In recent weeks, the department has begun sending laptop computers and digital cameras to the 96 captains and inspectors who command the department's 76 precincts and 20 housing and transit commands.
It was created by Congress – with President Bush's support – as part of the helter-skelter intelligence reorganisation that also saw the creation of several other vast, unneeded agencies: the northern command, the department of homeland security, the national counterterrorism centre and others.
For blue shirts, training dictates that they act as a team, not as individuals, said Thomas Graham, a retired deputy chief who until last year commanded the department's Disorder Control Unit.
"We don't use it indiscriminately like other cities do," said Thomas Graham, a retired deputy chief who until last year commanded the department's Disorder Control Unit.
He started as a patrolman, then rose to command the police departments of New York, Atlanta and Houston, going on to become President Bill Clinton's antidrug czar and, since 1997, mayor of Houston.
To create structure, we placed our employees in the following different departments: Command, Outpatient Records, Observation, Treatment, Medical Technology Support, Health and Epidemic Prevention, and Logistics Support.
He was promoted to major general in the regular army (August 1864), and after the war he commanded several military departments.
That was the case with his first command as the department's youngest lieutenant at the age of 28.
After the war Thomas commanded the military departments in Kentucky and Tennessee until 1869, when he was placed in charge of the Division of the Pacific with headquarters at San Francisco.
