National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-19
METROPOLITAN POLICE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF
COMMLSSIONERS.


Metropolitan Police has been submitted to the
Attorney General After giving in detail the
number Of the force and the duties TO which they
are assigned, the commissioners proceed to argue
in favor of large increase Of the force. In their
argument they show that there is but one ofheer
for each POO population. And If we take into the
estimate the fact that we have constantly IN our
midst a large number of transient residents, 1t
will be safe 70 state that we have but one patrol
man to each 1000 inhabitants. 1t may be well TO
note that large detachments are continually made
from The patrol force during the winter season to
attend at public receptions OF officers OF the Gov
eminent, foreign ambassadors prominent citizens
and residents at our capital. The demands upon
the force from these causes are so preSsing that
frequently II is found necessary to almost entirely
uncover our streets, leaving but three or four
| policemen to guard entire precincts, and that,
| too, at night, and during season OF the year
when police surveillance should be most strict and
II is estimated that, under ordinary circum-
stances the numerical strength Of police force
should be one policeman to each 500 Inhabitants.
This estimate is, however, for densely populated
cities, and would be fair criterion for popu-
| lation spread out and scattered as within this
District, with an incidental population also draw
ing largely upon the force for the preservation Of
| order on public occasions.
The special design Of . police force is the pre-
This object can only be attained in proportion as
| district is carefully patroled and guarded in
every part by the frequent and almost constant
force is required in the District Of Columbia, and
without this much which is required and expected
Of the force cannot be accomplished.
As the result Of local experience and observs-
tiOn, and information gained in other cities, the
board is satisfied that TO secure protection to per-
of SonmSS sbSnS al he ~ least Ia m 51
illustration of the necessity to which we refer,
the following statistical information is submitted:
SOME STATISTICS.
In the city of Washington there are three hun
bred and thirty miles OF streets and alleys to be
patrOled. The building squares, as numbered
on the plat OF the city, are LILO, affording q
building capacity for about 400, 900 inhabitants.
Beside this there are, within the limits of the
city, public grounds and reservations GOV ering an
area about one fourth as great as that of the
building squares referred to. Now, this area is
more or less densely occupied by dwellings
throughout the entire city limits, and should be
guarded by the police. But to accomplish this
end, by making such arrangements Of the beats
of the men as experience teaches as best adapted
to secure thoroughly sufficient protection to life
and property, would require force of 800 men.
And here let brief statement show how greatly
below the real needs Of the service the strength
OF the present force is: There are IA priyates
signed TO active patrol duty in the city OF Wash
ington. One half Of this number, or y men only,
can be placed on regular duty at night, when the
largest force is required. Dividing the number of
miles Of streets and alleys (SSo) by the number Of
men assigned to night duty, gives each man a
beat equal to 4 7-12 miles in length. In the day
time for various reasons, the force is frequently
less than one half of that on duty at night and
consequently, the beats are more than double in
length, or between nine and ten miles long. 1t is
MT strange that under such circumstances cfti-
Zens often complain that they cannot see police
man when wanted. But when it is considered
that in these calculations no allowance is made
for sickness, absence from other causes, double
beats when 1t is dangerous to send one man alone
attendance at court, &c, the average beats are
necessarily much larger, and in the end 1t will be
found that even with 500 policemen the District
would not be oversupplied.
GOVERNMENT wATCHNEN.
1t may not be inappropriate here to state that
the Government employs in the various Depart
ments and public buildings more than one hun
dred Watchmen and police officers at a cost not
less probably than 100000 This force is entirely
distinct from and not auxiliary even to the Metro
politan police force. The board is not aware of
what arrests, If any, are made by the men thus
employed, except on occasions when made by
such Of them as have been commissioned by It as
additional privates, or under what particular
regulations they are controlled. OF this fact the
board feels assured that the number thus en-
plOyed and the amount expended in their support
merits strict supervision and accountability of
their labors. 1t Is respectfully suggested that It
would be well to inquire whether the duties de-
YOlved upon this class Of officers could not be as
WE'LL II not better, performed If subjected to the
discipline and supervision prescribed by the board
for the government ofits force.
