Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23
D|SCOURACES VOLUNTARY
ENL|STMENTS Of POLICE
Secretary Baker Writes Maj. Pull
,aan His Department Is Appre-
ciative of Local Service.

Orders have been issued by the Secre-
tary of War and the Secretary of Navy
for recruiting officers not to seek to get
the enlistment of active members of po-
lice departments. The orders deal only
with voluntary enlistments and not to the
se1ective draft or police exemption there
from Police departments of many cities
have been crippled by members of them
resigning to enter the Army. Many of
the designations have been voluntary,
those resigning desiring to do their bit.
and others have been taken in the selec-
tive draft.
Maj Pullman has conferred with fed
eral officials respecting the Gripping of
his force. Yesterday he sent Ito the
erence bulletin on the subject, In which
he quotes a letter he received from
Secretary Baker, as follows: -
Text of Mr.. Bakers Letter.
II have your letter Of December II,
and am not unaware or unappreciatiye
OF the difi1culty in. and the necessities
city.
with the increasing population here;
with the constantly larger proportion
Of transient or semi-transient persons
ernmental agencies in operation. there
IL need for adequate and uninterrupted
police protection.
II am therefore glad to say to you
that the men of your force should be
made to understand that there Is no
underestimation of the work they are
performing on the part of the govern
ment or the city. and that voluntary
eniistments from men now actively on
the police force should not be encour-
aged.
Il am very glad indeed to discourage
voluntary enlistments by the men
charged with the important public duty
of protecting the life and property OF
our people.
Il am sending a copy of this letter
10 the adjutant general of the Army
Message to Police Captains.
In his message to the captains. Maj.
Pullman stated:
"Unfortunately some recruiting SER
geants. and in some cases officers OF
the Army and Navy, in conversation
with members of the police depart
meut. have given some of our men the
impression that they should enlist
Especially has this statement been en-
phasized in speaking with men OF drafs
age and in number OF cases members
Of the metropolitan police have neen
induced to enlist rather than wait ste
be selected for the National Army.
'.All members of the department shouie
know that such solicitations on the par
of officers of the military force OF the
United States, including the United
States Guards. are without authority
that they are not officially sanctioned
and that the War Department feels tha1
no more important service can be giver
TO the government at this time than tht
public service of police who are protect
ing the National Capital
1T is the desire of the War Department
that the men of this department be i'm
pressed during these war times witt
the Importance eff police work as pub
JIG service.
No clearer statement can be mad.
than that made by Secretary Baker e
convince every person in and out of tht
department that the government con
Siders the work Of the police. with al
Its responsibilities. with all its danger
IN which men risk their lives daily t
eaye others and with all of its sacr
dces-that 1t considers police work
great public service calling for men a
patriotic and as courageous as the mel
who are fighting the battles overseas