Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10
AS TO THRILLING CASES
CHIEF OF POLICE ISSUES IN
sTRUcTIoNs TO FORCE.

What Is known as general order NO.
was issued yesterday afternoon by Maj.
Sylvester, copies of the order being sent to
the several stations and read to tho Of
ficers who appeared at the evening roll
call. Should the members of the force obey
the order strictly 1t is likely that there will
be fewer trifiing cases taken to the Police
Court in the future. Maj. Sylvester has
heard of several instances in which alleged
first offenders have been taken to the Police
Court for trivial violations of regulations,
and of other instances in which policemen
wanted to argue cases with the alleged vio-
lators. In other words, it Is stated, there
were instances of policemen wanting to
hold court upon the public highways.
Maj Sylvester in his order refers more
especially to the members of the bicycle
squad and warns them against such con-
duet in the future. Attention Is also d.
rected to the provisions of the manual, the
officers being told that the school OF In
struction in that book provides against the
practice of rudeness and disrespect. The
information. it is stated, Lad to be given
because of alleged dtsrespectful treatment
that the police have accorded some persons.
Text Of the Order. @
The order reads:
1.-THE department has been embarrassed
on several occasions by the seeming want
Of civility and discretion on the part of the
members of the bicycle detail in the en-
forcement of the police regulations.
ut is a wrong idea that seems to prevail
on the part of a few members of this ad-
junct that individuals who may transgress
these regulations are violating, the law as
to crime. Such Is not true as the regula-
tons are rules of conduct promulgated Tor
the systematizing of traffic, betterment OF
sanitary conditions and safeguarding
against accidents. 1t has been an original
instruction to members of the force that
it would not be good judgment to arrest a
citizen who might for the first time be
sweeping dirt from a sidewalk into the
street; on the other hand, warning that
such was violation and must not be re-
peated would be the proper treatment.
Through no fault of the owner, who is a
good law-abiding citizen, an automobile
light goes out occasionally and civil
warning should remedy the matter.
Women and children in ignorance of the
regulations sometimes drive on the wrong
side of the street or too hurriedly at
corners, crossings and elsewhere. 1t would
be fair, If not indulgiag recklessness, to
repetition, or, II the case demands and the
driver is known, or polite request may
obtain the name, notification to be at court
should be made, warrant to follow If nee
essary.
Should Be Avoided.
ITO bring women and children for a first
unintentional technical violation into q
station house should be avoided if not an
aggravated case. 1t has been the practice
to have motor and other known drivers re-
port at court. and in cases of moderate in
Engagements such policy Is wise.
There is much to do along other lines,
there being many motor-vehicle lights that
do not reflect upon the numbers Of the ma
chimes where a warning and note of num-
Der should first be made, appearance at
court to be demanded for an Indifference
to such warning. Drivers of heavy wagons,
grocery and other vehicles should be re-
quired to keep to the right, reckless driv-
ing by drivers of carts, wagons and busi-
ness vehicles is common among boys and
men who know better. The court Is the
place for cases of this kind.
ITO be brief, a proper judgment should
be exercised in all cases. civility exercised,
argument avoided and f1rmness practiced at
all times.
This is not intended in any way to
vitiate existing orders or the regulations.
They should be carried out in manner to
bring about that continued respect for the
members of the force which has SO long
been had. 49,
"The school of instruction in the manual
provides against the practice Of rudeness
and disrespect."