The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-17

In view Of the recent criticism Of the
police department of Washington as the
result OF the unusual number Of attacks
and robberies OF women while on the
streets, Mai Sylvester ccmcs 10 the de-
Tense of his men by showing that the de-
mands on the police in this city are per
haps as heavy as those imposed on the
police force Of any city OF its size in the
country
The major says that during the past
five years the Washington police force
has received but few additional men.
Notwithstanding the enormous increase
in the population.
"Ihe District OF Columbia police juris-
diction." said Maj. Sylvester in an inter
view, last night. embraces about seventy
square milcs-in fact the territory con-
tains not only the cities OF Washington
and Georgetown. but over eighty towns
villages, and settlements the latter vary
ing in population from 2,2i5 20 lG3.
Force Of BOG Men.
'Deducting the policemen detailed at
several OF these smaller towns and vii
lagos. and al the courts. workhouse. and
other necessary places. and the sick and
absent under the law, the patrol force Tor
the prevention and detection Of crime is
reduced 10 about go individuals. about
100 being on duty In daytime and 20 in
the night time In the last FIVE years
there has been an increase Of but twenty
four men 10 the force Of patrolmen. an
Increase OF about 900 population. and
an increase In the number OF cases Of ar
rests or nearly 5000 These eases in 1907
numbered 544l7; Of these l6.f23 were white
and 1-,79i colored.
"In s.. Louis for the same year there
were 2S.5l5 arrests. New Orleans for 1906.
26.&7; Buffalo for 1906 PIP. Cleveland
for 1906. al.75s. A comparison OF the area
I % be patroIIed shows Buffalo. y. fS5 acres:
1 Cincinnati. 1890 acres; Cleveland. 2l.73l
acres. Boston 1881 acres. Baltimore. -
81 acres. 81 Louis. 5000 acres. and the
/ District OF Columbia. 1920 acres.
The city police beats 10 be patroIled I'm
| the District IN the business section I'm the
+ day embrace in the principal precinct
I = 6. g T.. -. and u blocks or squares
each; at night. .. 4. .. s. o and y blocks
each. In The northwest section OF the
/ city the beats embrace IN the residential
sections al day. .. s e. 80. T. is -. =,
squares each. while az night they are
reduced To O. .. g. Z. s. To- II. ~. -. and
/ y squares. In other sections Of the city
the beats are even larger
Few Criminal CnseS.
"The greater part Of arrests In the Dis
T trict are Tor mere misiemeanors. criminal
cases numbering less than 100 a year
so that when a series Of severe cases oc-
ours. the unusual condition causes alarm.
/ or the cases IN the last six months
where bags were snatched when dis
played in the street there was no at
/ tempt at assault i'm the large majority
! of eases. RIt a few are bad enough
and every effort. eXertion. and expense
VIII be put forth by the limited force "a
prevent such cases and 20 secure the ar
rest Of the guilty. in addition 10 the
several already apprehended"
/ Mai sylvester recognized the fact that
/ increased several wears ago. and in his
/ recommendation 10 the Commissioners
made the following suggestion.
! No grave emergency has confronted
I the citizens OF the District within the
/ last year but the unexpected generally
happens. and IL is well that an weakness
should he eliminated from the police
organization before the same calamity
/ occurs.
/ Maj. Sylvester believes that the calsm-
( fly has occurred, and accordingly urges
I that the force be strengthened.