The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-09
q Detective Bureau.

The Detective Bureau.
The Detective Bureau is the most i'm
portant auxiliary Of che department. and
tn" chief thereof should have mo- defined
hours OF duty but should always DE ac-
cossible and on the alert. lie is at ali
times in close communication with the
Superintendent of the department, who
must rely principally upon him IN the
pursuit OF experienced criminals. He not
only has that character OF service TO su-
peryise. but must conduct searches for
missing people, respond to an kinds Of
postal enquiries, carry ou an ext. usiye
correspondence and Interchange police
Information The law applicable In deli
cate weiA as IN ordinary cases must be
nj his tongue end. and he should posse IS
a general knowledge of the personnel and
workings of the department
In connection with this recognition Of
/ the secret service branch Of the depart
ment and operating under the sam. act
! Of Congress. the prIvatcs Of the force de
! tailed as detectives. had conferred upon
! mem IN" rank Of Sorgoauts, and are now
designate detective sergraUtS. This au-
/ thorty enables any one of them in time
/ OK emergency to direct. by reason OF his
rank. such assistance as NAV DE neces-
I sary from the rank and file of the force.
! ana Is IN Keeping with the arr1nEs meuts
| IN the larger municipalities. where there
/ IS TOO often danger cf friction through
want Of authority 20 manage proceedings
| in important cases.
| Further carrying out the provisions Of
/ the new law. four captains wsr. d,SiS-
mated and their duties defined as explain
/ tu IN support of the estimate herewith.
{ after reclung the official title of those
VINO Nhdl comprise the force. the law pre-
SCTlDtS The manner of appointments and
provides a tenure Of office durllE good
! be hayior. for the members thereof. the
I last provision assuring them their posi-
/ TONS being a very encouraging feature
/ The iudIsCrlminate pTactiCiug of private
/ detectives Is Curtalled and the special 20
/ lcCmen at railroad crossings are given
/ fun police power, two most desirable fea-
/ lures
Up to the time the new law became
! operative the force was conducted upon
! lines laid down in the organic act 1f IS6I
/ with one or two amendments. the system
/ and organization of the force being behind
/ the times. Progress in every direction has
! necessilatcd not only the enactment OF
/ new Laws and regulations but "A modern
! means for their enforcement. This idea
! together with that of the municipal Gov
J eminent 90 make the Capital City a model
/ In the mana cement OF its affairs is up
/ permOSt in the mind OF your SUP. rinteuf-
/ cut in his efforts 10 give the Police De
! partment a first place among others Of
{ the country.
/ 1t Is important that in the near future
] provision should he made as has already
/ heen recommended, for AZ least two more
captains. IN order that an adequate num-
! Der OF commanders may be- had for the
D proposed force, on the basis of loo pri-
] N''tA-AA.f..-N-
/ When II can be- done consistently. two
! ponce surgeons should be made mem
J bers Of the Superintendent staff who
/ should give all of their time and atteu-
! ton 10 the members Of the force. and, II
/ is respectfully submitted. the same ar
. ranSement could bc made for the Fire
{ Department. The change would justly
/ eutitie such app0iur-es 10 the privileges
] Of members Of the force and To cOmpen-
/ sauo1 equivalent % the labor II such pJ-
/ SitiOus-
Motor Patrol Wagons Needed.
The improvements made I'm motor We
/ hicles prompts the recommendation that
/ they should be adapted % use as patrol
wagons AT an early day. Not being re-
/ quired 20 De in constant use. from an
/ economical standpoint, they would be an
! Improvement, while time, the most i'm
; pprtant item 10 be considered ian a service
| where life and property are ut stake.
/ would De sayed In making respon5e 20
! calls.
The cells. and the corridors in which
: they are located. In statiOuhDuses erected
years ago, are autiqUdted and Iliy-adapted
4 70 the purposes for which they are en-
ployed- In order 10 afford prisoners that
. humane trea Jment which is prompted by
[ the teachings OF the day modern steel
cages. Well-yeutllated. properly heated.
and admitting OF uu4UystiUUab.e CIeauli-
I ness. should b. constructed in nine OF the
I ten precinct sJaU0nhOuses- and in this
connection, means established FOR the
I entrance ana delivery Of prisoners away
Elsewhere your Superintendent has
/ urged the erection Of "a new building iu
T TIM Fifth police precinct. and while such
. Improvement Is urged, IL Is an unfortunate
+ commentary on the police arrangements
T of the District Of Columbia that $50 de-
I plOTabie condition should De- permitted
10 exist as in the First precinct station.
/ the primary district I'm point of police
business he mousse stands within the
B shadow OF the new CITY Posi- ffle. ON
a ...#H
cd years ago, aftr~ a foundation had
/ been obtained by driving plies. Dark
/ damp, aged. and contracted. this build
! ing Is united Tor tu. temporary con-
i nnemeut Of persons. much less FOR the
/ domicie of the members Of the force.
who must sleep there when ON reserve
/ duty This edIhce has been condemned in
/ vigorous words by the police surgeons.
Legislation ShUuld De- tcured which
/ VIII permit the authorities OF the District
! OF Columbia holding Tor "a reasonable PEE
/ NOD luEluFeS Who may take refuge here
/ Under the existing state Of affairs "A
7 burglar OF murderer may TAKE refuge
/ within the District and "a member OF the
/ police force. without ne Doe armed with "A
I warrant originating at the place whence
. the feiou fled arrests him at his peril
I Su'n provision should De bad as would
J permit the detention or q fugitive for at
/ least ten days upon sworn information
! being filed here by our local authorities
/ UPON the receipt OF warrant from else
/ where that crime had been committed
! be issued.
This defect does not prevail in other
] Well-reguiated C0Wmuniti,s. and 10 is
! quite important that the District should
/ be equally forward in matters Of the kind.
school Of Instruction.
As soon as the police system IS
/ changed so as to give its membership
/ shorter hours Of straight duty 81 viii be
/ desirable TO inaUguratc a school OF in
/ strucuon, whereby All may be more fully
! informed regarding modern methods Of
[ policing a proper knowledge Of the laws
/ and regulations IS Important and such
/ a school would materially improve the
/ operations Of the force and icud % a
! higher desreec of discipline and efficiency.
/ "A subject heretofore given attention
. by this department. ana which materially
! concerns the welfare OF the citizen is
/ that Of Police Court trials. A. time adj
4 vauces and surroundings chang. III. ne
| cesslty for Improvement iu the system Is
I more apparent Those interested have
! only To- investigate for themselves TO know
/ the awkwardUt-5 which attends the stu
{ auOn so far J- the police are concerned.
Last year members of the force 49,. D.. de-
/ tanned al the Police Court awaiting hear
J ing II cases until after II O'Clock a. IN
/ Iu l. $50 instances Not ilfr..u-rtTy is
there an arrest mad. during the after
hours Of the night and tho member of the
force masking 10 Is not only required 20 re-
4 main ON the street until after o O'Clock
I iH the morning. 60 finish his tour of duty
/ but ne must repair 10 the Police Court
/ without Test perhaps without bTra kflSr.
I and there remain Uut.- his case. is tried
I A prisoner may Doe acquitted but he
3 has IU.a.. fr... cd