Weshowedrecognitionofdaringandofpersonalprowessintwoways：
first，byawardingamedaloracertificateinremembranceofthedeed；and，second，bygivingitweightinmakinganypromotion，especiallytothelowergrades。Inthehighergrades——inallpromotionsabovethatofsergeant，forinstance——resoluteanddaringcouragecannotnormallybeconsideredasafactorofdeterminingweightinmakingpromotions；ratherisitaqualitythelackofwhichunfitsamanforpromotion。Forinthehigherplaceswemustassumetheexistenceofsuchaqualityinanyfitcandidate，andmustmakethepromotionwithaviewtotheman’senergy，executivecapacity，andpowerofcommand。Inthelowergrades，however，markedgallantryshouldalwaysbetakenintoaccountindecidingamongdifferentcandidatesforanygivenplace。
Duringourtwoyears’servicewefounditnecessaryoverahundredtimestosingleoutmenforspecialmentionbecauseofsomefeatofheroism。Theheroismusuallytookoneoffourforms：savingsomebodyfromdrowning，savingsomebodyfromaburningbuilding，stoppingarunawayteam，orarrestingsomeviolentlawbreakerunderexceptionalcircumstances。Toillustrateourmethodofaction，IwilltaketwoofthefirstpromotionsmadeafterIbecameCommissioner。Onecasewasthatofanoldfellow，aveteranoftheCivilWar，whowasatthetimearoundsman。Ihappenedtonoticeonedaythathehadsavedawomanfromdrowning，andhadhimsummonedsothatImightlookintothematter。Theoldfellowbroughtuphisrecordbeforeme，andshowednotalittlenervousnessandagitation；foritappearedthathehadgrowngrayintheservice，hadperformedfeatafterfeatofheroism，buthadnopoliticalbackingofanyaccount。Noheedhadeverbeenpaidhim。
Hewasoneofthequietmenwhoattendsolelytoduty，andalthoughaGrandArmyman，hehadneversoughttouseinfluenceofanykind。Now，atlast，hethoughttherewasachanceforhim。Hehadbeentwenty-twoyearsontheforce，andduringthattimehadsavedsometwenty-fivepersonsfromdeathbydrowning，varyingtheperformancetwoorthreetimesbysavingpersonsfromburningbuildings。TwiceCongresshadpassedlawsespeciallytoempowerthethenSecretaryoftheTreasury，JohnSherman，togivehimamedalfordistinguishedgallantryinsavinglife。TheLife-SavingSocietyhadalsogivenhimitsmedal，andsohadthePoliceDepartment。Therewasnotacomplaintinallhisrecordagainsthimforanyinfractionofduty，andhewassoberandtrustworthy。Hewasentitledtohispromotion；andhegotit，thereandthen。Itmaybeworthmentioningthathekeptonsavinglifeafterhewasgivenhissergeantcy。OnOctober21，1896，heagainrescuedamanfromdrowning。Itwasatnight，nobodyelsewasintheneighborhood，andthedockfromwhichhejumpedwasinabsolutedarkness，andhewastenminutesinthewater，whichwasverycold。Hewasfifty-fiveyearsoldwhenhesavedthisman。Itwasthetwenty-
ninthpersonwhoselifehehadsavedduringhistwenty-threeyears’
serviceintheDepartment。
Theothermanwasapatrolmanwhomwepromotedtoroundsmanforactivityincatchingaburglarunderratherpeculiarcircumstances。I
happenedtonotehisgettingaburglaroneweek。Apparentlyhehadfallenintothehabit，forhegotanothernextweek。Inthelattercasetheburglarescapedfromthehousesoonaftermidnight，andranawaytowardParkAvenue，withthepolicemaninhotchase。TheNewYorkCentralRailroadrunsunderParkAvenue，andthereisasuccessionofopeningsinthetopofthetunnel。Findingthatthepolicemanwasgainingonhim，theburglartookadesperatechanceandleapeddownoneoftheseopenings，attheriskofbreakinghisneck。Nowtheburglarwasrunningforhisliberty，anditwasthepartofwisdomforhimtoimperillifeorlimb；butthepolicemanwasmerelydoinghisduty，andnobodycouldhaveblamedhimfornottakingthejump。
