Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-05

Out Of the searching Investigation con-
Quoted by Commissioner Truesdel have
come not only good results but suggestions
as to how the police depa rtmeut may he
considerably improved. The suggestions
ere by inference only. but they are none
the less valuable or deserving of prompt
attention. More prominent than any other.
perhaps. is that which proposes abolition
OF the police trial board and the organiza-
ton of another tribunal in its place. 1t
has long been apparent to thoughtful peU-
pie interested in police matters that the
trial of policemen by policemen generally
resulted In more of Decentralization than
existed prior to the commission of such
cffenses as the board took note OF. Again
and again have policemen been found
guilty. of misbehavior that should have re-
suited in their immediate dismissal from
the force, but the grade of Justice meted
out by the boarl rarely brought about
more than trifiing financial discontinue
tor the accused Sometimes, however, the
board would have a spaSm of severity and
while in that condition would recommend
the dismissal of an officer whose Tniscon-
duct was much less fragrant than that of
others who had squared themselves by
the payment of a ten dollar or twenty
dollar fine. Such things, however. had to
be, for the mind not purely judicial is
often strongly inclined toward sympathy,
and sympathy is quality of which there
can easily be too much ia a court of JUS
tee. In all organizations-nO matter what
their object-there are cliques ard rings
ana ii would be absurd to say that our
police force has been free from these UNI
desirable features; as a matter of fact. the
inner and apparently subordinate mechan-
ism has been extremely potent-sometmes
for good and sometimes for i'll. But the
objection to continued existence of the
trial board is not based entirely upon the
partiality and prejudice likely TO make ap-
pearance in conclusions reached by the
board; there are other matters of real
importance not only to the members of
the force. but also to the citizens whose
servants the policemen are. There Is OBJ
lection most righteous to the star-chamber
conduct of trials, and other objection is
properly based upon the remarkable man.
ner in which accepted rules of evidence
have been distorted unreasonabiy. 1t Is
not alleged that the trial board has done
any of these Objectionable things with a
direct purpose to act improperly, but when
= the boards decisions are so frequently
discredited by the ultimate reviewing au-
thority, then II must be evident that some
thing is radically wrong.
Commissioner Truesdell is entitled to the
thanks of this community for The active
interest he has taken in the police depart
neat and for what he has up TO this time
done TO better its character impartial and
DESTROYS only of seeing TO il that the Dis
trict of Columbia secures a fair return for
the money invested in its police depart
ment, he has already worked much of
reform. In continuing his altogether praise
worthy efforts to bring about a better state
OF affairs in what is as a whole a very
good police department. Commissioner
Truesdell can safely count upon the hearty
support of his fellow citizens resident here.