Evening star., 1921-11-19
GESSF0RD APPLIES
F0RRET|REMENTAS
D. c. POLICE HEAD
Formal Request Filed With
Commissioner 0yster-Ac-
cepted by Board.
SULLIVAN WILL ACT
AS SUPERINTENDENT
Retiring Officer May Be Granted
Maximum Pension-Police and
Firemen Face Physical Tests.

Maximum Penslon-P0llce and
Firemen Face Physical Tests.
Formal application for retirement
from the Office of superintendent Of
police was filed with Commissioner
Oyster today by Maj. Harry L. Cess
ford.
The Commissioner announced that
pending selection of the new SUPER
ntendent- Inspector Daniel Sullivan,
assistant superintendent, will act as
major and superintendent.
AS soon as they received Maj. Cess
ford's letter the three Commissioners
drafted a reply. in which they accept
ed his plea for retirement and ex-
pressed their personal appreciation of
the fearless. honest and loyal service
he rendered the police department for
more than forty years.
1t is expected that Mai Gessford
will be granted the maximum pension
allowed by law. half of his salary as
superintendent, which will amount to
$3.50 year.
Survey Of Physical Fitness.
of Maj Gessford, Commissioner Oyster
announced that he has ordered the
heads of the police and fire depart
ments to make survey to dtermine
the physical fitness at this time Of all
men of both branches of the services
The first step in this survey will be
TO make physical examinations Of all
men in both departments who have
reached or passed the age of sixty,
the age at which the Commissioners
may. in their discretion. retire theh
Commissioner Oyster explained that
the order does not necessarily mean
that every man in the police and fire
departments who has reached the age
of sixty will be retired Immediately.
The object of the investigation, he
explained, is to determine the present
physical condition of these men. 1t
may be found, he said, that some of
these veteran officers are assigned to
duties that are too arduous for them
He said that if any Of these men who
nave reached the age Of sixty are in
| good physical condition and can be as
signed TO work that will not tax their
| strength they may be retained
The whole purpose Of the inquiry, the
Commissioner said, is to enable the two
departments to go forward in an efficient
| manner.
C0mmissf0ner's Order,
The order sent by Commissioner Oys-
ter to the heads Of the police and fire
departments follows:
In view OF the fact that the fire de-
partment personnel has already reached
its quota and has an eligible waiting
list, and that the police department has
! alho practically filled its allowance, it
is thought desirable that a survey of
the department should be made with re-
spect to physical efficiency Of the per-
sonnet which includes the officers as
of going forward fn an efficient Way
| with the functions of both departments
1t is especially desirable to begin
| with list of all men in each department
| who have arrived at or passed the age
of sixty years, and that as rapidly as
possible these men shall appear before
the board of surgeons, who will make
| careful physical examination and sub
| nit at once report with recommended
tions as to their physical findings"
Letters Exchanged.
Maj. Gessford's letter to Commits
sioner Oyster follows:
Owing to the report made by ths
board of police and fire surgeons con-
cerning my physical condition, and in
view of the statement of Surgeon W.
H. r. Brandenburg, president of the
said board. 1 have to request that j
be retired from active duty in the
metropolitan police force''
The letter signed by Commissioners
Rudolph, Oyster and Keller, to be sent
| to Maj. Gessford this afternoon, fol.
lows:
THE Commissioners learn with
deep regret that the state of Your
health makes imperative your retire.
tendent of the metropolitan police
department of the District.
Your record of service with the de-
partment. extending over a period or
forty-one years. is conspicuous as an
example of duty conscientiously and
efficiently performed; it is a record
of which the city you have served sd
faithfully may well be proud.
The Commissioners are aware that
the impairment to your health has
been caused by long hours given un-
selfishly to your work. They realize,
also, that, in view of the unjust criti-
cism which has been directed upon
you from certain quarters. you may
have hesitateds to retire at this time
lest it appear you were quitting under
uEe. bul, Inc liic true SOlulcT you
are, you have subjugated your per-
sonal feelings to the Districts inter-
ests and accepted without question
the verdict of the board of police
surgeons that you no longer are able
physically to discharge the arduous
duties that go with your trying Pc
sifion.
"In approving your application for
retil, n,.nt the Commissioners desire
to express their personal appreciation
of your qualities of fearless honesty
and loyalty to duty, which have con-
tributed to the distinct success of
your administration. You never
sought promotion or allowed personal
ambition to cause you to neglect the
duties of the various posts you have
filled since you entered the depart
ment, Always. your first aim has been
to give the public the best service OF
which you were capable and. in your
retirement, the public will sustain
real loss. The Commissioners hope
that health may be restored to you
speedily and wish for you years OF
health and happiness as a reward for
the more than a third OF century
Of devoted and efficient service you
have rendered the District" I .''
surxeons' Report.
Commissioner Oyster also made
public the following report Of The
board of surgeons. upon which Mai:
Gessford based his application for re-
tirement: a. ss-'s s.