Evening star., 1896-02-22

crooks. If such assistance were not OBJ
tanned. 1t is claimed that frequently the
carrying cut their policy of preventing
crime. Whenever Inspector Holinberger
has reason to believe that workers
in particular line are going to operate
here he sends around the word and the
selected victims, If known, are saved.
The detective force at present consti-
tuted is composed of thirteen men, whose
duty it is to suppress crime and detect
criminals. and their record, it is claimed,
will Compare favorably with that of any
other bureau of its kind in the country.
Until the decision of the Supreme Court of
the District annulling the army and navy
all appointments on the detective force
should be made from the ranks, and they
could at any time have been sent back to
the ranks for street duty.
Since the organization of the force several
men have been appointed for this special
duty who were brought from other places
and they were made members of the detec-
tive corps by first being appointed as pri-
Yates and then detailed.
AS the law now stands. the officials have
the right at any time to send the detectives
back to the ranks for street duty or other
service. 1t is not necessary, however, that
men now appointed to the detective force
should come from the ranks but the author
tiles may, in their discretion, appoint those
who are experienced in this particular line
of duty.
Inspector L. Fl. Hollinberger is chief of
the corps and these under him are r. H.
Boardman. G. W. Boyd, Joseph Carter.
John Gallaher. NJ B. German, Edward
Horne Henry Lacy, J. w. Mattingly, C.
". Proctor. NJ. W. QIinlan. p. T. Rhodes
and r. E. Weldon. During the day Sergt.
Robert Johnson assumes charge of the Of
fee in the absence of the inspector and at
night Sergt. Perry has full charge Of the
office. Officer F. NJ. Helan of the first pre-
cinct has been assigned to duty in con-
nection with the detective service, because
of his excellent record as precinct detec-
tive.
With this force of thirteen detectives all
the men are not available for detective
duty. Detective Proctor is engaged as in
spector of pawnshops. while Detective
Mattingly is detailed for work at the dis
Srict attorneys office. Detective German,
who has been in the service longer than
any other member of the force, does the
office work, which is part of the most val
liable work of the service. and in this
work he discovers the whereabouts of lots
of stolen property, which leads to the ap-
prehension of the thief for which some
other officer gets the credit. The other
men do street work and general detective
duty outside of the Office. Each morning
the men are supposed to report for duty at
the Office, and this they do unless the in
vestigation of a case calls Them elsewhere
There are no cells at headquarters where
prisoners can be detained nor are the pres
ent apartments adapted to the uses of a
branch of the police service. This depart
meEt. the officers think, should be located
in a building erec.ed so as to provide for
the secret work that has to be done, and
give some privacy where privacy is need
ed. The records show TO material increase
In the robberies committed during the
past year, compared with previous
years, and, rs already stated, there are
only few of this winters robberies re-
mainirg unsolved.