Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-22
USE OF 7W EAPONS
Times When rPdioe5udn Gan Draw Their
Rev@ven.
Frequent VioAtisas OF the Regula.
lions Naed af Instruction
P0intml Out.

1.-The revolver should never be drawn,
much less discharged, for the purpose OF
mtlm1dat1on-' This Jsection of the police
manual was charged. to have been violated
by Policeman Narrower who was given a
hearing before the trial board yesterday, as
published In yesterdays Star. In view OF
the circumstances attending the use of the
weapon the members Of the police force
are much interested in the outcome of the
case. Judges Of the Police Court frequently
hear OF the reckless use Of the pistol in the
hands OF the police, and sometimes they
take occasion to lecture the officers for
such recklessness, but very few of such
ofnce:s have been hauled up before the
trial board.
The rules of the department on this ques-
ton say: THE revolver in the hands of the
members of the force shall not be used ex-
cept in the most urgent cases, and in such
manner that the lives of innocent parties
may not be jeopardized thereby.
"Wanton disregard of life by an officer,
IN the careless use OF his revolver, will SUBJ
1ect him to removal from the force.
The revolver should never be drawn,
much less discharged, for the purpose OF
intimidation"
In the case Of the officer tried yesterday
his defense was that he fired his revolver
for the purpose of intimidation, well as
adjoining beat. because there was a big
crowd following him and stones were being
thrown.
The question of arming policemen and
viii soon be given some consideration.
Maj. Harries. in his report on the police
department, In response to request from
Commissioner Wight, had this to say on
the subject.
"One of the altogether remarkable con-
ditions which has not yet attracted public
attention Is the arming of policemen with
reviewers, although in ninety nine cases out
OF one hundred the policeman kncws prac-
tically nothing of the arm, and has not
been taught the first principles Of marks
manship. That every officer should be so
armed must be evident to all persons hav-
ing any knowledge of police duty. 1t there
fore follows that the Officer should know
how to use with greater or less degree of
skill the deadly weapon he is required to
carry and may sometimes be compelled 10
use.
"a course of instruction should be insisted
upon, and 1t would probably be only the
proper thing to withhold the issue Of re-
viewers to those officers who develop in
ability to handle them with due regard for
the safety of themselves. their associates
and the unoffending public
AT present, it Is stated. very little alten-
ton is paid to the question of weapons
and they are not even tested before they
are given to the officers. There was a time
when they were discharged and passed
upon before being issued, but this is not
done now. The result is. it IS stated by
some of the officers, that they have defec-
tive weapons, and when a case of emer-
gency arises the weapon may not be able
to do its work. Only about six weeks ego
weapon failed to work, and its failure
had the possiblei effect of permitting a
murderer to escape. This happened during
the pursuit of Dorsey Foutz. He was seen
on Bluebird Hill by a policeman. and. be
ing some distance away, the officer drew
his revolver and attempted 10 discharge
it. Several times the trigger was pulled,
but each time 1t missed fire, and the fugi-
tive murderer was soon in the woods out
of sight During past years as The trial
of Police Court cases showed. scores of
policemen have used their revolvers in
reckless manner. and some of them al.-
mitted they had so used their weapons
because they hadEnot been given the proper
instructions.