The times., 1899-10-18

visor for Duty at Headquarters
DetaiIed-T,vo Men 10 BE Mude Act
ing scrgeants-An Increase i'm the
Eighth Precinct Bicycle Squad.
The first of the expected changes in the
personnel of the police force were an
nounced yesterday morning by Major Syl-
vester. The changes are made for va
rious reasons, including Difference TO the
wishes of the policemen in some instances
for the purpose of greater efficiency in
others, and again as a discipline to men
who have been adjudged guilty of charges
preferred against them. All of the changes
will take place on or before the first of the
coming month. 1t is more than probable
that before that date arrives more changes
Will be announced. Major Sylvester an
nounced yesterday that additional changes
were under adyisement. He also announced
that three distinctly new and advantageous
features in the workings of the police force
would be made within few days. These
features have been under consideration for
some time, and were promulgated only after
mature deliberation.
The changes as announced include the
transfer of Privates r. l.. Golway, from the
First to the Second precinct; J. w. Robert
son, from the Second TO the First pre-
cinct; Jacob Jacobson, from the Third to
the Second precinct; G. w. Riches from
the Second 10 the Third precinct; E. l..
Johnson. from the First to the Third pre-
cinct; Beans from the Third to the First
precinct, and Trumbo, from the First to the
Second precinct.
l. rl- rf
formerly Lieutenant, Gesstord, now in
charge of the Anaeostia station, viii be de-
tailed at the new Police Headquarters, as
a general supervisor. for duty from mid
night until the assembling of the detectives
on the following morning. Now that the
new headquarters is completed, the neces-
sity for night general supervisor is keenly
felt. At present one man is able TO at
tend to the duties confined within the small
group of offices al headquarters and Robert
Burns, the veteran policeman and detective,
is now the incumbent of the office. AS the
offices al the new headquarters will be
scattered over an entire floor, it would
be impossible for one man 10 attend to
them, and for that reason IL has been de-
cided 10 detail Sergeant Gessford 70 look
| out for routine duties and attend TO the
properties of the Offices.
What might come under the head of a
change, but what is included as one of the
promised new features in the workings
| of the force is the selection of two police
/ men for promotion as acting sergeants.
! These men will be mounted on bicycles and
will practically act as night inspectors. 1t
| Will be the duty OF these acting sergeants
/ to cover respectively the first and second
1 districts into which the city is divided, and
keep strict w:--ch on the policemen doing
duty in the several precincts included in
the respective territories assigned to the
acting sergeants. They will be nominally
attached TO their respective precincts, and
viii continue TO be enrolled as members
| thereof. However. they will not be con-
/ fined to any bounds except those of the
districts to which they are assigned for
duty. AS yet no selections have been made
/ for the positions, but it is more than prob
| able that Policemen Duvall and Robertson,
the original members of the bicycle squad,
will secure the appointments.
The second Of the new features an
nounced by Major Sylvester is the increas-
! ing of the bicycle squad of the Eighth pre-
/ cinct to a complement of eight men. AT
present only two men are doing bicycle
! duty in the precinct, and they are COM
PEELED to devote their entire time and at
tention to the city portion Of the precinct.
thus leaving the outlying district above
the boundary and extending from Benning
10 Rock Creek to be patrolled by footmen
and the few men on horses who do duty in
| that section.
| The number of men detailed on the beats
| in the section mentioned is entirely in
| adequate, Major Sylvester says, and they
are absolutely unable to properly patrol
the ground or territory allotted 10 them
| For that reason the idea of mounting the
men on bicycles was conceived with a vieN
to obtaining d more thorough and efficient
patrol system in the outlying and practi-
caily unpatrolled district Major Sylves.
ter stated yesterday that he had no
definitely decided what men he would de
tail for duty on the bicycles but would an
nounce their names in few days.
The third innovation is one THAI IS ex
pected TO fill long felt want, viz, the de
failing of policemen for duty in the ambu
lance service. At present the only person
who accompanies an ambulance on a mis-
sion of any kind is the driver. THIS Majo
Sylvester says is responsible for the lac
that several matters that should receiV
police attention go unattended, because th
driver does not have an opportunity 10 car
for them. The ambulance drivers are no
policemen, and have enough TO do to at
tend strictly 20 their duties as drivers, i
the argument Major Sylvester puts forth
and it is for that reason that ne feels tn
necessity of an officer who shall accoTa
pany the ambulance and act as a Datro
officer does who accompanies a patro
wagon. To provide against any emergen
cies that might arise in the future MaJo
Sylvester has designated Policemen w. "
Perry, H. H. Fisher, and w. NJ. Caring
ton for duty in the ambulance service.
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TAKEN TO PHILADELPHIA.