Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-11

otNenIn CongffsS.
fIUBLIC-No 81
AN ACT to create Metropolitan Police District of
The District Of Columbia, aud to establish po~
lice therefor.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes 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
district, TO be called the metropolitan Police
District OF the District of Columbia
SEc.2 And be it further enacted, That immcdi-
aely 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, hYe commissioners OF police, who shall be
the chief officers OF the said metropolitan Police
District and who shall Seyeraly 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. otlcIo. shall form the board of
police for the said district aud majority of them
SHAH constitute quorum of such board for the
transaction OF business.
Sec 3. And be il further enacted, That three Of
said commissioners shall be appointed from the city
OF Washington one from Georgetown, and one
from tile county of Washington at large, Tor the
term OF three years and until their SUCCESSORS are
appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by
the president The said commissioners shall meet
at stlch line and place as may be designated by the
president OF the United States and after being duly
qualified by taking and subscribing an oath AFR
nation before some person duy authorized to ad.
minister oaths in said District 10 support the
stituhon OF the United States, and faithfully 10
discharge the duties OF his office, shall 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 he a president and
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 boud with two sureiies to thu
satisfaction of said board. in the penal Of ter
Thousand dollars, for the faithful discharge of the
duties OF his office, The board may also appoint
CLERK, to hold his Office during the pleasure of The
board ana 10 receive compensation to be fixed by
tAe hoard, not to exceed the rate OF one thousand
dollars per annum, aud who shall perform such
duties as may be required by said board of pu-
Sec ). And be it further enacted, That it shall b..
the duty OF the board OF police hereby coustitu-
ted, at al times of the day and night within the
boundaries of the said police district preserve the
PuoHc peace 10 prevent crime, and arrest offend
eTS TO protect the rights of PERSONS aud of proper.
W to guard the pubic, heafh TO preserve order at
every puDhc election to remove nuisances existing;
IN tie public streets roads, alleys, highways, and
other places to provide proper police force at eve
~ hre' IN oTderfhat thereby the iiremen and prop
cry may be pr0iected to protect strangers and
tTaNeler at steamboat and ship landings and rail
WaI>stations 10 that all laws relating to the OBJ
--seaf anee of Sunday, and regarding pawnbrokers
mock auctions, elections. gambling intemperance,
lottery dealers, Migrants. dsofderjy persons, and the
public health are promptly enforced, and to entorc.
and obey all laws and ordinances of the city coun-
ellis of the cities OF Washington and Georgetown
which properly applicable to police or health.
ana not inconsistent with the provisions of this act.
u Nc u lhtlueI Iuai tlle ulilleS
OF the board OF police shall be more especially exc
cuteu unuer tle ulIecon ana control OF SAID board.
and according 10 rules and regulations which it
Is hereby authorized to pass, from time to time for
the proper government and discipline of its subor-
dinate officers by police force for the whole OF
said police district and authorized to do duty in any
part thereof without regard TO residence or cOfpO
ration lines
SEC 7. And be il further enacted, That the said
police force shall consist of a superintendent of po
lce, ten sergeants of police, and such number OF
police police patTOlmen the board may deem
ceSsary, not exceeding for the regular service one
hundred and fifty. The said offices hereby created
for Inc said police force shall be scverally filled by
appointment from the board ofpolice and each per-
son so appointed shall hold office only during such
time as he shall faithfully observe and execute all
tue rales ana regulations OF the said board, the
laws OF the United States, and the laws ordin-
ances existing within the district, enacted by the
city county authorities within the the same, and
which laws or ordinances apply to such part of the
qlstlct where the members OF the police force may
be on duty.
Sec D. And be 1t further enacted, !hat the quail
hcalons enumeration, ana Distribution oil duties,
houe OF tflal, ana removal from once, OF ehch
oneef o. sala ponce i9Ice, shall 3e paTueuary
ucu,leu anu piescIlpeu u! rtes anu iSguiatlohs ol
tle Doara Of PONCE IN accoluahee Win the consul
tuloh ana laws OF the Ohlleo STATES apphcaple
iueIeto; IioNlqeu, h1Me'eI' lhat 40 person sillll
1e SO appointed 20 once o! hoG once "a me ponce
force aforesaid, who cannot read and write the Eng
nsh language, OF VINO is not citizen OF The United
States, or who shall ever nave been indicted and
convicted of crime: And provided, That no person
snail be removed therefrom except upon written
charges preferred against MIN 10 lie board OF pO-
lice, and after opportunity shall have been a0 d.
ed him of being heard in his defense.
See. 8. 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 tor
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, ana according to the terms thereof; and
all the provisions Of law IN relation to the giving
aud taking otbai III said district shall apply TO this
act. The superintendent OF police and the serseants
OF police having just cause to suspect that any el-
onY HAS peen, OF Is belllg, or Is about TO Pc COM
mnied WITHIN any Dulalng' or ON board OF any
snip, boat, or iessei WITHIN Inc sald dlsI1c may
enter upon the same al all hours OF day or night, to
lake all necessary measures Tor the ehectual proven
non or detection OF al felonies and may take then
and there into custody all persons suspected OF being
concerned in such teloniesi and also may take
charge of all property which he or they shall have
then and there just suspect has been stolen
SEC 10. And be it further enacted. That the board
OF police may divide the said district in TO precincts
not exceeding ten aud NAV assign one sergeant OF
police TO each of said precipcts The hoard NAV
from time TO time establish a .fatinn or stafior
in each precinct for the Accommodation of the no
lice force on duty therein IL ,nay from limo 70
time, detail and change. without rsa m or limit
alton of residence. the sergeants az natrolmen 10
such parts of the district or Ia sneb III ,he noiico
or criminal courts and to the public ofiices IF th
government of the United States or of the ei.ies ~