Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-14
PLANS PROPOSED
Suggested Legislation for Reorganiza-
ton of Police Force.
MANY new FEATURES INCORPORATED
Provision for Retirement of Officers
After Fifteen Years.
ISSUE OF RAIDING WARRANTS

! Major Sylvester has announced that he
will make an effort to have Congress pass
| the bill for the reorganization of the police
| department at the present session. There
are many new and important features in
the bill drafted by Major Sylvester and
! recently submitted to the Commissioners,
as published in The Star at the time. I'm
der the provisions of the bill the Commits
| sioners to exercise virtually the same
authority they do under the present
| laws. 1t is provided that the force shall
| consist of major and superintendent,
| one assistant superintendent and such num-
| Der of surgeons, captains, leutenants, ser
geants, privates of class and class 1, and
| desk sergeants as Congress may from time
| to time provide, and no person shall be APP
! pointed to or hold any Office in the metro
| politan police force who cannot read and
write the English language, or who is not
citizen of the United States, or who shall
have ever been indicted and convicted of
| crime
| Applicants shall be required to pass an
| examination in spelling, handwriting, arith-
| metic, writing from dictation, police man.
| ual and practical questions pertaining to
the District of Columbia, it's government
| and institutions, under such regulations as
| may be prescribed by the Commissioners,
| and must attain an average percentage of
| 20 in order to be mentally qualified can
| didate.
No applicant shall be examined, as afore-
| said, until he shall have passed satisfac-
| tory physical examination before the board
! of police surgeons, the secretary of which
| will duly certify to the same in writing,
| that such applicant is robust, healthy,
| sound of limb and physically capable to
stand the exposure and duties of police
| man on the force.
Duties of Police.
Under the proposed law it is specified that
| members of the force shall be on duty at
| all times day and night, and their duties
| shall be:
First-To preserve the public peace.
| offenders
Thrd-To protect the rights Of persons
| and property.
Fourth-To guard the public health.
Fifth-To report nuisances existing in the
public streets, roads, alleys, highways and
other places.
Sixth-To provide a proper police force at
every fire, in order that thereby the fire.
men and property may be protected.
| Seventh-To protect travellers an
strangers at steamboat and ship landings
| and railway stations.
Eighth-To see that all laws relating to
| the observance of Sunday, and regarding
| paWnbrokers, mock auctions, gambling, in
| temperance lottery dealers, Migrants dis
orderly persons, and the public health are
properly enforced: and to enforce and obey
all laws and ordinances in force in the
District of Columbia properly applicable to
police or health, and not inconsistent here
with.
The duties Of the officers are defined, and
1t Is provided that when a vacancy exists
in the office of captain, lieutenant, or ser
geant, such fact shall be communicated by
the Commissioners Of the District Of Column
bia to the civil service commission, who
will hold competitive examination for
such vacancy or vacancies within thirty
days thereafter privates of class two, who
have been such for a period of at least one
year, being eligible to compete in such ex-
aminatons for sergeants, to be examined
in regard to the duties of the office for
which they may be candidates, police regu-
lations of the District, practical questions
handwriting, spelling and arithmetic.
The applicant making the highest average
percentage, his length of service, record on
the force with respect to loss Of time
trials for infractions Of the rules, repri-
mands and physical condition being consid-
cred Herewith, shall be promoted to any
vacancy which promotion shall be consid-
cred permanent if after six months proba-
ton he shall be retained in such position.
The Desk serseants.
Paragraph 10, referring to desk ser
geants, now known as station keepers, says
that they shall perform the clerical duties
appertaining to the several station houses,
shall possess the authority Of sergeants in
the absence of the lieutenants or ser
geants, and be responsible for the proper
keeping Of the records. property and good
| order at the station houses.
Under the present law only the chief or
police and the chief clerk required to
give bond Provision is made in the pro-
posed law for the bonding of the captain,
lieutenants, sergeants and all ofhcers In
trusted with the keeping of money or val
uables.
Provision is made in paragraph "a for
the accommoda ton of persons held as wit
nesses. They are to be accommodated in
premises other than those employed for
the confinement of persons charged with
violations of law. The re-enactment of
the pension act of 1885 is recommended
and a paragraph provides that the amend
ment to the act passed in 1896 be further
extended to authorize the use of
money collected for dog licenses.
New Feature.
A new feature of the pension law is
found in the following provision:
That the major and superintendent, as
sistant superintendent, captains and lieu
tenants, after fifteen years service in the
police force, or having been injured or con-
tracted disease In the line of duty, may be
removed from the force, and shall receive
an allowance equal to 80 per cent of the
salary paid at the time of such removal;
or in case Of death, the widow and children
a sum not exceeding that aforesaid. All OF
act of February 25, 1885, not inconsistent
with this provision to remain in full force
and effect.
Whenever any member of the police force
in actual discharge Of his duty, shall become
actually disabled, his necessary expenses
during the time of such disability, on the
certificate of a police surgeon, stating the
| manner, cause and condition of the injury.
and approved by the Commissioners, may
become charge upon the policemen's fund,
but the Commissioners may discontinue
such allowance for any satisfactory reason.
Books are required to be kept as follows:
First. General complaint book, in which
shall be entered every complaint preferred
upon personal knowledge of the circum-
stances thereof, with the name and resi-
dence of the complainant
Second. Books Of registry Of lost. stolen
or abandoned property, for the general con-
venience of the public and the police.
Third. Books of record of the police,
wherein shall be entered the name of every
member Of the police force. with the time
and place Of nativity. and the time when
he became a citizen, If he was born out of
the United States his age, former occupa-
ton, number and residence of family, the
date of appointment or dismissal from Of
flee, with the cause of the latter.
Fourth. Record showing trials had of any