Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-01-18
POLICE CHIEFS REPORT
Commissioners Hold Regular Monthly
Meeting Last Night and Dispose
of Routine, Business.

S
The January meeting of the BOARD
of Police Commissioners was helo
last night. Mayor Fisher presided
and Messrs. Phillips and Sweeney
were present.
Upon the request of the Virginia
Carolina Chemical Company, F. W.
Athey was appointed special pollce-
man for duty at the plant of the COM
pany in this city, and William E.
Z Craig was made special policeman
at the request of Herbert Baker
The latter will be assigned to Mr..
Bakers place of business at the foot
of Fayette alley.
The case of Policemen John Kerns,
who shot student of Georgetown
University on King Street on last
Thanksgiving night, was to have
been investigated at this meeting,
but it was determined to defer action
until next meeting when all men,
bers of the board are expected to
be present.
Chief of Police Charles L. Goods
submitted his repbrt for the year
1916. 1t is as follows:
To the Honorable Mayor and the
Board of Police Commissioners of
the City of Alexandria, Virginia.
Gentlemen: I respectfully submit
herewith for your consideration my
report of the operations of the Po-
lice Department for the year of 1915,
this being my tenth annual report.
The freedom from crime, which
this city has enjoyed the past year,
tells better than words can tell OF
the ability, energy and loyalty of the
members of this department both
severally and collectively, and, in
NV opinion, stamps this department
as being we'll organized to such an
extent that this city may be justly
proud Of. -
I observe, with source Of graft
fication, that the tendency through
out every branch of the department
is decidedly in the direction OF gen.
eral uniformity. The discipline and
spirit of the men of the department
during the past year has been con-
stantly improving, and the City dur
ing the year has been quiet and
orderly. Peace and good order were
preserved on all occasions and | wish
to compliment the members Of the
force for the faithful and efficient
manner in which they have performed
their respective duties, and to thank
them for the extra hours OF duty
they so willingly rendered on occa-
sions demanding their service.
I was very much pleased at the
opportunity afforded me by your con-
sideration of attending the interna-
tional convention of the police chiefs
the past summer. I find these meet
ings full of instruction and interest.
They bring heads of departments
from all over the continent in per-
sonal touch, give opportunity for
exchange of experiences and in many
ways facilitate the work upon which
we are engaged.
/ will again renew my recommen-
dation for most urgently needed
automobile patrol wagon, which
shall be kept in readiness TO
get to any given point in the quick
est possible time at demand. Emer-
gencies are likely to arise in the po-
lice department business at any mo-
ment, where such a service is OF the
utmost Importance, involving ques-
tions of life or death, and It seems
to me efforts should be made to sup
ply this demand.
will renew my recommendation
for the purchase of an up-to-date po-
lice call up system, and also mo-
torcycle to answer emergency calls.
AS in all other cities, one of the
big problems facing the police au-
thorities is the boy problem-the
problem of what is the best thing tc
do with the juvenile offenders. AL
exandria has its full share of thi;
class, and while we are eager to &c
to any length to save youngstel
from life. of crime and shame, theE'
is no hiding the fact that with
MANY of the Juvenile thieves tht
probation system has proven sadl!
lacking. Others have profted by th'
system, but with the most of then
restraint is the. only cure, and an
Of the belief, that training schoo
a