And here II may be added that the present
Metropolitan police force has been in existence
over thirteen years, having been organized in
September, 1851. Quite number Of the present
members OF the force were appointed at its or
ganization, and the iaSt that they are now mem
formed faithful service during this long term of
years. Others have been employed to I'LL vacan-
Cies as they have occurred from time to time dur
ing these thirteen years. As an unavoidable re-
suit many Of these men are becoming advanced
in years as well as old in the service OF the board
The exposures and hardships necessary to a po-
lieeman's life are gradually but surely under
mining the constitutions and health of such men,
bers Of the force as have served faithfully for a
term Of years. The efficiency Of few for street
duty is already seriously impaired, and that Of
others must follow.
A GOOD SUGGESTION.
If the board had the opportunity Of assigning
such members Of the force as become incapaci-
tated Tor the exposures of street duty, to posts
where they would be less exposed to Indictment
weather, many years Of faithful and efficient ser
vice could be utilized in manner highly advan;
tageous TO the Government, not only in financial
view but to the efficiency Of the civil service in
this District. 1t cannot be presumed that Con-
gress would for an instant tolerate policy which
would cast q class Of its employees upon the char
titles Of the public, who under the provisions Of
its laws have given the best part Of their lives to
the service Of the Government, and who have
wrecked their physical energies and broken down
their healths in the discharge of duties incident
to their ayoeations 1t should be borne in mind
support themselves and families and that being
required TO devote their time to official duties to
an extent which preCludes them from engaging
to accumulate means TO supply the necessaries Of
life when sickness and old age shall PROSTATE
their energies and hamper their activity. Under
the laws Of Congress members of this force are
appointed for q term eO-eXtensiVe with good be-
haviOr, and can be removed only "for cause"
There can be no doubt that the term "fOr cause"
must be construed to mean some voluntary act Of
omission or commission in the performance of OH
ciai duty, or some moral delinquency affecting
their standing as citizens or members Of society.
There, is then, or may be, q class Of police off,
GERS who, performing all their moral and official
obligations to the satisfaction Of the board far
as they come to its knowledge and observation
that become aged or infirm in its service. This
class, almost oil necessity, must be composed Of
upright and reliable men. II therefore becomes,
and 10 even now, to some extent, practical ques-
ton as TO what disposition shall be made Of this
class Of policemen. They cannot be rightfully or
legally dismissed the force, and it would be nhu-
man TO do so II II could be done. What, then, can
be done aud what should be done for members Of
the force whose long term Of service, coupled
with falling health or advanced years acquired in
the line of duty admOnishes US that in no distant
future they must become ineapacitated for active
and efficient street duty2 Either they must be-
come pensioners be transferred to posts Of duty
less subject to exposure and hardship 1t is there
fore earnestly suggested by the board that the
policing Of the public buildings and grounds
could be efficiently, satisfactorily and ecOnomi-
cally performed by the class Of men in question,
With this view the subject is respectfully sub
mitted for your consideration and Recommended
tiOD.
During the year there have been "a complaints
entered against the officers for which they were
tried with the following result: Dismissed the
force, dropped from the roll, !; reduced to the
complaints dismissed, AZ.
sTAuoN-HorsEs.
After calling attention to the shameful condI-
tion Of the statiOn-hOuses, the chapter upon that
subject concludes:
Congress has by law made It obligatory upon
upon our local authorities to provide station
houses and warm, light and cleanse them. This
duty has thus far been shamefully neglected by
those charged with its performance. Considera-
tions of economy, If prompted by no higher mo-
tive should speedily provide q remedy for this
neglect. Much Of them the lost by members OF the
force through sickness Is undoubtedly attribu-
table to the condition of the station houses.
Without conveniences for warming, drying and
rest at the stations, the men must, as unavOid-
able result, contract sickness and disease which
1t is earnestly recommended that an effective
remedy be applied to the negligence in this re-
gard, and that an appeal be made to Congress to
appropriate the means TO provide such station
houses will be compatible with efficiency and
humanity, and make its own terms for reimburse
ment by the authorities of the District, IL Con-
gress is still ofthe opinion that the citizens Of the
District still defray the expense OF these estab-
lishments.
DETECTIVE CORPS.
The duties Of the deteetine corps have been
very satisfactorily performed during the year.
Much valuable property which has been lost or
stolen has been recovered and restored to owners.
Marked success has also resulted from their
efforts to ferret out criminals and furnish eVi-
denee for their conviction and punishment With
one or two exceptions professional thieves have
visited the District for be purpose Of plying their
vacations; q fact which speaks we'll for the
efficiency and honesty Of the corps. Were profess
sional thieves in the habit Of making our com
munity place wherein to despoil our citizens Of
~ hn ouan n All har