However，hejumped；andinthisparticularcasethehandoftheLordwasheavyupontheunrighteous。Theburglarhadthebreathknockedoutofhim，andthe“cop“didn’t。Whenhisvictimcouldwalk，theofficertrottedhimaroundtothestation-house；andaweekafterIhadtheofficerupandpromotedhim，forhewassober，trustworthy，andstrictlyattentivetoduty。
NowIthinkthatanydecentmanofreasonableintelligencewillagreethatwewerequiterightinpromotingmenincaseslikethese，andquiterightinexcludingpoliticsfrompromotions。Yetitwasbecauseofourconsistentlyactinginthismanner，resolutelywarringondishonestyandonthatpeculiarformofbasenesswhichmasqueradesas“practical“politics，andsteadilyrefusingtopayheedtoanyconsiderationexceptthegoodoftheserviceandthecity，andthemeritsofthementhemselves，thatwedrewdownuponourheadsthebitterandmalignantanimosityofthebread-and-butterspoilspoliticians。TheysecuredtherepealoftheCivilServiceLawbytheStateLegislature。Theyattemptedandalmostsucceededintheefforttolegislateusoutofoffice。Theyjoinedwiththebaserportionofthesensationalpressineveryspeciesoffoul，indecentfalsehoodandslanderastowhatweweredoing。Theyattemptedtoseduceorfrightenusbyeveryspeciesofintrigueandcajolery，ofpromiseofpoliticalrewardandthreatofpoliticalpunishment。Theyfailedintheirpurpose。Ibelieveinpoliticalorganizations，andIbelieveinpracticalpolitics。Ifamanisnotpractical，heisofnouseanywhere。Butwhenpoliticianstreatpracticalpoliticsasfoulpolitics，andwhentheyturnwhatoughttobeanecessaryandusefulpoliticalorganizationintoamachinerunbyprofessionalspoilsmenoflowmoralityintheirowninterest，thenitistimetodrivethepoliticianfrompubliclife，andeithertomendordestroythemachine，accordingasthenecessitymaydetermine。
Wepromotedtoroundsmanapatrolman，withanalreadyexcellentrecord，forgallantryshowninafraywhichresultedinthedeathofhisantagonist。Hewasafteragangoftoughswhohadjustwaylaid，robbed，andbeatenaman。Theyscatteredandhepursuedtheringleader。Runninghard，hegainedonhisman，whereuponthelattersuddenlyturnedandfiredfullinhisface。Theofficeralreadyhadhisrevolverdrawn，andthetwoshotsrangoutalmosttogether。Thepolicemanwaswithinafractionofdeath，forthebulletfromhisopponent’spistolwentthroughhishelmetandjustbroketheskinofhishead。Hisownaimwastruer，andthemanhewasafterfelldead，shotthroughtheheart。ImayexplainthatIhavenottheslightestsympathywithanypolicywhichtendstoputthepolicemanatthemercyofatough，orwhichdepriveshimofefficientweapons。WhilePoliceCommissionerwepunishedanybrutalitybythepolicewithsuchimmediateseveritythatallcasesofbrutalitypracticallycametoanend。Nodecentcitizenhadanythingtofearfromthepoliceduringthetwoyearsofmyservice。Butweconsistentlyencouragedthepolicetoprovethattheviolentcriminalwhoendeavoredtomolestthemortoresistarrest，ortointerferewiththeminthedischargeoftheirduty，washimselfingravejeopardy；andwehadevery“gang“brokenupandthememberspunishedwithwhateverseveritywasnecessary。Ofcoursewherepossibletheofficermerelycrippledthecriminalwhowasviolent。
