The Washington times., 1921-05-03
LOW MORALE
DISPUTED BY
POLICE HEAD
Declares Little Crime Here.
Force More Efficient Than
Ever-Denies Using Spies.

II the District Commissioners are
not satisfied with the work of Major
Harry L. Gessford as head of the
police department of this city, they
have the power to remove him.
This was the statement made yes
terady by Major Gessford, in reply
to the charges of lowered morale in
the department and lack of co-opera-
tion by the different branches Of the
force.
REPLIES TO RUMORS.
Major Gessford did not make the
statement in the tone of an ultimatum.
but merely in reply to the rumors
that have been rife for some time
k that he was to be ousted and In
spector clifford l.. Grant, chief u
detectives, put in his place.
81 did not seek the position of mai ,r
and superintendent of the force" he
said. 81 was almost ordered to take
IL, and | am doing the best i can 70
carry out the spirit of the laws ana
regulations. The reports of dissats-
faction among the men have reached
me only through the newspapers In
spectors of the force who are in daily
touch with the men report to me that
and are giving the city the best that
There Is bound to be some dis
: satisfaction in such large body of
men, and there are also bound to be
some policemen who fall by the way
| side in their duties. But the isolated
| instances of dereliction of duty OF
| few men Is not to be taken as con-
dition that exists throughout the en-
| tire department.
VISITED BY DOYLE.
| Regarding the number of aspirants
, among the officials of the Police De-
partment for my job. l know nothing
| except what ! have heard indirectly.
Capt. Robert f. Doyle. in charge of the
| Sixth precinct, is one who has been
mentioned as working for the place.
! He came to me several weeks ago and
assured me that he was not an as
pirsnt for my position and was not
working to oust me: However, he Is
the only official who has come to me
| with that assurance"
Major Gessford denied he had put
| spies" on the trail of members OF
the force. He said the department
| is composed of different departments.
| including inspectors whose duty II IS
! to work among the men and see that
they are observing the regulations
and performing their duties in man.
ner to bring credit to the force
as whole. This, he said, probably
was the foundation of the charge
that he had used spies.
| Major Gessford said he had been
Iconnected with the department many
years in varying capacities and believ-
ed he had a very good knowledge OF
what was expected of him and of the
,condition of the force.
In his opinion, he said. the f1rce at
present compares favorably with any
period In the history of the District.
and Is now up to full strength. He
had been requested and almost order
ed by the former board OF Commits
sioners to lower the standard for en-
trance so that the force could be built
lup to its numerical strength, he said.
but had held out with the statement
that 200 men up to requirements mads
a better force than 500, half of whom
Ibid not measure up. His stand has
been justified, he declared, in the
showing that is being made by the
force.
LITTLE CRIME HERE.
"Of course, there IL crime in WASH
ington," he snid. "There IL crime In
every city, hut I nm In n position to
| know TINT the laws arc being oh
served better In Washington and
there II less crime here than in any
other city in the country Of the same
size"
District Com missioner Oyster de-
clnred he intended to probe thor
oughly the reports that members Of
the Police Department have been
spicd on. He has the names of the
detectives and one police ewomsn who
| have charged they were watched and
Investigated, as well as the names
of the policemen who nre alleged to
| have conducted the espionage.
| When asked this morning what he
had to say regarding the rumors that
members of his bureau were being
spied- on, Inspector Grant declared,
~ have nothing TO say about the
matter
Have any such reports reached
| you?" he was asked.
| II refuse to discuss the natter
said the chief. aagrily. "Any reports
of any dissention In the police de-
partment - those that affect my
bufeau---will be Investigated. But