New York's Whalen

Busy last fortnight was Grover Aloysius Whalen, newly-appointed Police Commissioner of the largest city in the U. S.

The major Whalen accomplishment was decentralization of the force. The major lack of accomplishment seemed to be a lack of tangible progress in the Rothstein murder case, which occasioned the Whalen appointment.

Whalen Days. Bandits entered a Brooklyn home near midnight, four men were killed in resultant battle. At 3 a. m. appeared Commissioner Whalen, "worked on the case" till 8 a. m. He then attended 9 o'clock mass in Manhattan. He then reviewed 800 Postal Telegraph boys at City Hall. He then went to the West 20th Street station on another murder case. He then accompanied his daughter on a gallop through Central Park. He then went home (No. 43 Fifth Avenue), slept.

Whalen Activities. Among the Whalen executive acts which made New York wonder how much was "stuffed shirt" bluster and how much exceptionally brainy management, were the following:

1) Abolished "gum shoe" squad--special police largely engaged in reporting on other police--exiled its head to duty in Long Island City.

2) Abolished homicide squad (20 men, 228 cases in a year, 2 arrests); retired its head on pension. New homicide squads to be established in each borough.

3) Revived strong-arm squad--large, gruff officers specially chosen to nightstick gangsters. Two strong-arm squads for Manhattan, one for each of the other boroughs.

4) Had the underworld "combed." Its matted locks disgorged 322 "suspects," most of whom were at once released.

5) Ordered traffic survey, recommended complete removal of streetcars.

6) Gave to 9-year-old son of a policeman a box of candy for aid in capture of bandit.

7) Appointed new chief of detectives, gave him Rothstein investigation.

8) Revived Theodore Roosevelt Sr.'s custom of early-morning, unannounced, tours of inspection.