Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-10
LpIrRLlc-No. III

Seventh Congress.
[PUBuo-No. ST.
AN ACT TO create Metropolitan Police District of
The District OF Columbia, and to establish po-
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United 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
seq And be it further enacted That iuImedi-
atoly upon the passage Of this act, and thereafter
from time to time, as required by this act, there
SHAH be appointed by the president of the United
States by and with the advice and consent of the
senate, live commissioners of police, who shall be
the chief officers of the said metropolitan Police
District, and who snail 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, eN ollcIo 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 ut 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
qualified by taking and subscribing an oath or atir
nation before some person duly authorized to adj
minister Oaths in said District, to support the con-
stituion OF the United States, and faithfully to
discharge the duties Of his office, shall proceed to
discharge said duties prescribed by this act.
sec l. And be it further enacted, That the officers
OF the board of police shall be a president and a
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 suretes TO the
satisfaction of said board in the penal sum of tel
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
IN q pn1 l,, I'D I.
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-
Sec. s. And be it further enacted, That it shall be
the duty of the board of police hereby cOustitu-
teu az all times of the day and night, within the
boundaries of the said police district preserve the
pubic peace to prevent crime, and arrest offend
efs TO protect the rights of persons and OF proper
yi 10 guard the public health to preserve order at
every public election; to remove nuisances existing
IN the public streets, roads, alleys, highways and
olher places TO provide aproper pUfioe4 force
~ hre, IN order Mat thereby the iremen and prop
cry may De~protected; to protect strangers and
uaEe5els{st Steamboat and ship landings and rail-
way stations; to that all laws relating the OBJ
serrance of sunday, and regarding pawnbrokeis,
mock auctions elections, gambling, intemperance
lottery Dealers Migrants disordery persons, aud the
public health, are promptly enforced and TO enforce
and obey all laws and ordinances OF the city coun-
Gil 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. 6. And be it further enacted, That the duties
of the board OF police shall be especially
cued under the direction and control OF said boald,
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 subOT
dinate officers by police force tor the whole of
said police district and authorized to do duty i'll any
part thereof without regard 10 residence or coipo-
ration lines
SEC. 7. And be it further enacted That the said
police force shall consist OF superintendent of pO-
hce, ten sergeants of police, and such number OF
police police patrolmen as the board may deem ne
nnf aNp tllp uiDr
hundred and fifty. The said offices hereby created
for the said police force shall be seYeTaly 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 ordin-
anees 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
district where the members OF the police force may
be on duty.
Sec 8. And be it further enacted, That the quail
hcations, 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 consti-
tuition and laws of the United States applicable
thereto; Provided, however, That no person shall
be appointed 20 office or hold office in the police
force aforesaid who cannot read and write the Eng
lish language, who is not citizen OF the United
States, or who shall ever have been indicted ana
convicted of crime: And provided, That person
snail 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. g. And be it further enacted, That the mem
bers OF the said police force shall possess in every
part of the District OF Columbia, ali 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 sald district by any member OF said police force
without any backing endorsement Of the said
warrant, and according 10 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
act. The superintendent OF police and the seTgeants
OF ponce having just cause TO suspect that any el-
ony has been, or is being, is about to be- com
mltted within any building, on board of any
snip, boat, or vessel within the said district NAV
enter upon the same at all hours of day or night TO
take all necessary measures for the eectual proven
on or detection Of all felonies and may take then
ana there into custody all persons suspected of being
concerned IN such telonies, and also NAV take
charge OF all property which he or they shall have
the and there just cause to suspect has been stolen
SEC TO- And belt further enacted, That the board
ol ponce may divide the said district into precincts
not exceeding ten and may assign one sergeant of
ponce TO each of said precincts. The board NAV
=; Oi ,ie 70 tme, establish station sub-station
IL; esS PIechct lof the accommodation of the po-
nee force on duty therein. II NAV from time 10 |
le, uetall and change, without regard TO or limit
auoh OF residence, the sergeants or patrolmen 10
such parts of the district or to such of the noce
or criminal courts and TO the public offices az fhe
government of the United states or 9TH ,;tie r
washington and Georgetown, Us it may deem adj |
VISIBLE. 1t shall promulgate all regulations and
orders through the superintendent Of police who
nj
Washington or Georgetown, as being tbe head Of
the police departments force in the said cities
put always subject TO the orders and regulations o
the board OF police; and il shall be the duty OF fb
ponce force TO respect and obey the said sunerin
tenaent of police as the head and chief of the same
SUBJECT 70 the rules and regulations and general or
uefs OF the board of police.
sec; IL And be it further enacted, That the hoard
Q, poilce, whenever it shall see ft shall on the an
pleA'l.on OF any person persons, showing tic
sceSSsl,y thereof, appoint and swear any additional
,he 81 patrolmen to duty at any place within
saiu ulstrlcti at the charge and expense of the
pnaS or persons by whom the application shall be
Zoe ~ pul not 10 exceed the yearly sum uroyded
~ Pa.ioInlen OF the force provided nv tbis act a.
a. ponce force,) aud the uatr,lme, ~ o.,
az noii sha be subject to the orders Of lie bosii
Of M fa anu snail obey the rules ana rogriati,,,,
and - SaHi ana conform to its general disciYIi,'
made .tS en 3,her special Republicans ms ,nan ~
as ai.u sinli wear such dress ar ,,,,i t'ss pc
ss may uliect, and shall durino AZ . az ilie
.hsiE nolulhg appointment possess 81, , ,elih OF
pIlneges ana duties of the patrol forc ~ powers,
PIesciipeu' Inc persons so employed , essulore
moved AZ any time by the board OF nole "! ~ ~ re-
assigning cause thereof, upon one innn,Y, Mitho"t
OF the intention so 20 do, given TO tbe , .io'ice
persons who applied for the appointmlpno,,s oe or
said "eht siore-
sec Y And be it further enacted, That the board
OF police may also, upon any emergency of III,
pestiencei Invasion, Instruction or during any al,
OF public election. ceremony. or celebration M
point a. many special patrOlmen without pay iron,