On 23rd August 1856 all 6 Criminal Officers other then McLevy were assigned to night shift to work with plain clothes officers. Why McLevy was excused night duty is unknown although in his introduction to his first book he offers to resign as he can no longer perform his duties as a night watchman. John McGowan made comment that McLevy was not popular with fellow officers and this special treatment can  not have helped his case.

The full text of the order is

“Each of the seven criminal officers (excluding M’Levie) will in regular rotation do duty in the streets with one of the pair of plain clothes men appointed for night duty in the New Town between the hours of 10pm and 5 am and will not resume ordinary duty until the afternoon.