Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-28
The Improved Police Service.
THE WEDDING OUT PROCESS-THR DETECTIVE FORCE
WORKING UNpER PROPER RULES.

|
WORKING UNDER PROPER RULES.
Desiring to note what Improvements have been
made In the police service OF this District since
the wedding out process was made, after the ap-
pointmenr OF the present major and supeTin-
| tendent, a STAR reporter has made inquiry among
past and present officers OF the police force and
with observing citizens who have q knowledge Of
such matters. As stated, the wedding out process
was applied at once, so far as the detectives were
concerned, and new ones have been picked out and
Some discharges were also made among the patrol
men and the lieutenants, and considerable unfavor-
50 far as shs Cubic snew
was 10 be found with the persons removed
Close Close observers Of the habits Of some Of
IN many instances policemen have love for drink
and secretly indulge their liking for IT, believing, or
| their fault This cannot be done by policeman
any more than by any other man, and the wedding
out process among the still drinkers might become
cloves won't hide whisky breath. Upon inquiry
among the citizens the belief is pretty generally
pressed that general transfer OF the eight lieuten-
ants which followed these dsmissas to new fields OF
labor was a good thing for most OF these officers,
and, though hardship to some, 1t became neces-
vice has been rendered BY these officers since then
IMAM In five years before that time" said citizen
OF good repute to STAR man. .-Some OF them had
become so ndolent that 1t was hardship for them to
go forward and backward to their dinners" said
another man. ut enables each lieutenant to famil-
patrolman we'll known for his honest and faithful
service. Another old veteran said: 1t doesn't do
and I'll be healthy for them and Keep them out OF
mischief" OF course these remarks were made OF
!helr superior officers in half ocular way, but
thefes many truth spoke In jest. Every one who
KNOWS any thing about this matter appreciates the
state OF chaos police affairs were In when the
present head of the force took command, and what
strong efforts ne has made and is making towards
reform. The cavalry service portion has been
almost abolished, and In lieu OF it patrolmen have
Ilta
snort the interests OF the general government. the
DlStrct government and the private citizens have
oeeh promoted thereby, and by the addition offifty
or d huhared more men IT would be much more
able To protect property and the lives OF citizens
anu strangers than ever before Sometimes as
lgh us forty men are detailed for from four to six
hours 10 DO duty on the occasion OF Il reception
given by the President OF the United States leaving
the CITY exposed TO the depreciation OF thieves and
other oau lnen congress Is not doing justice 10
the general or local government 10y Withholding
the means to employ more policemen.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE DETECTIVE SERVICE.
In observing the system now in use by Major Dye
In running the detective branch OF the service it
strikfngly apparent that great refoTl has been
wrought. Every one OF thesc officers is now required
II not out OF the District. make written statement
or report every morning. giving In detail his opera,
tons for the preceding day, and note everything
which may be OF use to the service in general or
TO themselves as bod: any arrivals OF s;ispi-
clols faces and The movements of bad characters.
They also are. on these occasions given tnstr,lc-
tons to govern them during the day and any Sre-
cal work OF importance that may need attention.
| This report is required punctually at certain
morning hour. and the results have shown them
selves In the Increased number Of arrests made and
amount Of public and private property recovered
from thieves and their hiding places and returned
to the owners
Under the late detective system-or rather no
systeni-the detectives did not degn To report 10
the chief OF police. and. III fact. did not seem to
cognlze the authority of any superior officer.
NEED OF A LARGER FORCE.
"!iow many men comprise the police force at the
present timer asked STAR man Of Captain Yer
non
~ believe there are 2O3 on the pay rolls all told"
said the captain; mot half enough to properly do
''Ilas the major asked for an increase in his an
nual repOrt?"
~ believe he has: or rather he has asked for an
increase or appropriation to pay for the increase
Of the force authorized by the last Congress- but
which law did not go into effect by reason Of the
1 nn y TO MAKE the Ie necessry aPPropiat9n
VI 90; Tor every assurance Is made by Congress-
men that such will be done'
THE DUTY OF THE POLICE Is TO PREVENT CRIME.
elias there been much increase OF crime in the
city within the last five or ten years?" asked re-
porter Of an officer OF the Police Court
"No, / think not: our records do not show 1t;
crime runs rampant by fits and starts, and it IS
still an open question as to the causes This court
has been comparatively free OF bad cases the past
few years Whilst there might be a tho,,san nd ar
rests made this month ten years ago 1t doesn't fol,
low that il there were two thousand now that
crime Is any greater now than then In fact the
proportion OF serious OffenSeS is great deal less
now than 1t was then There IS memorandum
made OF every Oense brought to this court but no
record Is made unless there is a case made but
you can't make comparison by that. This doesn't
always Indicate an Increase decrease In crime
Very few of those who commit crime succeed In
evading arrest. The most important duty OF an
officer Is to prevent crime. and that duty Is con-
stantly Impressed upon his mind by this court"