Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15
NEEDS LARGER POLICE FORCE
MAI. SYLVESTER TALKS OF DIS
TRICT AFFAIRS.
Seat Of Government Without AIDE
quate Protection From
Lawbreakers.

With the police force strained to its ut
most and the men working overtime, due
| to the many duties imposed upon them in
patrolling and extra details on the ap-
proach of the Christmas holidays, Mai.
Sylvester has been in a quandary over
equalizing the work in his command. The
need of a larger force in the District is
becoming more and more apparent espe-
cially in the outlying precincts. There are
barely sufficient men to give the suburb
antics the protection to which they are
entitled.
Speaking of the need of an additional
number of men. Maj Sylvester said:
You ask what the District of Columbia
should have as a police department in or
der to be in keeping with requirements
and the character of the jurisdiction. In
the first place it is the seat of govern
ment of our great country and its insti-
buttons are looked into and inquired after
throughout the civilized world on the
principle that. being the capital of the
most progressive country, 1t must have the
best of everything. 1t is not municipal
ity. but a territory to begin with includ-
ing Washington and scores of villages and
towns which. if located anywhere else.
would each have distinct town organiza-
ton. Unlike any other Jurisdiction the
police force must be considered dually, as
a municipal and as a territorial force.
These two situations call for a combina-
ton to meet the varied interests thus in
Guided
The day will probably come when there
will be a director of public safety, who
will do no more than call for what is
necessary in the way of men and facilities
and have staff that will carry into eff
feet all orders and commissions.
Head for Each District.
Some day under this arrangement there
may be uniformed force acting as a
distinct part of an organization, to include
patrolmen and post men. divided and as
signed to separate districts, nth head
for each district, these officers to report
to two or more superiors. who in turn will
be under chief Immediately responsible
to the director. Aside from this a mount
ed district under a superior who will re-
port to the same chief. These mounted
police will assemble at one station, where
provision will be made for the caring for
horses, feeding and Shoeing, with hospital
treatment for the animals.
Then there may be another station
which include motor cycle men unuer
one command, where motor vehicles for
officers use. motor patrol wagons and
motor ambulances will be charged for
service in the department.
in that period there may follow as
part of the progressive work the estauil-.,-
ment of a secret service bureau under a
a chief who will report to the director.
I'm addition probably bureau of in
formation, where all inquiries for missing
people will be recorded and investigated
and all questions not requiring police or
detective work will be answered.
Then there may be a traffic bureau
where vehicle licenses will be approved
after investigation, and where the head
will command a force to regulate travel
on the streets, at depots and at stands
| character of drivers and condition of We
hicles for public service.
There may be corps of interpreters
for special assignment and appearance in
court when necessary.
There may also come a national bureau
of criminal identification, with the metric
and finger print and other advanced
methods. This may include laboratory
for the study of the criminal and a
Photographic workshop.
I'm those days there may be suf-
ficiency of men that the force may
patrol nearly equal or graduated areas
from the center Of population, and in a
manner that a policeman may Always be
within calling distance, with squats for
the great avenues and post men for the
department and legation localities. 1t may
be that the force will be adequate to
maintain permanent reserve commands,
those on duty performing stated service
for stated periods. With men riding along
the principal roads at all hours, through
the parks, and immediate reports to be
made by motor and mounted officers, a
change more commensurate with the APP
pearance and requirements of the great
est capital on earth will be put in effect"