Oneofthethingsthatwedidwhileinofficewastotrainthemenintheuseofthepistol。Aschoolofpistolpracticewasestablished，andthemarksmanshipoftheforcewaswonderfullyimproved。Themaninchargeoftheschoolwasaroundsman，Petty，whomwepromotedtosergeant。Hewasoneofthechampionrevolvershotsofthecountry，andcouldhitjustaboutwhereheaimed。Twicehewasforcedtofireatcriminalswhoresistedarrest，andineachcasehehithismaninthearmorleg，simplystoppinghimwithoutdangertohislife。
InMay，1896，anumberofburglariesoccurredfaruptown，intheneighborhoodofOneHundredandFifty-sixthStreetandUnionAvenue。
Twoofficersweresentouteachnighttopatrolthestreetsinplainclothes。Abouttwoo’clockonthemorningofMay8theycaughtaglimpseoftwomenloiteringaboutalargecornerhouse，anddeterminedtomakethemexplaintheiractions。Inordertocutofftheirescape，oneofficerwentdownonestreetandonetheother。Thefirstofficer，whosenamewasRyan，foundthetwomenatthegatewayofthesideentranceofthehouse，andhailedtoknowwhattheyweredoing。Withoutanswering，theyturnedandrantowardProspectAvenue，withRyaninclosepursuit。Afterrunningaboutonehundredfeet，oneofthemturnedandfiredthreeshotsatRyan，butfailedtohithim。
Thetwothenseparated，andthemanwhohaddonetheshootingescaped。
Theotherman，whosenameprovedtobeO’Connor，againtooktohisheels，withRyanstillafterhim；theyturnedthecornerandmettheotherofficer，whosenamewasReid，runningashardashecouldtowardtheshooting。WhenO’ConnorsawhimselfcutoffbyReid，hefiredathisnewfoe，thebulletcuttingReid’sovercoatontheleftshoulder。
Reidpromptlyfiredinreturn，hisbulletgoingintoO’Connor’sneckandcausinghimtoturnacompletesomersault。Thetwoofficersthencaredfortheirprisoneruntiltheambulancearrived，whenhewastakentothehospitalandpronouncedmortallywounded。Hiscompanionwasafterwardcaught，andtheyturnedouttobetheveryburglarsforwhomReidandRyanhadbeenonthelookout。
InDecember，1896，oneofourofficerswasshot。Arowoccurredinarestaurant，whichendedintwoyoungtoughsdrawingtheirrevolversandliterallyrunningamuck，shootingtwoorthreemen。Apoliceman，attractedbythenoise，ranupandseizedoneofthem，whereupontheothershothiminthemouth，woundinghimbadly。Nevertheless，theofficerkepthisprisonerandcarriedhimtothestation-house。Thetoughwhohaddonetheshootingranoutandwasseizedbyanotherofficer。Thetoughfiredathim，thebulletpassingthroughtheofficer’sovercoat，buthewaspromptlyknockeddown，disarmed，andbroughttothestation-house。Inthiscaseneitherpolicemanusedhisrevolver，andeachbroughtinhisman，althoughthelatterwasarmedandresistedarrest，oneoftheofficerstakinginhisprisonerafterhavingbeenhimselfseverelywounded。Alamentablefeatureofthecasewasthatthissameofficerwasamanwho，thoughcapableofgreatgallantry，wasalsogiventoshirkinghiswork，andwewerefinallyobligedtodismisshimfromtheforce，afterpassingovertwoorthreeglaringmisdeedsinviewofhisrecordforcourage。
