Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-12

Seventh Congress.
[PUBLIc-No. 57l
AN ACT to create Metropolitan Police District of
The District of Columbia, and to establish po~
lice therefor
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiyes of tile Uued 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"
SEC And be it further enacted, That immedi-
atey 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-
geher with the mayors of the cities of Washington
and Georgetown. eX oliico shall iOlm the board of
police for the said district, and majority of them
shall constitute quorum OF such board for the
transaction OF business
Sec. 3. 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 ears, and until their successors are
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
qualified by taking and subscribing oath or afil-
nation before some person duly authorized to ad-
minister oaths in said District to support tine con-
stitution of the United States. and faithfully to
discharge the duties of his Office shall proceed to
discharge said duties as prescribed BY this act.
Sec I. And be il further enacted, That the officers
OF the board OF police shall be president and
treasurer, who shall each 6e 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 surees, to the
satisfaction Of said board in the penal sum OF
thousand dollars, for the faithful discharge of the
duties oil las Office. The board may also appoint
Ia hold tina al, ,,l,, A.
board, ana to receive compensation to be fixed b
the board, not to exceed the rate of one thousand
dollars per annum, and who shall perform such
duties as may be required by said board of po-
ce.
Sec 8. And be it further enacted, That it shall be
the duly OF the board OF police hereby cousttu.
ted, at all times of the day and night within the
DounGares of the said police district, to preserve the
pubile peace to prevent crime, and arrest offend-
ers TO protect the rights OF persons and OF proper
W 70 guard Lie public health to preserve order nj
every plLfic election to remove nusances existing
IN ne public streets, roads, alleys highways and
oter places to provide proper police force at sc
-IThre, in order that thereby Tie remen and prop
erty may be protected; to protect strangers and
travellers at steamboat and ship landings and rail-
way stations; to that all laws relating to the OBJ
serYance of Sunday, and regarding paEnbrokeiS
mock auctions, elections, gambling, intemperance,
lottery dealers, vagrants dlsOdery 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 inconsistent with the OF Ills act.
SEC. g. And be it further enacted That the duties
of the board police shall he more especially
cuted under the direction and control of said board,
and according to rules and regulations which it
is hereby authorized to pass from time to time for
the proper government and discipline of its subOr
dnate 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 corpo-
ration lines.
SEC. T. And be it further enacted, That the said
police force shall consist OF a superintendent of pO
a u
police police patrOlmen as the board may deem ne
cessary, not exceeding, for the regular service one
hundred and fifty. The said offices hereby created
for the said police force shall be seyeray filed by
appointment from the board Ofpoce; and each per-
son so appointed shall hold Office only during such
time as he shall faithfully observe and execute ali
the rules and regulations of the said board, the
laws of the United States and the laws or ordni-
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
ications, enumeration, and distribution of duties
mode OF trial, and removal from Office, of eacl
officer of said police force, shall be Particular.
defined and prescribed by rules and regulations o
the board Of police, in accordance with the const
tuition and laws of the United States applicabi
thereto: Provided however That no person shai
be appointed 20 office, hold Office in the pole
force aforesaid, who cannot read and write the Eng
lish language, or who is not a citizen OF the Unet
States, or who shall ever have been indicted an,
convicted of crime: And provided, That no persol
shall be removed therefrom except upon writer
charges preferred against him TO the board OF po
lice, and after opportunity shall have been afford
ed him of being heard in his defense.
Sec. 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 cOnstabes. except fol
the service of civil process; and any warrant fo
search or arrest, issued b. any magistrate of sale
District of Columbia may be executed in any par
of said district by any member OF said police force
without any backing OF endorsement of the sale
warrant, and according to the terms thereof; an,
all the provisions of law in relation to the giving
and taking of bail IN said district shall apply to thi
act. The superintendent OF police and the sergeant
of police, having just cause TO suspect that any el
ony has been, or is being, or is about to be, com
mitted within any building, or on board of an
ship, boat, or vessel within the said district ma
enter upon the same at all hours of day night, Il
take all necessary measures for the eectua proven
ton or detection of all felones and may take thel
and there into custody all persons suspected ofbein
concerned in such felOnies, and also may taxi
charge Of all property which he or they shall hay
then and there Just cause to suspect has been stolen
SEC. 10. And be it further enacted That the boart
OF police may divide the said district into precincts
not exceeding ten. and may assign one sergeant o
ponce to each Of said precincts. The board may
from time to time establish stdton or sub-statior
IN each precinct for the accommodation OF the pc
lice force on duty therein. Ii may, from time tC
time detail and change, without regard TO or limit
alton OF residence the sergeants or patrolmen tc
such parts of the district, TO such of the poct
or criminal courts, and to the public offices of The
government Of the United States, or of the cities O.
Washington and Georgetown, as it may deem adj
visable. II shall promulgate all regulations ant
orders through the superintendent OF police VIII,
shall take the place of the mayor of the city q
Washington or Georgetown, being the head o
the police departments or force in the said cities
but always subject to the orders and regulations q
the board police; and ii shall be the duty of tn
police force TO respect and obey the said superir
tendent ofpolice, the head and chief of the same
subject the rules and regulations and general OF
ders of the board of police.
Sec H. And be ii further enacted, That the boar
of police, whenever it shall see iit shall on the az
phcaiion of any person or persons, showing Oh
necessity thereof appoint and swear any additions
number of patrolmen to duty mt any place with
the said district at the charge and expense OF tn
person or persons by whom the application shall b
made, tbqt not 70 exceed the yearly sum provide
ior patrolmen of the force provided by this act a
me general police force) and the patrolmen so az
appointed shall be subject to the orders of the boar
% ponce and shall obey the rules and regulation
oi Ine BOARD, and conform to IFS general discipline
ahu 10 encn other special regulations MS NAV b
naue ara snail wear such dress or emblem ~ N,
poard may direct, and shall. during tho term n
tneir hoding appointment possess an tbe na,,,ors
privileges and duties of The pntrol Cnyce IL ~,
prescribed. The persons so emnloyed & ~ ~
moved at any time by the board of nnHc Ill ~ ~
assigning cause thereof upon one mont6s n'3
OF the intention so 10 do, given 10 The ,, no'i
said. appointment hiore
SEC. IL. And be It further enacted. That the hoo.
OF police may also, upon any emergency OF ~,
pesuencei INVASION, insusrectiOn, or during any do
OF pubic election, ceremony, or celebration n,
point as many special patrolmen, without pay, iroi