The Washington herald., 1916-08-13
Police Plan Field Games.


field games should be great success. With a
large citizens committee now in process of for
nation to be responsible for the financial man
agement of the event, and with force of more
than 700 strong men in the police department
from which to draw the athletes to compete in
the various events, the games should draw many
thousands of spectators to the Washington base
ball park September I6.
Police departments of virtually all cities have a
large percentage of athletes in the ranks. This
is due largely to the fact that must be in
perfect physical condition when they enter the
department. An idea of the rigid test which it
is necessary for man to pass before he may be
appointed patrolman is shown in the result
of the physical examinations, the average number
of candidates who able to pass being less
than 20 per cent of those who apply. This means
that every policeman coming into the depart
ment must be perfectly fit and able to perform
almost any physical task allotted to him.
The New York police department perhaps
contains more famous athletes than any other
in the country. Included among these are John
J. Eler, the crack hurdler and national cham
pion; Patrick J. Mcdonald, the Times Square
guardian of traffic and world champion in the
sixteen-pound shot-put; Matt McGrath, Olympic
champion in hammer throw and a former world
champion record holder; Martin Sheridan former
world champion all-around athlete, and many
others.
While it can boast of no world champions,
the Washington department also has large
quota Of athletes, including the former amateur
wrestling champion of the District of Columbia,
the former professional wrestling champion of
the District of Columbia; one man who wa.
formerly the champion short distance runner of
Germany, France and England, and a number
OF men who have hung up good records in both
short and long distance running in amateur
meets in army, navy and Marine Corps con-
tests.
Many of the best athletes who have come out
of the various branches of the military arm of
the government in the police depart
ment of Washington, this city giving the prefer
ence to men who have been retired or who have
been given honorable discharge with a char
acter record of excellent.
The action of public-spirited citizens in TAX
ing over the financial management of the games
leaves the police responsible only for the en-
tertainment features. The formation of a citi-
zens' committee, headed by Odel S Smith,
chairman of the public order committee, with the
presidents and secretaries of all the commercial
and civic organizations supporting and assist
ing him. is one OF the best evidences of public
spirit which has been demonstrated in Washing
ton for some time. 1t clearly shows that in this
city of 10000 people, the public appreciates the
real worth policeman is to the community It
is an evidence that the Washington policemen
not only wish to contribute theh services toward
making the games success from an athletic
point of view, but they are desrous of making
the carnival profitable from a financial standpoint
as we'll, that the proceeds which are to be
given to the reserve fund of the METROPOLITAN
Police Association, will be swelled to benefit the
widows and orphans of the men who died after
devotng their lives to the prevention and de-
lection of crime in the city