Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-10
THE QUESTION Of POLlCE MI
FORM.


To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR.
In yourissue Of "Wednesday ''Ex-Police Agent
was given considerable space TO express his
views upon the failure of our police system He
certainly did express them after o manner that
an unpre|udiced mind could only infer that there
is something sore about him, and that his feel
ings rather than his views wanted ventilating.
He starts out to tell us what he conceives to b
the best system, and puts his plan above that
proposed by some OF our newspapers. This may
be rather egotistical but excusable on the plea
that the differences OF his article are unfortunate
for him. and place his standing as q citizen and
reformer in an unpropitious light Men of too
much knowledge Of the inner life Of thieves
gain it by associations that would hardly bear
the investigation OF day. 'Ex-Police Agent"
after long detail Of robberies committed, the
amounts stolen and by whom, enters upon Q
criticism OF the police their fitness and capacity
for promotion to the higher grades and verify
concludes that there is not one OF these adapt
ed to I'LL the required places, consequently the
two hundred men or more OF the force lack the
broad views. cooler judgment, knowledge Of
human nature etc, which mental endowments
must he sought for elsewhere. The writer then
states that there are many men outside of the
police who are much better fitted Ia ill the Of
fices than those already there and IL IL reason
able TO conclude that "Ex-Polce Agent" would
be notable example. He takes exception 70
the mention of the name of one member OF the
force In last Sundays Capital for major Of police
which one, as mere were two spoken OF the
misguided public are left in ignorance. This 10
unfair and unjust-but to make prominent the
one he held In mind, he states that 'he In a man
who has never been q hundred miles from WASH
ingtOn, and who could not distinguish between
a thief and an honest man." Ii may be possible
as to the first particular that neither one OF tho
lieutenants have traversed the Atlantic or Pa
cific oceans TO gain the exccencies so much
needed for the Office Of maiorshp of the me-
tropoltan police; likewise this broad continent
in search of knowledge and experience 80 neces-
sary. This Is sad, why did they not anticipate
this intallible solution OF the police problem,
and wait till this late date to be told OF their
deficiencies. How many Nashingtonians are
there similarly fixed who have a prospective
eye to the majorshp2 Take warning from
this, and prepare your letters OF recommended
lions to be In accord with this requirement;
also file your passports at the same time.
One point more and I am through The
writer says that on last Inauguration day no
saw lieutenant and detective standing within
Tour feet or notorious thieves. who he men,
lions by name, laying their plans. All that
can be said Is that If EX-poce Agent at that
time was an officer OF the law IL WAS his DUTY
to arrest the thieves or. If he was then q citi.
zen, he should have told the nearest police ofn-
Ger and have seen that the parties were arrested.
III he states the truth. that the thieves were
then laying plans, and he failed to have them
locked up, he Is no better than the thieves. and
Ii IS disgrace to himself to mention the matter
at this late date. All that can make out OF
his assumed system of reform IL that citizens
should be appointed. under bonds; and II ne 10
ignorant OF this fact, 1t will be told him here,
that the United States statutes requires APP
pointments on the police force to be made from
among the discharged soldiers and sailors Of tho
United States service, except the late amend
ment TO the till giving the Commissioners power
to appoint six citizens POLICEMAN.