Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-11-13

Annual Report OF the Com missioners

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO An
INCREASE OF FORCE, NEW SYSTEM OF
LIQUOR LICENSES. ETC.
The fourteenth annual report OF the Board
of Metropolitan Police Commissioners for
the year ending September 80. 1875, has just
been submitted to the Attorney General.
THE POLICE FORCE OF THE DISTRICT
consists of two hundred and thirty eight Off
GERS of all grades, which, with the members
of the police board, clerks, surgeons, tele-
graph operators and laborers, numbering
twenty,six make altoget II er, two hundred
The Metropolitan system was authorized by
an act of Congress, approved August 6, 1861,
at time OF great public excitement, and
was perfected by an amendatory act of July
16. 1852. The first act abolished the old local
police establishment and substituted in lieu
thereof the present one, subject to the con-
troll of the United States. BY reason of the
high political excitement of the times, and
with purpose 10 remove from the service
Its baneful effects and secure unprecedented
police action, 1t was provided that no person
holding Office under the acts referred to
shout d be liable to military or jury duty.
The advantage OF a complete severance Of
the force from local politics Is set forth, and
the rules restricting members from any out
ward participation in local or municipal
elections or political conventions are quoted.
AS an Institution responsible to the author
ity Of the general government, by which IL
has been supported, ii is believed the designs
Of its organization have been generally an
pTopTiety, Congress, since July 1st, 1854, has
required the District local authorities to
contribute One-third of the expense of its
support, but IL has by no act changed It's re-
Iafions with the management of the organi-
cation under any OF the varying schemes for
the local government of the District of Co
police force has attained high character In
the esteem OF both the government and the
public at large, and confirms the wisdom of
Congress in maintaining it as an independ-
ent organiza ton.
THE FORCE NOW TOO SMALL.
The force, from various causes, Is now
too small TO perform the service, largely in
creased since its organic alton. Since its re-
organization in 1861 many and extended
improvements of streets roads, parks and
buildings throughout the District have re-
suited in the increase OF population and diff
fusing IL over territory that should be pa
trolled, but which cannot be properly done
by the present number OF officers; The ex-
tension of roads beyond the limits of the
cities of Washington and GEORGETOWN has
given an impetus to the Increase of its popu-
latiOn, and old fields and waste places nave
beer covered with settlements and villages,
which require a like eXtensiOniOf police ser
vice Besides this, the heretofore remote and
unOccupied sections of The two cities are be-
ing built up and inhabited, requiring mi
mute EatrOl of all the streets and alleys more
necessary than ever before. There are i'm
Washington about 40 building squares and
in Georgetown 1870, all having streets and
alley surroundings which require police
patrol. BY reason OF the demand upon
The force for special details at the Executive
Mansion, Police Court and railroad de pOts
and for considerable detachments dnrin1
sessions of Congress 10 attend the public re-
CcptioDs of executive officers and foreign
ambassadors. it is estimated that the avail
able patrol fore is reduced to an average of
about $50 officers for regular service. At
times the demands upon the force for such
purposes have been so urgent and apparent
ly necessary that entire precincts have been
left to guard of three or four officers, and
that too at night when they could least De
dispensed with from regular service. As the
population of the District is presumed now
to be rot less than $50 900, this mum Der would
afford one patrol TO each 900 inhabitants.
The fact must be considered that the sub
division Of this force into piatOOns and sec
tions for alternate tours OF day and night
duty reduces the number who can be en-
ploved at any one time, to about one third.
or fifty meIi-being actually but one for
every 3,OCo of the Inhabitants. The arrange
ment OF beats and squads for service has
been so disposed as to secure larger portion
for night duty. But, ON The other hand, by
reason of the extension ofbeats and personal
dar gers TO be unprecedented. they are each
covered by double patrol to afford mutual
NECESSITY FOB AN INCREASE OF THE
FORCE.
Taking, for example, Washington, and
as sign to ii for night duty the full number of
fifty officers, which, divided into twenty-five
heats of equal length-there being $50 miles
Of streets and alleys in the city-maKes each
beat thirteen miles IN length, or, If divided
into beats Tor single patr0i, Six and half
miles. In this actual condition OF The SER
vice. II need not seem sing ular tha. persons
are often unable to find policemen OH the
instant OF inquiry. If the estimate made by
experienced writers requires for cOmpacly
populated cities numerical strength of one
police patrol for every 800 inhabitants be
correct, then for AZ sparsely inhabited city
ard suburbs az this District, with its cities
ard villa ges, instead Of one to each 1000 or
100. there should be one for every 200 Or 800
inba bitapts. The dangers OF patrol are
greater ia sparse than thickly settled
portions OF the District, as Is shown
in several instances OF deadly as
saults made upon officers in remote and
out of the way places. In addition 10 the in
creased police service thus required, Con-
sress has enacted laws from time to time
which have had the effect 10 curtail the abil-
Try Of officers 10 perform the duties imposed,
by largely extending them Ofthese the act
of June nth, 1e10, establishing the Police
Court has exercised most deleterious infiu-
ence upon the status of the force, both by the
absorption and occupation OF the time of
officers by attendance and awaiting the hear
ing of cases in said court and the consequent
effects produced by want Of rest, sleep and
Iecuperation resulting from Overtask Of Off
GERS in such service. Sundry other acts Also
provide for especial police attention, and
notably the act of March Sd, 1875, making
appropriation for sundry civil expenses, re-
qniring police supervision of call public
squares and places" which make large de-
maDds upon the services of the Metropolitan
police. outside and beyond what could have
been expected al the time OF the reOrgan-
ization.
THE EXTRA" MEN.
Some, yet not very reliable, aid TO the per-
Torrance of these duties results from tue
service of additional patrolmen, seventy
eight OF whom are commissioned TO do local
duty at sundry places, sat the charge and
expense of the persons" who apply for them,
under the act OF August 9Th, 1861. Included
with these are some of the watchmen in the
executive departments, who have been COM
mlssOned ON application OF the officials in
charge. But neither OF these classes, although
subject To some Of the rules of the board, can
be regarded as so especially owing service as
TO Involve claim for such implicit atten-
ton as that derived from officers employed
by the board. They are, therefore, no equiv
alent for the increased duty demanded in
the care OF public squares and losses result
ing to police efficiency by
ATT IGNITION UPON THE POLICE COURT.
Aside from details of officers to attend the
Police Court, all who make arrests are re-
quired to attend in person with their pris-
oners at the court. This necessitates the alb
seuce OF such officers from their respective
precincts, usually several hours, aud often
for portions of many days in cases when a
continuance of hearing is necessary before
they can resume patrol duty. II an officer
ON duty at night makes an arrest he must
appear with mis- prisoner at court the follow
ing morning, often too with witnesses from a
distant point, and they are frequently de-
tanned until noon and later before the ar
rested Iefson = can he tried and the off,