The evening times., 1899-12-05
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The Commissioners Ash for an In
crease in the Force.


crease in the Force.
The proportion between the additional
number of policemen as provided for at
he last session OF Congress and the addi-
tional results achieved by The Police De-
partment is very unequal. The Commits
sioners asked for an increase OF 200 and
received but twenty-six additional men,
but the records of the department show
tnat in preventing crime. arresting crimi-
mails. and recovering stolen property. there
has been a decided improvement in eff
cheney over any past year. This is highly
creditable TO the department, and IL is
believed. Is appreciated by the citizens of
the District, from many OF whom warm
words of commendation are frequently
received These facts demonstrate how
important il is that further and greater
increase should be granted.
1t may be a repetition to give some of
the reasons why there should be sub
stantial increase of the force, but it is
thought best to do So II should be con-
sidered that this is the Capital of the
United States. situate in the midst of a
territory comprising seventy-two square
miles, the entire being thickly settled, and
that the population in the outlying portions
of the District is rapidly increasing. owing
TO the extension of modern street railway
facilities.
Within this police jurisdiction, the fourth
largest in the United States, are hundreds
of acres of public reservations, numerous
large Government workshops. Rock Creek
Park, with its thousands of acres; mag
nificent Institutions of learning many
costly residences, including those of the
principal Government officials and foreign
legations; several railroad depots. all of
which have to be carefully looked after
and protected by the police force and
this, too. when the number of officers on
duty at any one time does not exceed 100.
In the county portion of the District, each
beat comprises several square miles. while
in the heart of the city an officer is re-
quired to patrol from three TO ten lineal
miles of streets.
The improved roadways of the city make
them most desirable thoroughfares for
bicycles and other vehicles and the con-
stantly increasing travel of this character
necesstates the enforcement of strict reg
ulations. which cannot be done properly
with the limited force at command; PENN
sylvania Avenue and F Street the two
principal thoroughfares, and Connecticut
Avenue. a well patroniZed promenade,
should be patrolled by squads of officers
1t is not possible to have this done under
existing circumstances: foreign legations
should be given constant surveillance, but
the inadequate force precludes this; the
various circles, in the neighborhood of
which there is a great deal of driving, and
the parks, which furnish breathing spots for
nurses and children, should be given close
attention. while at present an officer can
make only an occasional visit to such as
may be on his beat. Is it at all strange
that when a policeman is wanted at a
particular place he cannot always be
found?
fair way to judge OF the police force
is not by few failures on the part of
policemen to be on the spot at the moment
when wanted, or by occasions when police
men err in judgment as to speech or ac-
ton. but by taking the net results of what
is accomplished in year SO far as the
record Of the city is concerned for safety
and criminal conditions. Surely to any
fairminded person it must be evident that
there is in the police force a set of men
Who are Jealous to preserve the good
name of the Capital, and who, at the risk
of life and danger of personal suffering
honestly and efficiently perform their
duty. 1t Is not denied that in this work.
as in every other department of life, there
are those who fail to attain the high
standard set for them by violating the
rules Of the department, making mistakes
and otherwise giving Just cause for COM