The times., 1898-09-20
THE DISTRICT DIVIDED
An Innovation in the Wash
ington Police Service.
MAJOR SYLVESTER'S IDEA
There VIII BE Two Subdivisions, in
Charge of Lieutenant Inspectors,
and Hereafter All Business Will
BE Handled by Them Instead of
Going to Headquarters.

Major Richard Sylvester, chief of po-
lice, who has fnaugurated a number of
changes in the service since he assumed
charge of the department several months
ago, recommended TO the Commissioners
yesterday that the police territory of the
District be divided into two subdivisions,
to which the smaller precincts will be
subordinate, and his suggestion has been
indorsed by the Commissioners.
This innovation will do away with the
present custom of forwarding police COM
munications, complaints and charges to
police headquarters through precinct lieu
tenants.
These matters will, in the future, go to
two lieutenant inspectors, each of whom
will be responsible for the efficiency of
the police force in his respective division.
The first subdivision, of which Lieuten-
| ant Inspector Isaac Pearson will be given
charge. is to include all the territory
west of Seventh Street. The second sub
| division, of which Lieutenant Inspector
F. E. Cross will be given charge, is TO in
clude all territory east of Seventh Street.
The recommendations upon which the
| change is made are contained in COM
munication from Major Sylvester to the
| District Commissioners. 1t follows:
az have the honor to recommend that
the metropolitan police district of the
| District of Columbia be divided into two
| police subdivisions to be known as dis
| trict No. ! and district No. 2.
''Second-District No. ! shall contain
the police precincts included in the ter
ritory west of Seventh Street west, and
shall be under the general supervision of
Lieutenant Inspector Isaac Pearson.
"Third-District No. shall contain
the police precincts included in that ter
ritory east of Seventh Street west. and
shall be under the general supervision
| of Lieutenan; Inspector +. L. Cross.
"Fourth-Lieutenant inspectors will be
held accountable for a careful adherence
| on the part OF the officers, privates, and
| employees. OF the department 10 the rules
| and regulations and for the maintenance
of good order and the prevention and de-
lection of crime.
| 'Fifth-Each lieutenant Inspector will
confer with the ieutenants in charge OF
| the several precincts included within his
| district on all matters pertaining to the
public welfare therein, receive all morn
ing reports, replies to complaints, written
| communications. charges and, in fact,
everything that now comes TO police
| headquarters through the lieutenants.
The lieutenant inspectors will pay gen.
! eral attention 10 the conduct and ap-
| pearance of the officers, men and en-
ployes, 10 the condition and sanitary ar
rangements of the various station houses
and stables connected Herewith, and, in
fact, TO all matters pertaining to the pre-
cincts in their respective districts.
'-Sixth-The lieutenant inspectors will
be furnished transportation when neces-
sary, and so arrange their visits as TO
time as will permit them to report
| promptly to the major and superintend-
ent at police headquarters daily at l
| O'Clock p. m
'Seventh-All communications, instruc-
tions orders, etc, for the several lieu
| tenants, the force and employees will be
| communicated to such through the lieu
| tenant inspectors, who viii visit the sew
! eral precincts included within their sepa-
| rate districts after conference with the
| major and superintendent at headquar-
| ters.
'Eighth-The captain, who by law is
| the principal inspector, Will make daily
inspection of the suburban portions of
| the two sub-districts, and exercise gener-
| al supervision over the entire police dis
| trict of the District OF Columbia
| "Ninth-Blank forms will be provided
| upon which the captain inspector and
| lieutenant inspectors win make daily re-
| ports, at l o'clock p. m, upon the gen
| eral conduct of police affairs in the Dis
| trict of Columbia, in order that the
| major and superintendent may form an
| accurate idea as TO the situation of po-
| lice matters.
| ''Tenth-The captain inspector and lieu
| tenant inspectors will so regulate their
| time as to insure a proper and honest
| rendition of police services in the respec-
| tive precincts, and will be held respon-
| sible for all derelictions on the part of
the members of the force and employees.
''Eleventh-All reports shall be made for
the preceding twenty-four hours, ending
| at O'Clock a. m, daily as at present.
This change is recommended for the
reasons set forth in that portion of my
| annual report bearing upon the duties
| of the captain inspector and lieutenant
| inspectors the same TO take effect Oc-
| tober /, 1898.
| This innovation is in no wise intend
| ed to stop communication between the
| several lieutenants and the major and
superintendent but they will call and
| be called to conference at headquarters
| at such time as occasion may demand
| President Wight heartily concurred in
the new plan and indorsed the same as
| follows:
1.-The recommendation of the major and
/ superintendent of police is one which /
| have talked over with him and l have
| carefully considered the matter and find
| it would be very much to the advantage
| of the police department If the change
| suggested be made inasmuch as it will
| give the lieutenants more time at their
| stations and they will then be able to
| look more carefully after their precincts -