The times., 1899-01-24
new POLICE FACILITIES
Major Sylvester to Create
Three Departments.
OTHER REFORMS PROBABLE
to he Relieved by n
Bureau of Information and In
vestigntiOn - Experts TO Watch
Railway station Crowds - Better
coycry of Lost and stolen Property

In order to increase the efficiency of the
police force of the District, Major Richard
Sylvester, superintendent of police. has de-
cided to create three new establishments
in connection with the system.
The first Of these will be bureau OF
information, to be in charge of compe-
tent officer. This bureau will investigate
the many letters of inquiry concerning
missing relatives and friends, runaway
children and adults, and other similar mat
ters, which are now received by Major
Sylvester
In the future when unofficial commune
cations of this character are received, the
writer's will be requested TO have their en-
quiries made official by having them trans
mitted through the police department of
their localities. This will do away with
the loss of time by the department in
the investigation of matters Of little or no
consequence, which are magnfied by
cranks in their letters. When commune
cation under the proposed regime comes 10
the local departments notice 1t will be
through the police OF the city or town in
which the complaint or request is made,
and will. of course. have the endorsement
of that department to show that the mat
ter is worthy of investigation.
This work has heretofore been done by
the detectives and has occupied much of
their valuable time. In the future ii will
be entrusted 10 one officer, who Will be
assigned solely to this work.
The second innovation will be the es-
tabIishment of detective bureau at each
of the railway stations. One or more police
men in citizens clothes will be stationed
at the several railway stations These men
will be experts in the line of duty to which
they will be assigned, and will be expected
TO apprehend fugitives from justice, crooks,
and other suspicious characters who may
seek to enter the city. The stations are
now patrolled by uniformed policemen. but
Major Sylvester feels that the duty can be
better performed by officers so attired that
they will not attract attention.
The third new establishment decided
upon by the chief OF police is really an
important Improvement on the present
method of informing the force of lost,
stolen. and abandoned property, and in
structng the officers to recover the miss
ing goods if possible. Heretofore the list
of the missing property has been read TO
the men OF the different precincts before
they went on duty. These lists We're often
forgotten by the policemen and many OF
them could not keep in mind the descrip-
ton of the lost stolen, or abandoned
goods.
To obviate this in the future Major SyI-
vester has set up printing office in his
apartments at police headquarters. and
hereafter lists of the property referred to
will be printed and furnished each mem
Der OF the force. to be carried in his pocket
for ready reference. This will permit of
| no excuse for forgetting the properties re-
ported lost or stolen their descriptions.
Major Sylvester proposes, as soon as an
increase in the force is provided for by
Congress, TO give Anacostia and the con
tiguous country frst-class service. Other
improvements in the force generally will
be Instituted as soon as suitable and
commodious building can be secured for
use as police headquarters. Owing to the
cramped and crowded condition of the
present quarters the business of the de-
] partment is seriously handicapped.