The evening times., 1899-04-03
DEfECFIVE FORCE
TO Be INCREASED
Plan Provides for the Addition
of Eight Men.
The Members TO BE Divided Into
TW8 Classes.
Higher Grade SIeuths to Attend 80
Important Cascs-tn Interview
With Major Sylvester.

Major Sylvester has prepared plans
whereby it is hope the efficiency OF the
detective force will be greatly increased,
and its facilities for the detection and pre-
vention of crime greatly augmented.
The plan provides for the increase Of the
force TO twenty men who shall be divided
into two classes.
The first class viii consist ot twelve men.
the present number. and win receive the
nav of detectives. They will be detailed
to look up the more important cases re-
ported TO the bureau, and will instantly
respond to any such matter that is sent
into the Office. The familiarity OF the pe-
lice of this city with the criminal clement
has always been a subject OF Favorable
comment. but they have not had much
chance to become acquainted with the
methods of the crooks OF other localities.
The reason for this is that heretofore
the detectives have been greatly handicap
ned by having so many small cases TO look
into They have been called upon TO md
eyerybody's lost dog or hat or umbrella
All this has taken a great deal CT thslr
time and has prevented them from stuly-
ing the methods Of criminals other TN n
those who operate in this city exclusively.
As soon as a WaShinStonian misses any
Thing from his house. even bcfore making
a thorough search OF the premises, he re-
ports the matter to the detectives. An Off
Ger is sent TO invest gate the case AMI il
often happens that the article reported los
has beep found on his arrival at the house.
This requires the expenditure OF a Sreat
deal of time and causes delay in securing
for the more important cases the attention
they deserve Thus il happens that the
city detective is forced 10 spend SO great
a time on the petty cases that ne mas had
no time to attend TO the matters OF mo-
ment.
The new ARRANGEMENT it is said. will Oh
Iiteratc this difficulty as il will provide
a Second class OF detectives who Will he
employed almost entirely TO look up the
small matters. This second class %ili
consist of eight men who will be detailed
from the various precincts. They viii re-
ceive the pay of a policeman OF the second
or highest class, but Will be given an OPP
portunity to become regular detectives.
The force will then be run entirely on ITS
merits and. if a man in the first class
shows that he is not able TO compete with
a colleague in the second class, they viii
change positions and the second-class man
win become first class.
The men will ali be placed under the
direction of the Inspector Of Detectives and
will work together as far as possible. They
VIII be compelled 10 keep hard at work TO
retain their positions on the force.
Some time ago special force OF detec-
lives MAS established at the two railway
stations and il is probable that these Viii
he given the first chance Tor a detective $
berth when the new order CT things goes
into effect. In speaking of the matter 20
a reporter for The Times this afternoon
Major Sylvester said:
The plan occurred 10 me some time
ago. but l thought l would wait until the
Isl of July before introducing it to the
public. From the way things icok now
il is probable that ii viii be pat into
execution before that time. Our men have
very little chance to show what is in them
because of The number Of petty cases they
have 10 deal with. There is more petty
thieving in this city than any ether city
in the United States and the detectil Is
have TO attend 10 il all. At least il is all
reported 10 the detective bureau and il is
necessary to detail a man TO look up the
case. They have no time TO study the
criminal element OF other cities and there
fore are excused for their ignorance of the
crooks out of town.
The scheme | propose viii be a sort OF
school for the policemen. There win be
eight men, of course who will only receive
The regular pay of a private on the police
force. and these men will be assigned to
all of the petty cases. II man shows spe-
cial aptitude in the detection OF crime he
viii be given q place on the new force with
chance of promotion to a regular berth
il he surpasses in talent any of the men
who are now engaged in the work A man
will remain on the force as long as he does
good work, as is the case now.
II believe that the plan is a fine one and
will prove of inestimable benefit to the
men on the force. II will provide a means
whereby they can distinguish themselves
and il Will also stimulate the men nov en-
gagged I'm the work of derecting crime TO
do better. l do not complain of the work
the men have done. They have Quilted
themselves very we'll under the circum-
stances, but there is a chance for be ter
work, and | am going to give them tn I
chance. If they fail to make the proper
showing there are a number OF men in the
precincts who can take their places. The
plan will be put in operation as soon as
possible. / intended to wat until the 1st
of July, as / said before. when I get the
increase OF men granted by the last Con-
gress. but it is probable that the means
viii be found sooner than that and ] will
take advantage of every opportunity"