Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1894 — "Why, Indeed? [ARTICLE]

"Why, Indeed?

Why should a police officer in chase of a fugitive in the street feel called upon to use firearms? That is a query which it is difficult for the police to answer. A man on the police force draws a good salary—about twice as much as, with his education, he could make in any business. He is supposed to be in good physical condition, so that he may run down any criminal who seeks safety in flight. But it would he safe to wager that no two police officers in ten on the San Francisco force could ’ overtake a fairly athletic criminal if the fugitive were given a start of half a block. The majority of our police are too fat; their lungs are in such poor conditicn'that if a fugitive runs up a steep street the chances are all in favor of his escape. It is only fair to demand of the police that they keep in as fair condition as the regular army, but every one knows that such a comparison would be fatal to the force. Why not have regular police inspection and throw out the men who accumulate fat on beer and idleness? — San Francisco Chronicle.