The evening times., 1898-09-21
REASONS FOR THE CHANGE
Major Sylvester Explains His
Recommendation.
EXPECTS BETTER SERVICE
dissection of the Police Territory
VIII Bring Precinct Lieutenants
and Other Officers Into Closer
Communication Responsibility
VIII He Divided.

The recommendation of Major Richard
Sylvester, chief. of police, that the police
territory of the city be divided into two
principal precincts, each under the super
vision of lieutenant inspector. has been
widely and favorably commented upon.
The suggestion was a surprise both at
the District Building and among the
local police force, and was entirely un-
expected
The chief has had a change in view for
some time, and recommended 1t only after
several extended conferences with the
president of the Board OF Commissioners.
Major Sylvester addressed a communi-
cation to the Commissioners yesterday
setting forth more fully the purpose of
the proposed change, and how it may be
expected to better the service. His state
ment read as follows:
The Full Explanation.
For many years it has been the GUS
tom for the lieutenants of the several
precincts, or those acting for them, to re-
port daily to the superintendent at po-
lice headquarters for the purpose of
handing in reports of the operations in
four hours receiving such complaints
and papers as may have been made and
prepared for their attention, and discuss
ing with the superintendent matters OF
departmental and pubic interest.
While these heutenants are ydevoting
the forenoon or the best part of the day
in attendance at headquarters their pre-
cincts must be left in charge and under
the supervision OF sergeants, who, while
i ian n
superiors, have another duty TO perform
of equal if not more Importance.
There are those, perhaps. who. acting
as sergeants, may not have that appr2-
citation of their duties which they should
have This, however, may be partly ac-
counted for by the fact that they have not
been as strictly confined TO their leglu-
mate work in the past as they should
have been. A sergeant of police, like
private is clothed with the power of ar
rest, and 1t is his duty 10 see that the
laws are enforced, and if necessary TO
participate actively in the police duty of
making arrests; but he is authorized TO
maintain, at the same time.z an inspec-
ton over the privates of the force and to
exact Of them a strict performance of
duty.
tie should have the confidence and re-
spect of the men under him, which feel
ing should be reciprocated on his part,
but at all times he should require COM
pliance with the regulations laid down for
the guidance of the force the members of
which should understand that they are
engaged in common cause; that their
relative positions are made such by law.
and that when the duties of each are
properly and conscient,ously performed
the organization cannot be otherwise than
efficient.
Increase of Compensation.
There are two other officials of equal
rank with the inspector in charge of the
detective bureau. known as night inspect
ors. who perform a duty similar 10 that
of lieutenants and sergeants, in that they
go forth in the night time and see that
members OF the force are rendering a
strict accountability of their respective
duties.
These agents have proved themselves
efficient in the past, but why supervision
should be exercised by them under cover
of the darkness rather than in the day
time when similar and equally as impor-
tant work is required, is a question which
suggests not only a change in the sys-
tenn, but justifes a recommendation for
increased compensation for these TWO Of
ficers.
That their services may be more
properly directed, il is proposed that the
District of Columbia be divided into two
DO lice subdivisions, to be known Dis
trict No ]. and District No. ,. the former
to contain the police precincts included
in that territory west of Seventh Street
west; the latter TO include all the pre-
cincts east Of Seventh Street west. This
would not conflict with the organic act.