The Washington critic., 1888-03-17
OUR CITY'O GUARDIANS.
The Metropolitan Police Force Of the
District Of Columbia,
The DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION
Boundaries and Area Of The Eight
Police Precincts.
INADEQUATE PAY OF THE FORCE
Various Comparative Statistics Show
the Necessity Of More Men.
THE BILL BEFORE CONGRESS
Sketches of the Superintendent, Cap
tain, LieutenantS and Others.
THE BILL BEFORE CONGRESS
Sketches of the Superintendent, Cap
tain, LieutenantS and Others.
THEIR CREDITABLE RECORDS,
as Assigned to the Different
Precincts.

The police force of the District of Co
iumbia, which comprises the Metropoli-
tan Police District, is smaller in numbers,
is more inadequately paid, patrols q
greater area of territory and performs
longer hours of duty than any other in
the country, except that the police dis
trict of Philadelphia embraces larger
area in square miles, which is patrolled by
force IN proportion. In the past ten
years Congress has appropriated for addi-
tional privates for the force, from time to
time, not exceeding fifty, all told. Yet
while these few men have been added to
the ranks, there has been no correspond
ing increase in the number of superior
officers-sergeants and lieutenants-but,
on the other hand, reduction of two
heutenants. The growth of the District in
population, the extension of valuable
property interests, both public and private,
in that period, has been far in excess of
and out of equal relation to the means
provided for its security. The RESPONSE
bilities of the Superintendent of the De-
partment and his staff, and the duties of
the clerical attaches have been in creased
fifty per cent, yet there has been no ad-
ditional compensation granted or further
assistance provided. There should be as
much interest manifested for permanent
and perfect police organization at the
Nations Capitol as is manifested for lofty
and substantial buildings elegant ter
races, statues and Libraries. The true
spirit of patriotism suggests that the in
stitution which is expected to exercise
daily and nightly vigilance over the Cap
itol City, its citizens and property, should
, be raised as nearly as possible to the
standard of perfection.
Composition of the Force.
The police force comprises 255 men at
this time, % of whom are mounted for
duty in the county, outside of the city
limits. All of these men are not on duty
at one time. While some sleep others are
at work. There are six men detailed as
detectives, another rs hack inspector,
several of the veterans are watchmen at
ment, Health Office, Police Court and
depots. There are the sick, those on
leave of absence, and Others attending the
prosecution of cases in the courts. Of
ficers who have been on duty from mid
night until morning often are required
to go to the Police Court before taking
the much-needed sleep they are entitled
to, to appear as witnesses against those
they may have arrested the night before,
and the tardiness ofthat institution often
detains them far into the day In this
wise the effective force, for patrol duty,
is materially decreased. On January
last the force on duty reached the highest
number during the preceding twelve
months, and was distributed throughout
the precincts, as numbered in the above
map, as follows: