Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-04
RECORD OF POLICE FORCE
IT'S EFFICIENCY OUTLINED BY
MAJ. SYLVESTER.
Address Last Night Before Columbia
Heights Observation-Disclosures
Matter Considered.

| MAJ. hlC1drQ sylvester, superintendent
Of the metropolitan police, in an address
delivered last night at a meeting of the
Columbia Heights Citizens Association,
held at the Savoy 14th and Girard streets
northwest told Of the work being done by
the police department. praising the men
OF the department and emphasizing the
fact that the present force should be in
| creased.
In his opening remarks he called the at
| tention Of his hearers to the fact that the
District of Columbia contains sxty-nine
square miles of territory and, according
to the last police census. has a population
Of $4,000. He said that in the District
of Columbia there is a vast territory be-
! sides that of the city of Washington to
be policed.
| 1--WE have a territory here" he said,
(which cannot be compared to other large
municipalities. We have a number Of
towns in the large territory OF the Dis
trict of Columbia. There is something
more here than the city of Washington.
When we go to Congress SO many of the
members think only of the city of WASH
ineton. But there are thousands of peo-
pie who live in the District outside of the
city and who have thousands Of dollars in
vested. Their territory must be policed
as we'll as that of the finest residence sec
! ton.
"The man who lives In the villages of
the District Of Columbia expects the same
protection for his family as the resident
of Washington"
Maj Sylvester called attention to the
| fact that the District of Columbia is the
third largest police jurisdiction In the
United States. cit is unlike that of any
other extensive jurisdiction, he said.
| I'VE have to police the jurisdiction with
719 officers and men. There are u! pri-
\ fI,n
and who come in contact with the ele-
| ments."
He then spoke of the hard work in
| properly policing the towns such as Ana
costa, Hillsdale and Trinidad.
The Night Force.
| 'Such towns and villages in the states"
said the major would have marshals
and police of their own" He explained
that 1872 men. including bicycle and
mounted police. protect the District OF
Columbia during the hours of darkness.
Over 100 police are stationed at the
White House. the station houses, the hos
pitfalls. workhouse. District building and
other points where their services are
| necessary. Is
1--WE use The menin sections now" said
Maj. Sylvester. but If the force were in
| creased it would be used In platoons. The
| 392 police are divided in four sections.
One section goes on duty at 8 o'clock In
the morning and off at 4 o'clock in the
afternoon. Another serves until midnight
and the third section from II until
o'clock in the morning. A fourth sec
ton, known as the swing section, is
used to keep the force in all parts of the
city up to the standard in point of num-
bers.
IT wonder today" continued Maj. Syl-
vester. that you have not met with dis
aster. In my report to the Commissions
ers in 1902 / urged that they should pre-
pare for any emergency by asking that
the police department be increased. In
five years there has been an increase of
twenty-one men in the police department
With me it is like a game of chess with
| out having the men to move
He then called attention to the work the
small force is doing. In over 5000 ar
rests in the past year less than 1000
were criminal cases. he said. you talk
of wave of crime. If any of You lived
in New York. Chicago or Pittsburg you
would think we have a graveyard when it
comes to crime
A total of $4,000 of money and valln
ables was stolen in this city last year.
and according to Mai. Sylvester the sum
of $1O2OOO was recovered.
This record" he said, challenges that
of any police department in the United
States"
In conclusion Maj Sylvester said: "The
department has a remarkable record. but
way further to prevent crime in the Dis
trict of Columbia. In twenty-five years
five murderers have escaped. while in the
city of ST.. Louis twenty-five evaded de-
lection in the past year.
Business Transacted.
At the close of his address Maj. Syl-
vester was given a rising vote of thanks
upon motion of Mr.. George Simmons.
Judge Charles s. Bundy, president of
Ethe association. delivered a short address
at the close Of the meeting, in which he
| complimented the police department for
the work it is accomplishing.
Messrs. Max M. Rich and r. l.. Waters
| were elected to membership. Mr.. Sim
mons reported that the chances of having
the Marine Band give several concerts in
the park space at 14th street and Colum-
bia road this summer were bright.
The committee in charge of the matter
was instructed to keep up the effort to
secure the several concerts proposed.
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