The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-17
p0LycE ORGANIZATION

The disclosures made during the past few
weeks concerning the small hut important
police force Of the National Capital. however
far they may prove true or false, have
certainly served to start the movement for a
reform almost as sweeping as that which
instituted the q metropolitan system here.
The settled frame of things is shaken to its
depths, and there is considerable suspense as
to what new combinations will be evolved by
the legislative and appointing powers.
Oar force is now divided into two sections,
the larger being the regular officers and
rrivates, or patrolmen the smaller, kind
OF privileged class known as " detectives. -
The trouble with the first seems to be weak.
ness in numbers, stringent limitation in
the class from which appointments may lie
made, and inefficiency in leadership. The
trouble with the second seems to be corrup-
tion and lack of due subordination to any
authority. To correct these various evils
and place the detection and prevention Of
crime at the seat of Government on a par of
efficiency with the service in any American
or European city should enlist the best
energies of all concerned. Two important
points are already gained, the service is to a
great extent partisan, and the tenure of
place is by law during good behavior. These
should be held on to in any changes that
may be made.
Various suggestions have been brought
forward, some wild and fanciful, and few
very good, on the immediate measures to be
adopted. An increase in the number of pa
trolmen has been for years an object sought
by the people, together with a repeal of the
provision excluding all citizens. from ap-
pointment save those honorably discharged
after service in the Army and Navy--a con.
stantly diminishing and aging class. The
operation of Sec. 1904 r. s. L. S. should be
ample for patriotic purposes the provision
in the local statute is too absolute, and i'm.
perils too important interests. practical
increase in the number of patrolmen would
he gained by relieving them from all duties
i'll connection with the White House, the
Capitol and the Government reservations.
These latter might very well be patrolled at
night by some of the ample force now sta.
toned at the Washington Barracks, as the
mere presence of soldier would serve in
many cases to prevent the crimes likely to
lie perpetrated on these lonely wastes. 1t
may also be inquired why guard is not sta.
toned at night in the Treasury as is done
in the Bank of England. As in the other
public buildings, there are only few watch.
men, the majority infrm or crippled, TO pro.
tect millions of public property.
In regard to efficiency of leadership, the
most Objectionable proposition that has
been made is to revive the old board Of
police commissioners, or setup new board
without salaries or with merely nominal
salaries. This hydra headed nuisance wa.
was thought to be buried beyond resurrec
tion in 1878. 1t is a system which la:
worked badly wherever it has been tried
There is no individual responsibility, and
as there is no philanthropic motive, as in
the case of the school trustees, the commits.
siOners generally consent to serve only to
control the contracts and patronage, or he
N""Sc Ihcy nave sone hobby W Ilue, Ike tiit
enthusiastic Mr.. Gatchell. The chief o
police, under tue Commissioners, should bt
held singly responsible for the condition and
efficiency OF his force.
The detective problem is more serious
Mr.. Balch, in the hterndt onai RecieO, vir-
tually gives it up by proposing that the
detection of crime should be left to news
paper reporters, who have no motive but to
expose and reveal. 1t is suggested in this
city TO abolish the detectives as separate,
privileged class, and delegate their work to
the more intelligent and acute members OF
the regular force. We should prefer to hear
how this has worked elsewhere before Civ.
ing it unqualified assent. A man of excep
tional ability as detective might objec
to serve at all as a patrolman or put himsel
within reach of that possibility. Tn,
present detective corps, however, ha
fatally lost the confidence of the public il
positions where, like Cesar's wife, they
should be above suspicion, and whether
they escape or battle the impending invest
CATION or not, they must be prepared for a
reorganization which will probably extend
to their uniformed brethren as well.