Wepromotedanothermanonaccountoffindingoutaccidentallythathehadperformedanotablefeat，whichhehadforborneeventomention，sothathisnamenevercameontherollofhonor。Lateatnight，whilepatrollingalonelypartofhispost，hecameuponthreeyoungtoughswhohadturnedhighwaymenandwererobbingapeddler。Heraninatoncewithhisnight-stick，whereuponthetoughsshowedfight，andoneofthemstruckathimwithabludgeon，breakinghislefthand。Theofficer，however，madesuchgooduseofhisnight-stickthatheknockeddowntwoofhisassailants，whereuponthethirdranaway，andhebroughtbothofhisprisonerstothestation-house。Thenhewentroundtothehospital，hadhisbrokenhandsetinplaster，andactuallyreportedfordutyatthenexttour，withoutlosingonehour。
Hewasaquietfellow，witharecordfreefromcomplaints，andwemadehimroundsman。
Themountedsquadhave，ofcourse，manyopportunitiestodistinguishthemselvesinstoppingrunaways。InMay，1895，amountedpolicemannamedHeyersucceededinstoppingarunawayatKingsbridgeunderrathernoteworthycircumstances。Twomenweredrivinginabuggy，whenthehorsestumbled，andinrecoveringhimselfbrokethehead-stall，sothatthebridlefelloff。Thehorsewasaspiritedtrotter，andatonceranawayatfullspeed。Heyersawtheoccurrence，andfollowedatarun。Whenhegotalongsidetherunawayheseizedhimbytheforelock，guidedhimdexterouslyoverthebridge，preventinghimfromrunningintothenumerouswagonsthatwereontheroad，andfinallyforcedhimupahillandintoawagon-shed。Threemonthslaterthissameofficersavedamanfromdrowning。
Themembersofthebicyclesquad，whichwasestablishedshortlyafterwetookoffice，soongrewtoshownotonlyextraordinaryproficiencyonthewheel，butextraordinarydaring。Theyfrequentlystoppedrunaways，wheelingalongsideofthem，andgraspingthehorseswhilegoingatfullspeed；and，whatwasevenmoreremarkable，theymanagednotonlytoovertakebuttojumpintothevehicleandcapture，ontwoorthreedifferentoccasions，menwhowereguiltyofrecklessdriving，andwhofoughtviolentlyinresistingarrest。Theywerepickedmen，beingyoungandactive，andanyfeatofdaringwhichcouldbeaccomplishedonthewheeltheywerecertaintoaccomplish。
Threeofthebestridersofthebicyclesquad，whosenamesandrecordshappentooccurtome，weremenofthethreeethnicstrainsmoststronglyrepresentedintheNewYorkpoliceforce，beingrespectivelyofnativeAmerican，German，andIrishparentage。
TheGermanwasamanofenormouspower，andhewasabletostopeachofthemanyrunawayshetackledwithoutlosinghiswheel。Choosinghistime，hewouldgetalongsidethehorseandseizethebitinhislefthand，keepinghisrightonthecrossbarofthewheel。Bydegreeshethengottheanimalundercontrol。Heneverfailedtostopit，andheneverlosthiswheel。Healsoneverfailedtoovertakeany“scorcher。”
althoughmanyofthesewereprofessionalriderswhodeliberatelyviolatedthelawtoseeiftheycouldnotgetawayfromhim；forthewheelmensoongettoknowtheofficerswhosebeatstheycross。
TheYankee，thoughatall，powerfulmanandaverygoodrider，scarcelycameuptotheGermanineitherrespect；hepossessedexceptionalability，however，aswellasexceptionalnerveandcoolness，andhealsowonhispromotion。Hestoppedaboutasmanyrunaways；butwhenthehorsewasreallypanic-strickenheusuallyhadtoturnhiswheelloose，gettingafirmgriponthehorse’sreinsandthenkickinghiswheelsothatitwouldfalloutofthewayofinjuryfromthewagon。Ononeoccasionhehadafightwithadrunkenandrecklessdriverwhowasurgingtotopspeedaspiritedhorse。Hefirstgotholdofthehorse，whereuponthedriverlashedbothhimandthebeast，andtheanimal，alreadymadwithterror，couldnotbestopped。