The record-union., 1899-12-12
POLICE Department NEEDS.
ANNUAL REPORT FILED BY
ACTING CHIEF ASH.
Five More Officers Recommended
and Hope Expressed for
New Jail Building.

The annual report of the Chief OF
Police was yesterday finished by Acting
Chief Ash and Sergeant McManus ana
transmitted to Mayor Land, and py
him sent to the Boa1d of Trustees.
In mentioning the death of Chief OF
Police Thomas Dwyer. which happened
on September 24th last, the report
says:
In the death of Thomas Dwyer the
police department has lost brave ana
efficient officer, who was beloved ny
his subordinates His loss was not
alone felt by the police department oul
by all who had occasion to transact
business with the department
Tribute is also paid to the memory
of Officer William L. Talbot, who dled
August I'd, last; and City Justice Oh
the Peace George G. Davis, who also
passed away last summer.
With respect to the condition OF the
City Jail. the report recites:
1.-The City Jail is in as good condition
at present as is possible under the cir
cumstances. The building has out
grown its usefulness. Frequently the
court has been compelled to declare a
recess on account of the switching IN
the railroad yard, which is located
within a few feet of the Jail. The build
ing is SO arranged that it is impossible
to prevent prisoners confined therein
from communicating with one another.
I hope that in the near future
the city will be furnished with suit
able City Hall and Jail"
The recommendations in the report
are as follows:
II would recommend the placing OF
police patrol boxes at various points IN
the city, by which officers could signal
for the patrol wagon, particularly in
cases where persons have been injured
and it is difficult to get communication
by telephone.
s"I would recommend the appointment
of five additional police officers, as the
city has grown to such an extent IN the
past few years, and with the present
force the beats are of a size that the
officers cannot patrol them in a manner
to do justice to the citizens. This would
particularly apply to the eastern por-
ton of the city, where one officer pa
trolls all the territory from Twelfth to
Thirty-first street and from to Y
street.
Il would recommend that the Chief
of Police station a police officer at Sew
enth and K streets during such hours
as he may deem it necessary for the
protection of pedestrians, the said cor
ner being the busiest in the city, where
nearly all the car lines meet. When an
officers services are not needed there
he could do duty at the theaterS or
other places of amusement
Il would recommend the appointment
of a clerk for the Chief of Police. At
present the Day Sergeant acts in that
capacity. His duties are such that 1t
is difficult for him to perform his other
work properly"
There have been during the year 3.035
arrests. most of which were for petty
misdemeanors. The number of arrests
made for felony charges was lOo, but
of this number only twenty-one were
held to answer to the Superior Court.
Two hundred and forty-one were SEN
fenced to the County Jail, and 146 COM
mitmentsz were withheld.
In conclusion, referring to the police
force, Acting Chief Ash said:
Il wish to compliment and thank the
members of the police department for
the efficiency they have displayed dur
ing the past year, and can with pride
say that considering the size and faclli-
ties of our police department [ con-
slider it second to none"