The Washington times., 1922-04-26
D.C.W0NEN
POLICE To
BE CURbED
Committee Revising Depart
ment Regulations to Make
Drastic Changes.

A drastic order that will vir-
tually mean revolutionizing the
work of the Women's Bureau of
the Police Department, will be
promulgated late this week.
Given a free rein in the man
agement of the bureau, Mrs.
Nina C. Van Winkle, lieutenant
in charge, has daily, by her own
admission, made her own rules
and regulations for its operation.
Report Soon Ready.
In more than one case, Mrs. Van
Wrinkle has stated in public ad-
dresses and in statements to the
press, she has violated the law
when she felt II was for the best in.
terest of the boys, girls. or women
who may be in the House of Deten-
ton, over which she presides.
The recent trouble In the Won.
ans Bureau which resulted in Mrs.
Van Wrinkle being before the trial
board on charges. coupled with nu-
merous complaints to Commissions er
James F. Oyster of practices in the
bureau, caused the Commission to
have Major Daniel Sullivan choose a
committee to make a complete re-
vision Of the Police Manual.
The revision committee, OF which
Inspector Henry G.. Pratt is chair
man. was directed to put the Wom-
ans Bureau where 1t belongs.
Six months will be required to
the revision OF the man
ual, but the urgency Of clarifying
the position of the Woman's Blu.
reau in the department has caused
the committee to devote its entire
to that bureau and it's
report will be ready this week.
Some members OF the bureau con.
tend that it's findings should be
to the major and SUI.
perintendent without delay to be
in general order.
This will probably prevail.
Plan Restrictions.
Four pages of restrictions have
been drafted as a tentative curb on
the Woman's Bureau. These, after
a meeting of the committee tomor.
row, will probably be greatly sim.
plified and consolidated.
One Of the principal sections of
the District Code OF Laws which the
revision committees believe the bu.
reau should track to the letter is sec.
tion 4S, which has to do with accent.
ing collateral.
While the superintendent of the
House Of Detention is under bond
and qualified to accept collateral, she
has never done 80.
Since the Juvenile Court where
most Of the bureau cases ultimately
go, has adopted a practice of having
the chief probation officer make a
personal investiga ton before the re-
lease OF minor the bureau has been
content to adopt a policy consistent
with the wish of that court. Where
the probation officer was satisfied
there have been cases where the
child was released in the custody of
the parent guardian.
Under Section As, OF the code. any
person detained at the House Of
may be released when col
lateral is furnished by a parent or
guardian.
In that event a desk sergeant at
any police precinct station would be
able to order the release of any per.
soA from the House Of Detention
should a parent or guardian call at
one of the precincts and deposit col
lateral.
The revision committee is also Civ.
ing considerable thought to the mat.
ter of holding a person longer than
hours against whom no
charge has been made.
Latitude Is Desired.
The committee holds that It is
a serious matter to hold woman
on suspicion, because police
woman may think II is for the
womsn's good.
Another matter which may be
touched on by the committee and
about which considerable Is being
said is that of picking up women
on the streets because they are
out late at night unescorted, or
Acting in n RuapiCioua manner