The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-24
eight HOURS FOR
THE POLICE FORCE
May Follow Proposed School
of instruction.
PUBLIC IGNORANT OF LAW
Major Sylvester Favors Introduction Of
Three Platoon System - Hours Too
Long and Officers as Result Suffer
From Many Ailments.


From Many Ailments.
subject OF vital interest to the eight
IOlitan police force. CT this city is at
present being arranged by Major SyIves-
ter in the form Of a school OF instruction.
which wiz in. all probability be fore
runner Tor the instalfation in this city Of I
the three platoon system. or eight hours
for the policemen. The announcement
that school OF instruction would be or
ganized for the members OF the force vas
made public soEle days ago and since
that time Major Sylvester has been busily
engaged in arranging the details
A decidedly interesting statement has
been formulated by the major giving a
brief history OF what the ordinary police
man suffers under the present system Of
duty In speaking OF the matter OF
school Of instruction and increasing OF
the police force Major Sylvester said:
Outlines His Plans.
1T early became manifest to me that
verbal directions we're not generally in
terpreted alike by the policemen aud
as a consequence they have since been
given out in printed orders Il was too
much TO ask that a member OF the force
remember descriptions Of lost property
and persons wanted. This was obviated
by the publication Of daily bulletin,
which is furnished each member Of the
force, and wherein AL matters OF the
kind are printed in convenient form.
Many circulars md orders are placed
in the hands Of the men for their guild
ance- All this with the idea Of system
atically educating the force along the
lines IL is proper 70 pursue
In this manner fl is impossible to 90
into details. and in order that the mem
beTs may be in full accord with the policy
Of the department. and be conversaut
with minor matters as well as the more
important, it has occurred to me that
information given win respect TO the
paragraphs of the manual governing in
diyidual conduct. construction Of the DO
lice regulations, and an Interpretation OF
the laws as considered from a Headquar-
tiers standpoint. would materially aid in
securing a clearer and more effective CO.
operation.
Public Should Learn.
There shcuiI be a close relationship
and thorough understanding between
members Of the force and the head Of the
department in all matters which are OF
interest 10 them. and whic4 so directly
concern the public. For instance. the
people have no means OF knowing the city
ordinances or police regulations except
as they may te informed through the Po-
lice u Is unfortunate that these regu-
latiOns cannot be placed in the hands OF
every citizen Therefore the police
should remember that they. in measure.
az least. arc the instructors Of the public
where an Individual technically VIC
lates a police regulation some allowance
should be made for ignorance or Uuinten-
ton. if such be the case.
III is not every woman and child who
knows that pennsylvania Avenue is con-
siiered by the courts. under law. as two
-stinct streets, bu. IL would be severe
schooling If all such women and children
had 60 90 to The Police Court under ar
rest in order TO learn that such is q
fact. Some discrimination should be made
between ignorance and accident and in
difference and EGgrancy.
For some tine the head Of the DEPART
ment contemplated the establishment Of
= means Of instruction for the members
I oS the force whereby they might be more
( fully SIformed as TO The requirements Of
their positions.
Instruction Never Given.
IN the years which have followed since
the organization OF the metropolitan 20
lice force in the District there never was
a time when uniform instruction was
given the force except 10 the rules Lard
down in the manual. which one man would
endeavor TO live up to literally-an utter
I impOssibilIty-and another would place
his own construction on. only TO realize
his mistake when called UP on charges.
on assuming command Of the depart
ment this defect was at once apparent.
but we all know the difficulties attached
TO making Improvements in an estab-
lishmcnt which &c. thirty-fye years fol-
lowed a line OF policy laid down al the
time OF its organization
"Omcers who have served a lifetime,
YOU might say. are apt 10 be thoroughly
imbued With original methods. frcm
which il is difficult 10 depart At least.
such departure canrot be secured in
day. improvements OF changes. TO be
permanent and effective as against the
requirements or occasions, must be made
garduaIly-
1t is hard 10 teach new ways, and it
is not always a good policy to change
agents who have rendered a long and
faithful service, and who have had an
experience which counts for the founda-
tion OF effective work. II they are still
susceptible Of graspiag advanced rules
for action best results viii follow their
retention.
Physical disabilities may affect men
tai capacities. but the former being nee
essary TO guard against, retirement must
follow. We cannot help growing old and
I infirm. Great changes have taken place
in the conduct Of affairs generally. Pop
ulation has increased. social conditions
have undergone changes incident to prog
ress. business IS more active and differ
entity conducted, rapid transit prevails.
the wants Of the public have increased
with many more details 10 look after,
sentiment with respect to matters Of eY-
ery-day occurrences il not what il was,