The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-06
LIEUTENANT KELLY TO RETIRE.
The Aged officer VIII Be Relieved
From Active DUTY.

Police Lieut. John f. Kelly. of the Sixth
precinct. has requested the District Com
missioners to relieve him OF his duties as
an officer Of the force. He asks to be made
private and to be given detail that will
enable him TO remain within doors. AL
though loath TO do so. the Commissioners
are constrained to comply with the request
Of this old officer and he will be reduced,
probably by the 18th OF the present month.
II is understood on good authority that
Sergt Harry Gessford, for long time
Major Sylvester's principal assistant at Po-
lice Headquarters, will be promoted to fill
the vacancy in the list of lieutenants caused
by Lieutenant Kelly's retirement. 1t is
also understood that there are to be sew
eral retirements among the officers Of the
force and several sergeant have already
heen named as their probable successors.
The retirement of Lieutenant Kelly is
no surprise to the members of the police
force and those acquainted with the officer
For long time he has been in i'll health
and at timeC he has been so i'll that his
life was in danger. He bravely remained
on duty however, and was not away from
the stationhouse of his precinct for very
long periods
Lieutenant Kelly is a popular lieutenant.
He was among the first oil 100 men to take
the oath as policemen on the 18th day of
September. 1861 when the present force
was organized. and he has been Oh active
duty ever since. He is a native of this
city. having been born here in 1881. He
enlisted for ninety days at the outbreak
of the Civil War. and served with his
company in the forts around this city.
When he was mustered out of the military
service he sought employment on the
police force.
The new force for the city was Just being
organized, and Kelly was enrolled as one
of its original members. He was rapidly
promoted and five years after the organ
iZation of the force he was made a lieu
tenant, and was detailed as inspector in
charge of the detective corps. He served
in this capacity for a long time. finally re
linquishing the office to become night in
spector. He was the first policeman to at
tain the latter office. and he filled it for
many years to the satisfaction of his SUI
periOrs After his service as night iu-
spector Kelly was made captain and deputy
superintendent of the department He
served in this position for a long time and
was finally reduced TO the rank of lieuten-
ant at his own request. He was placed in
command of the Seventh precinct and was
afterward transferred to the Third. From
here he came TO the Sixth. which was thea
the Second where he has been for a num-
Der OF years. In point Of service Lieuten-
am Kelly is the oldest lieutenant on the
police force. and it is probable that he has
seen more active service than any of the
men who were his associates
Exactly what position Lieutenant Kelly
will be given when he is retired has not
YET been determined. but il is probable
that he viii be assigned 10 duty al head
quarters
Several of the sergeants on the force
have been talked Of as probable SUCCESSORS
TO the retiring lieutenant but it is the
opinion OF hose Interested in police af-
fairs that the promotion OF Sergeant Cess
ford has been determined upon. Major
Sylvester has had Gessford al headquar-
ters for a long time and for some time
past il has been known that he would be
given the first vacant lieutenancy