Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-08-23


establish police therefor.
Bell enacted 5y tie Senate and House of Repre-
ssniaiiues Of the United States Of America
in Congress assembled, That the Corporations Q
Washington aud Georgetown, and the county o
Washington outside Of the limits Of said corpo-
rations, are hereby constituted, for the purposet
of this act, into one district, to be called " Thu
Metropolitan Police District of the District o
Columbia"
SIC. 2. And be IL further enacted That, imme
diately upon the passage of this act, and there
after from time to time, MS required by this act
there shall be appointed by the President of III,
United States, by and with the advice aud
consent of the Senate, five Commissioners oil
Police, who shall be the chief officers of the said
Metropolitan Police District" and who sha
severally possess aud perform therein the powers
and duties authorized and enioined by this act
The said commissioners, together with the may
ors Of the cities Of Washington and Georgetown
ex-oiiicO. shnll form the ard Of police for the
snid district, and majority Of them shall con
stitute n quorum of such board for the iransac'
ton of business.
Sec. g. And be IL FURTHER enacted, That three
Of said commissioners shall he appointed from
the city of Washington, one from Georgetown.
and one from the county of Washington at large
for the term Of three years. aud until their
successors are appointed and qualified, unless
sooner removed by the President. The said
commissioners shall meet at such time and place
rs may be designated by thespresident of the
United States; aud alter being duly qualified by
taking and subscribing an oath or affirmation
before some person duly authorized to administer
oaths in said District to support the Cunslitu-
ton of the United States, and faithfully to
discharge the duties of his Office, shall proceed
to discharge such duties rs prescribed by this
act.
Sec. 4. And be il FURTHER enacted, That the
officers of the board OF police Shall be presi-
dent and treasurer, who shall each he selected
from among said commissioners by themselves
who shall discharge such duties as the board
may prescribe The treasurer shall give bond
with two suretics, to The satisfaction of said
board, in the pennl sum Of ten thousand dollars
for the faithful discharge Of the duties of his
office. The board mny also appoint clerk, 10
hold his office during the pleasure of the board
and 10 receive n compensation TO be fixed by the
board, not to exceed the rate Of one thousand
dollars per annnm, aud who shall perform such
duties as may lie required by snid board Of
police.
Sec. o. And Be il further enacted, That il
shall be the duty of the board Of police hereby
constituted ut all times of the day and night,
within the boundaries OF the said police district
to preserve the public peace; to prevent crime,
and arrest offenders; to protect the rights of
persons and Of property 10 guard the public
nthllnf 70 pTthtFNt ulutI Ut every puDllc elee-
ton 10 remove nuisnnGes existing in the public
streets, roads, alleys, highways, and other
places; TO provide proper police force at every
fire, in order TINT thereby the iiremen and pro-
perty may be protected to project strangers
and travellers ~ steamboat aud ship landings
and railway stations; to see that all laws relnt
ing to the Observance of Sunday aud regarding
pawn brokers, mock auctions, elections, gam
bling, intemperunce, lottery dealers, Vngrnnis
dfanrHarlu and fha uul,iir
promptly enforced, aud to enforce and obey all
laws and ordinances Of the city councils of the
cities of Washington and Georgetown which are
properly applicable police or health, and not
inconsistent with the provisions Of this act.
Sec G. aud De fiHther eaacted, That the
duties Of the board OF police shall be more espe-
cially executed under the direction and control
of said board and according to rules and regu-
lations which il is hereby authorized to pass.
from time to time, for the proper government
and disci pne Of its subordinate officers, by
police force for the whole Of said police district
and authorized to do duty in any part thereof,
without iegarl to residence or corporation lines
Sec Z. Ana b. IL FURTHER enacted, That the
said police force shall consist Of q superinten-
dent Of police, tea sergeans of police, and such
number of police patrOlmen as the board may
deem necessary not exceeding, for the regular
service, one hundred and fifty. The said offices
hereby created for the said police force shall be
seyerally filled by appointment from the board
Of police and each person 30 appointed shall
hold office only during sncd time as he shall
faithfully observe aud execute all the rules and
regulations of the said board the laws of the
United States, aud the laws or ordinances
existing within the district, enacted by the city
OF county authorities within 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. g. And be il Purifier enacted That the
qualifications, enumeration, and distribution of
duties, mode Of trial, and removal from Office
of each officer of said police force, shall be
particularly defined and prescribed by rules and
regulations of the board OF police, in accordance
with the Constitution and laws Of the United
States applicable thereto: Provided, hotpeper
That no person shall be so appointed to office,
or hold office in the police force aforesaid, who
cannot read and write the English language, or
who is not u citizen OF the United States, or who
shall ever have been indicted md convicted Of
CRIME And proUidcd, That no person shall be
removed therefrom except upon written charges
preferred against him to the board of police,
and after an opporu unity shall have been afforded
him Of being heard in his defence.
Sec. .. And be il FURTHER enactcd, That the
members Of the said police force shall possess,
in every part of the District of Columbia all
the common law and statutory powers of con-
stables, 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 pnrt 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 10 the giving and
taking of bail in said district shall apply to this
act. The superintendent Of police aud the SER
geanis of police, having just cause to suspect
that any felony has been, or is being, OF is about
to be, committed 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 eliecual prevention detection of all
teonies, and may take then and there into
custody all persons suspected OF being concern
ed in such ielOnies, and also may take charge of
oil property which he or they shall have then
and there just cause to suspect has been stolen.
Sec. TO- And be il further eiidcied, 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 a
station or sub-statiOn in each precinct for the
accommodation of the police force on duty
therein. 1t may, from time to time, detail and
change. without regard to OF limitation of
residence, the sergeants or patrolmen to such
parts Of the district, or to such of the police or
criminal courts, aud the public Offices of the
Government Of the United States, or of the
cities of Washington and Georgetown, ar it may
deem advisable. 1t shall promulgate all regu.
lations and orders through the superintendent
Of police, who shall take the place Of the Mayor
Of the city of Washington or Georgetown, MS
being the head Of the police departments OF
force in the said cities, but always subject to
the orders and regulations Of the board of police
and it shall be the duty of the police force IL
respect and obey the snid superintendent of po-
lice, as the head aud chief Of the same, subject
to the rules aud regulations and general orderi
Of the board of police.