The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-03

is completed and when Congress complies
with its promise TO man IL with suffic-
lent number of men TO police the large
area between Fifteenth Street. on the east
and Rock Creek Park the west, the
department will be in better shape than
now 90 cope with the many burdens put
upon it,
In explaining the management OF the
department at headquarters, Major Syi-
vestsr said that the Metropolitan Police
district which is coterminous with the
District of Columbia. is divided intoi two
divisions. which embrace the cities OF
Washington and Georgetown and a large
suburban territory. AS now constituted,
the subdivisions are supervised by two
lieutenant inspectors within the city lin
its, while the outlying territory is under
the charge Of the Captain OF Police. The
official duties of the latter also keep him
at headquarters most of the time as as
sistant and deputy Of the Major and Sup
erintendent. The jurisdiction is further
divided into nine precincts, with tenth
in prospect as soon as the new station
house north OF Florida Avenue is ready for
occupancy OF these precincts the First,
Third, Seventh, and Eighth belong in the
First Division. and the Fourth, Fifth,
Sixth, and Ninth belong in the Second Di-
vision. 4 bicycle squad of forty men Is
distributed among the various precincts.
and the mounted service is attached to the
Fifth. Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth pre-
clnc.s.
The Superintendent stated that the same
lack of men that has been spoken of in
the ranks of the department is noticeable
at headquarters. There is no detective
force except that detailed as such, the Su
perintendent is forced for lack of assist
ance to look OTTER the matters relating to
the discipline of the force. which duty is
usually in other cities delegated to the
captain of police OF an officer OF similar
rank. II is not reasonable, the major
thinks. that he should be expected to look
after the multiplicity of detail at head
quarters or that two lieutenants should
look after seventy-two square miles of ter
ritory twice in twenty four hours, espe-
cially when no provision is made for their
being mounted. The county portion of the
jurisdiction is entitled to the same police
protection as the city, but 1t cannot be
done as long as the captain Of police is
penned up at headquarters as assistant to
the Superintendent.
at should not be forgotten" said Major
Sylvester, that for years Improvements
of all kinds have been extending through
the District. largely induced by superior
rapid transit; that the force performing
patrol duty has been growing toward i'm
portant dimensions; that police business
in its many details and perplexities has
quadrupled while no relief in the way Of
assistance has been offered at headquar
tiers. Under present arrangements the
Superintendent does not have the advice
and assistance OF even one official at head
quarters specially detailed for that pur-
pose"
The Detective Bureau.
Speaking of the detective bureau, Major
Sylvester said that the law which created
detective corps for the District was an
nulled years ago. and since then under new
legislation the authorities have been en-
powered to detail from among the privates
on the force persons for special service to
the number of twelve the last appropria
ton bill raising the number to fourteen
for special service in connection with the
detection and prevention of crime. In this
wise an organization is maintained which
is styled the detective service The Su-
perintendent is expected to designate for
this branch of the work those men who in
his opinion are best adapted TO 1t by rea-
son OF experience and skill.
This community" said Major Sylves-
ter, has been educated TO report any and
all losses and mishaps OF every conceiv-
able kind to the detective bureau.
| Whether the stolen articles is an UNI
brella. a pair of gloves. or diamond pin,
the case is given to the detectives TO IN
ravel instead of being assigned to the
police at the nearest precinct station,
thus expanding the time and means of an
important auxiliary on trivial matters,
often to the neglecS of things more i'm
portant." BY detailing two more privates
in a detective capacity 1t is expected that
the disposal of minor matters can be left
| TO them, and that the older and original
detail will be given a better opportunity
| TO devote undivided attention TO the
larger and more pressing cases.
/ Major Sylvester explained that the eff
fciency OF the force is often broken in
| upon by some emergency which could not
/ be anticipated. a case in point is the
additional protection which it has been
necessary TO give to the Chinese Legation