Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-19
What the Patro.,nen saw


! SOME THINGS THAT DETRACT FROM THE EFF
| Cheney OF THE FoRCE-PoIICE OFFICERS AT
RECEPTIONS-THE UNIFORM QUESTION
The interview with some of the patrolmen
of the police force. published in The STAR Of
Friday last, created some comment among the
| members of the force, and generally the sugges-
| lions made met the approval Of the officers
some going so far as to say that each and every
idea advanced was correct. Meeting some Of
the privates since, the reporter was felt " for
an indication as to what officers gave the in
formation; but, Of course. their names were not
disclosed. The nquisitiye policemen were soon in
turn giving some additional ideas to form sec
Ond chapter. 1t was suggested that some
claimed that it was necessary to have such a
uniform as could be easily distinguished, and
one Of the officers said '.Of course. there should
be some uniformity. but it is not necessary to be
too loud about it. Why have so much brass and
tinsel shining: During the day. and up to 10
O'clock when the whole town is awake it is
well that we should be easily distinguished and
a neat and tasty uniform. without any belt,
would be much better than what we have now
1t is pretty certain that we could get nearer
| thief in less snowy uniform than we can now
| and until we can reduce the number of bur-
| gfaries we should make less display. / can tell
! you how to aid US in another way-call atten-
ton to this reception business"
Eyes, said the reporter, 1.-The force Is some
| times crippled by it,
THE law on hack regulation is somewhat in
the way" remarked the officer. Wherever
| there are hacks to the number of six an officer
| is required to regulate them and keep them
| You can find that in Webb's Digest" and refer
| ring to the book, he sad Here it is on page
1875. section 10 Of the act: When more than six
| hackney carriages, cabs or other vehicles are
! assembling or assembled. either by day or by
night, in any part of the city of Washington and
police officer Of the said city be present. it
shall be the duty of such officer to regulate the
manner OF the arrival and departure of the
same, &c. So you see an officer is expected at all
such gatherings. 1t would not be quite SO bad
If the receptions took place in the afternoon
when people are presumed to be looking out for
themselves, but when officers are detained till
10, II or even - O'Clock large tracts of the CITY
have to be left uncovered. Some few months
ago when there was detail from nearly every
precinct some of the outer precincts were left
in charge Of but one or two men. There is no
| necessity OF parading the weakness of pre-
cinct. Why should a section Of six or eight
men start out in regular military style march,
ing to the relieving posts? Would it lot do
just as well after the men receive their instruc-
lions to separate at once and go to their re-
spective beats? Do not a majority of the wrong
doors know as well as the officers the hour Of
changing the men, and are not the beats. with
the exception OF the relieving posts. entirely
| unprotected for few minutes before and after
the hour?'
Another officer remarked: s'The whole trouble
is that there is too much ground for the force to
| go over; but as was said in your former arti-
| Gle. there can be improvements made by which
the city could be better guarded. The force can
be better worked than it is now. Something
should be done to prevent SO much detailing
being made. 1t is bad enough that men should
be detailed for clerical and other duty at head
quarters. to the Police Court, to the Presidents
house and other places. but when it comes to
detail men to stand In front Of the residence of
government officer, Ostensibly to preserve
order among the hackmen and to regulate the
carriages. but really to open the doors of car
rlages, &C., it is too much. This is no part of
policemans duty, and there should be more
men, with spirit enough, if detailed to attend
reception, to do as did Private Last
| winter he was in front of house. when one of
the guests came out and called, 'Officer call my
carriage!' The officer looked at him q moment
| and replied, Cali it yourself. sir. I don't want
! it, adding, Perhaps If you had been little
| more polite would have called your hack If
officers would stand strictly up to their duty /
! believe that they will have more friends, tor
man who plays the lackey never has friend
worth having. Private is more respected
for what he failed to do than he would be if he
| had complied. During the winter such as give
receptions and other entertainments would add
to the efficiency Of the force by employing, if
| necessary, other persons than policemen to stand
at their residences, aid the regular force. who
have enough to do. could do their regular duty
These details are often made on request of Off
Gals, and. frequently to make show they ask
that certain number of men be sent to them
This winter some of our officials should set an
example by making no requests for officers to
attend continuously at their carriage steps,"