of service in determining the origin of the fire should it become a matter of legal or criminal investigation, and make report.
P. 251. Fires, Service at.—Commanding officers will assign Sergeants to take charge of the streets in the vicinity of the scene of a fire to the end that the Fire Department may have the free use of the streets in the vicinity. Officers present at fires in the congested part of the city will immediately secure ropes and rope off the streets in the vicinity of the fire.
P. 252. Homicide Cases, Identification of Bodies in.—In all homicide cases officers shall give their personal attention to having some relative, if possible, or intimate friend or acquaintance, of the deceased on hand to identify the body for the Coroner holding the post mortem examination and to the Coroner's jury. They will be particular to see that the Coroner is given the correct name and address of the person or persons so identifying the body, and also that the names and addresses of all witnesses are correctly stated at the inquest.
P. 253. Injured Persons, Finding, Disposition of.—Whenever an officer finds a person seriously injured, or in an unconscious condition, he should at once call the ambulance, or, if one is not available a patrol wagon, to convey such person with all possible speed and care to the nearest hospital, or home, if requested. Where immediate medical attention is necessary to save life, the person should be taken to the nearest drug store or other convenient place and a physician called pending the arrival of the patrol wagon or ambulance, first aid should be administered by the officer. If the injuries inflicted were caused by some person with felonious intent, or through gross negligence, the officer should make every effort to arrest the offender, and secure the names and addresses of all witnesses. When deemed necessary, the witnesses should be taken to the station to be questioned and disposed of by the commanding officer.
P. 254. Insane Persons, Care of.—When a police officer is called upon to take a person presumed or alleged to be insane into custody, he shall at once take said person to the police station and turn him over to the officer detailed to take charge of the insane, with a report stating the names and addresses of relatives who requested that said party be taken into custody. Where a person's condition is such that he is dangerous to himself or to the community, he must be taken at once into custody and placed where he can do no harm to himself or other persons.
P. 255. Lawyers, Right to Interview Prisoners.—Lawyers applying at police stations for permission to see a prisoner for whom they claim to be counsel, shall be given an opportunity to do so on approval of the Chief of Police or commanding officer, provided the prisoner desires such counsel. In such cases the prisoner will be brought from the cell to some proper place in the station where he may consult with his counsel in private. No lawyer shall be permitted to visit his client in a cell or lock-up unless accompanied by some member of the force.
P. 256. When Court is Open.—All persons arrested during the time the Municipal Courts are in session, after first being booked on the Record of Arrests, shall be, without unnecessary delay, taken before the court for hearing, unless otherwise ordered by a superior officer.
P. 257. After Court Is Closed.—All persons arrested when Municipal Courts are not in session shall be conveyed to the proper police station, there to be safely kept until disposed of in the regular way.
