Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-09
OFFICIAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES,
Passed at the First Session OF the Thirty
Seventh Congress.
[PUBLIC-No. 57.1

[PUBuC-No 57l
AN ACT to create Metropolitan Police District of
The District OF Columbia, and to establish po-
lice therefor
sentaiYes of the Uuited States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That the corporations OF Washing
ton and Georgetown, and the county OF Washing
ton, outside OF the limits of said corporations are
hereby constituted for the purposes of this act into
one district to be called the metropolitan Police
District OF the District Of Columbia.n
SEC 2 And be it further enacted, That immedi-
ately upon the passage of this act, and thereafter
from time to time as required by this act, there
shall be appointed by the president of the United
states, by and with the advice and consent of the
senate, five commissioners of police, who shall be
the chief officers of the said metropolitan Police
District and who shall seYerally possess and per-
form therein the powers and duties authorized and
enjOined by this act. The said commissioners, to-
gether with the mayors of the cities OF Washington
and Georgetown, eX Ofllco shall form the board of
police for the said district, aud majority of them
shall constitute quorum of such board for the
transaction of business.
Sec 8. And be it further enacted, That three of
said commissioners shall be appointed from the city
of Washington, one from Georgetown, and one
from the county of Washington at large, for the
term of three years, and until their
appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by
the president. The said commissioners shall meet
at such time and place as may be designated by the
president of the United States; and after being duly
qualled by taking and subscribing an oath or afiir
nation before some person duly authorized to adj
minister oahs in said District to support the CON
discharge the duties of his office, sha proceed to
discharge said duties as prescribed by this act.
Sec 4. And be it further enacted That the officers
OF the board of police shall be a president and n
treasurer, who shall each be selected from among
said commissioners by themselves, who shall dis
charge such duties as the board may prescribe The
treasurer shall give bond, with two surees to the
satisfaction of said board. in the penal sum of ten
thousand dollars, for the faithful discharge of the
duties of his Office, The board may also appoint a
clerk, to hold his office during the pleasure of the
board, and to receive compensation to be fixed by
tle board, not TO exceed the rate OF one thousand
dollars per annuln, and who shall perform such
duties as may be required by said board of po-
Sec 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be
the duty OF the board of police hereby constitu-
Ieq, AZ all times of the day aud night, within the
public peace to prevent crime, and arrest Offend
ers; TO protect the rights of persons and Of proper
tyi TO guard the public ealth to preserve order at
every public election; to remove nuiSances existing
IN the public streets, roads, alleys, highways, and
other places to provide proper police force at eve
ny fire in order that thereby the iremen and prop
erty may be protected; to protect strangers and
travellers at steamboat and ship landings and rail
way stations; to see that all laws relating to the OBJ
seWance of Sunday, and regarding pawnbrokers
mock auctions, elections gambling, intemperance,
lottery Dealers Migrants, dsorderly persons, and the
public health, promptly enforced and TO enforce
and obey all laws and ordinances of the city coun
ellis of the cities OF Washington and Georgetown
which are properly applicable TO police or health
and not inconsistent with the provisions of this act
SEC. g. And be it further enacted, That the duties
OF the board OF police shall be more especially exc
cuted under the direction ana control OF SAID board
anu according TO rules and regulations which II
Is hereby authorized to pass, from time to time, for
tile proper government and discipline of its subor.
dlnate officers, by police force for the whole OF
said police district and authorized 10 do duty i'll any
part thereof, without regard to residence or copo
ration lines.
SEC. T. And be it further enacted, That the said
police force shall consist OF superintendent of po-
ice, ten sergeants of police, and such number OF
police police patromen as the board may deem ne
cessary, exceeding for the regular service, one
for the said police force shall be seyerally filed by
appointment from the board OF police and each per-
son so appointed shall hold Office only during such
time as he shall faithfully observe and execute all
the rules and regulations of the said board, the
laws of the United States, and the laws or ordin-
anceS existing within the district, enacted by the
city or county authorities within the the same, and
which laws or ordinances apply to such part of the
district where the members of the police force may
be ON duty.
Sec. s. And be it further enacted, That the quail
fcations, enumeration, and distribution of duties
mode of trial, and removal from office, of each
oIncer Of said police force, shall be particularly
defined and prescribed by rules and regulations OF
the board Of police, in accordance with the consti-
tuition and laws OF the United States applicable
thereto: Provided, however, That no person shall
be so appointed 70 office, or hold office in the police
force aforesaid, who cannot read and write the Eng
llsh language, who is not citizen OF the United
States, or who shall ever have been indicted and
convicted of crime: And provided. That no person
shall be removed therefrom except upon written
charges preferred against him to The board OF po-
lice and after an opportunity shall have been afford
ed him of being heard in his defense.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted That the MEM
bers of the said police force shall possess, in every
part of the District of Columbia, all the common
law and statutory powers OF constables except for
the service of civil process and any warrant for
search or arrest, issued by any magistrate of said
District of Columbia, may be executed in any part
of said district by any member OF said police force
without any backing or endorsement OF the SAID
warrant, and according to the terms thereof; and
all the provisions of law in relation to the giving
and taking of bail in said district shall apply to this
rhae pff anli md nj
of police having just cause to suspect that any TEL
ony has been, or is being or is about to be, COM
mitted within any building, or ON board OF any
ship, boat, or vessel within the said district, may
enter upon the same at all hours OF day or night to
take all necessary measures for the ehecual peven-
ton detection of all telonies and may take then
and there into custody all persons suspected OF being
concerned in such felonies, and also may take
charge of all property which he or they shall nave
then and there Just cause to suspect has been stolen
SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the board
of police may divide the said district into precincts,
not exceeding ten, and may assign one sergeant OF
police to each of said precincts. The board may,
from time to time establish station sub-station
in each precinct for the accommodation OF the po-
lice force on duty therein. 1t may, from time to
time, detail and change, without regard TO or limit
alton of residence. the sergeants or patrolmen TO
such parts of the District to such of the police
or criminal courts and to the public offices OF the
government of the United States or of the cities OF
washington and Georgetown as it may deem ad-
Visable. 1t shall promulgate all regulations and
orders through the superintendent OF police, who
Washington or Georgetown, as being the head Of
the police departments or force in the said cities
but always subject to the orders and regulations
the board fpoce; and it shall be the duty of the
police force to respect and obey the said superin
tendent ofpolice, the head and chief of the same
subject to the rules and regulations and genel al or
ders of the board of police
Sec H. And belt further enacted, That the boarG
of police, whenever it shall see fit SHALL on the ap
plcation of any person or persons, showing the
necessity thereof appoint and swear any additions
number of patrolmen to duty at any place within
the said district at the charge and expense of tn,
person or persons by whom the application shall b,
made, tbut not to exceed the yearly sum provided
for patrolmen of the force provided by this act ~
the general police forcel and the patrolmen so ap
appointed shall be subject to the orders of the boait
OF police and shall obey the rules and regulation
of the board, and conform to its general discipn,
and TO such other special regulations may b,
made, and shall wear such dress or emblem as tn,
board may direct, and SHALL during the term o
their holding appointment, possess all the powers
privileges and duties of the patrol force heretotor
| prescribed. The persons SO employed may be re
moved at any time by the board of police, witho,.
| assigning cause thereof upon one months motto
! of the intention SO to do, given to the person o