Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-09-17

AN ACT to croRte Metropolitan Police District Of
the district of Columbia, and to establish police
therefor,


AN ACT to croate Metropolitan Police District of
the district of Columbia, and to establish police
therefor.
lie 1t enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sGntatyes Of the United States of America in Con-
greSs assembled, That the Corporations Of Washing
ton aud Georgetown, and the county Of Washington,
outside OF the limits Of said corporations. are hereby
constituted for tho purposes Of this act into dis
trct to he called '.rhe Metropolitan Police District
OF the District Of CUlumbia"
Sec. . Aud bu II further enacted, That iminetli-
atcly upon the passage OF this act aud thereafter
from time to time. as required by this act, there
shall be appointed 10y the President Of the United
States, by and with the advice and consent Of the
Senate five Commissioners OF Police, who shall be
chief officers Of the said metropolitan Police Dis
trict. and who shall Severdlly possess anti letiOrm
therein tho powers aud duties authorized and EN-.
jOine by this act. The said commissioners. togeth-
cr with tile mayors OF the cities Of Washington unl
ticorEetOwu UfIicO, shall form the board uf 1.
lice for the said district. nni majority Of them shall
constitute quorum VI such board for the transtc=
tinn of business.
Sec - And lie it further enacted. That three Of
said commissioners shall bo appointed from the cit,
OF Washington, one from Georgetown, and one from
tile county Of Washington at large for tho term Of
three years and until their successors are appointed
aud qualified, unless soouer removed by the pFcs-
dent Tile said commissioners shall meet ut such
time aud place may be designated by the Pre-i-
dent of the United States; AMI after being duly quail
iaed by taking aud subscribing oath nr niiirmh-
IiOn before some person daily authorized to atlnn=
ter Onthsin said District to support the Const tuition
of the Unit States and faithfully to discharge tile
4
duties rs prescribed by this act.
Sec T. And be 1t further enacted, That the officers
OF the board Of police shall be president aud a
treasurer, who shall each be selected from among
said commissioners by themselves, who shall dis
charge sncl duties the board may prescribe. Tile
treasurer shall give bond, with two suteties, tn the
satisfaction of said board. in tho penal OF ten
thousand dollars, for the faithful discharge Of tll
duties uf his Office. The baarl may also appoint u
clerk. to hold his office during the pleasure of the
par,i. and receive II compensation 10 be- fixed by
the board not to exceed the rate Of Thousand
dollars per NnnuuI, and who shall perform such dI
ties AS may be required by said board Of police.
Sec. .. And be it further enacted, That 1t shall lie
the duty Of the board Of police hereby constituted
Mt al timesO Of the day and night within the bounla
ries Of said police district, to preserve tile public
peace; To prevent crime, aud arrest Oetders tn pro
tcct the rights of persons an OF property; to guard
the public health; TO preserve order at every pubic
election: to remove nuiinces existing ia the public
streets, roads, alleys, highways. and other places;
provide proper police hrre ut every fire.
iu "r,ler that thereby the Il emen anil property
may lie nrOiectrtli to protect strungers and tTaV.
ci5Ts at steamboat and ship landings and railway
stations; to that all laws relating the olNtrT
Hnce Of Sunday, Ani rcgariing Pawh-brOkeTs, mock
auctions elections. gambling intenpcrince. lottery
dealers vagrant disOrierly persons and the public
obey all llwsand ordinances OF the city councils Of
tile cities of Washington and Georgetown, Which
properly applicable to police or health. and not In
sec. o. And bo tt further enacted, That the duties
Of the board OF police shall be esrccially exc
cIiiel under the direction and control Of sail Dva
and accounting rules aud regulations which 1t Is
reby authorized TO pass from time time, for tile
proper government aud discipline OF its subordinate
officers lay police force for the whole Of said police
district and authorized to do duty ia any part there
Ur without regard TO residence corporation Ines
Sec. Z. And be 1t further enacted. That tho said
police force shall consist nf superintendent Of po
lice ten sergclnts Of police and sncl number OF pO
lice patrOlmc Rs the beard may deem necessary, mot
exceeding for the regular service, ono hundred and
htty The said offices hereby created for tile said pO-
lice force shall be sevsrally fllel by appointment
from the board of police and each person SO appoiil-
dnflie nal
faithfully observe and execute all the rules and reg.
nations Of the said boIrd, the laws Of the United
states, and the laws ordinances existing Within
the district. enactclly the city county autEOri-
ties within the same, and which laws ordinances
apply to such part Of the district where tile
bers OF the police force may be on duty.
Sec s. And be IL further enactet That the quAli-
fCltiOns, enumeration. and distribution Of duties
mode OF trial, and removal fcon Office. Of each officer
OF sid police fOrce, shall lie particularly DEFINED and
prescribed by rnles aud regulations OF tho board Of
police in accordance with the Constitution and laws
Of the United States applicable thereto; Provided
hnweTer, That no person shall he appointed TO
Office, or hold Office in Tie police force aforesaid who
cannot read and write the English language, who
is not citizen Of the United States, who shall
eT have been Indicted and convicted Of crime: And
provided, That no person shall be removed there
iTOm except upon written charges preferred against
him to the board nf police and after an Opp1rfuuity
shall have been afforded him OF being heard in Eis de
fence.
Sec o. And he It further enacted. That the mem.
bers Of the said police foIcs shal possess in every
part OF the District OF Columbia ali the common Law
anu statutory powers OF consAbies except ior the
service OF civil process and AEy warrant for search
or arrest Issued by any nAstrlte Of tad District Il
Columbia, may be executed in any part Of said Die
triet by any member OF said police force without any
lacking or enforcement Of the said warrant and ae-
c1riing to the terms thereof; and all the provisions
Of Law In relation to the giving aud taking Of bail In
said district shall apply to this act. Tie supeFin-
tendent Of police aud the Eergeants Of police having
Just cause to suspect thar any felony has been or
being or is about to be- committed within any bull
ding. on boarlOf any ship. boat or vessel within
the said district, may enter upon the same at All
hours OF day or night 70 take all necessary measures
for the eheetuAl prevention detection ofAIl fel0
neS, and may take then and there into custody an
persons suspected Of being concerned in such faIo
pies and also may take charge Of all property which
ne or they shall have then and there just cause to
suspect ha8 been stolen.
Sec 10. And be Il further enacted. Thatthe board
OF police may divide the said district into precincts
not exceeding ten, and may assign one sergeant Of