A school of pistol practice was established, and the marksmanship of the force was wonderfully improved.

The man in charge of the school was a roundsman, Petty, whom we promoted to sergeant.

He was one of the champion revolver shots of the country, and could hit just about where he aimed.

Twice he was forced to fire at criminals who resisted arrest, and in each case he hit his man in the arm or leg, simply stopping him without danger to his life.
In May, 1896, a number of burglaries occurred far uptown, in the neighborhood of One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Street and Union Avenue.
Two officers were sent out each night to patrol the streets in plain clothes.

About two o'clock on the morning of May 8 they caught a glimpse of two men loitering about a large corner house, and determined to make them explain their actions.