ions. One of the Sergeants is required to
remain at the Station House at all times.

Two Roundsmen are selected by the Commissioners from the Patrolmen of
each precinct, and one of them is assigned to each platoon. They have
the immediate supervision of the Patrolmen, and are required to exercise
a vigilant watch over them at all times.

The Patrolmen are the privates of the force. They are assigned certain
"beats" or districts to watch. Many of these beats are too large for the
care of one man, and more is expected of the Patrolman than he is capable
of performing. He is required to exercise the utmost vigilance to
prevent the occurrence of any crime within his beat, and to render the
commission of it difficult, at the least. The occurrence of a crime on
the streets is always regarded as presumptive evidence of negligence on
his part, and he is obliged to show that he was strictly attending to his
duties at the time. He is required to watch vigilantly every person
passing him while on duty, to examine frequently the doors, lower
windows, and gates of the houses on his beat, and warn the occupants if
any are open or unlocked; to have a general knowledge of the persons
residing in his beat; to report to his commanding officer "all persons
known or suspected of being policy dealers, gamblers, receivers of stolen
property, thieves, burglars, or offenders of any kind;" to watch all
disorderly houses or houses of ill-fame, and observe "and report to his
commanding officer _all persons by whom they are frequented_;" to do
certain other things for the preservation of the public peace; and to
arrest for certain offences, all of which are laid down in the volume of
Regulations, of which each member of the force is obliged to have a copy.
Patrolmen are not allowed to converse with each other, except to ask or
impart information, upon meeting at the confines of their posts; "and
they must not engage in conversation with any person on any part of their
post, except in regard to matters concerning the immediate discharge of
their duties."

The uniform of the force is a frock coat and pants of dark blue navy
cloth, and a glazed cap. In the summer the dress is a sack and pants of
dark blue navy flannel. The officers are distinguished by appropriate
badges. Each member of the force is provided with a shield of a peculiar
pattern, on which is his number. This is his badge of office, and he is
obliged to show it when require