The Washington herald., 1922-09-19
MORALS OF CITY
GETTING BETTER,
SAYS SULLIVAN
Annual Report of Police
Chief Shows Marked
Decrease in Crime.
ARRESTS INCREASE
Less Property Stolen, How
ever-Work of Force is
Highly Praised.
ARRESTS INCREASE

The increase in major crimes ex-
pected to follow the end OF the
world war failed to msterialize. ac-
ccrding to Mai Daniel Sullivan,
superintendent of police. who yes
terday filed his annual report with
the District Commissioners
An increase of 4,+65 arrests over
the previous fiscal year is noted.
The arrests for the fiscal year just
ending were 1,057 as compared with
b6.SS2 for the previous year. OF
those arrested. 1896 were unable
to read or write.
Decrease In Thefts.
The police department reports
that property stolen during the year
amounted to s6O5, ,63s.13 as COM
pared with S737.776.04 for the previ-
Gus year.
The revival of the practice Of
drilling the members of the force.
which was abandoned in 1918, IS
pointed out by Major Sullivan.
Installation of the booth system
of post and patrol as a means of
giving added police protection TO
the suburban sections of the Dis
trict was inaugurated August 1.
Especially commenda BILE was the
work Of the force during the Knick-
erbocker disaster, according 10
Chief Sullivan. He expressed his
appreciation to the men and quoted
a commendatory letter from Chief
George S. Watson, of the Fire De-
partment.
Few Board Trials.
Hearings before the Police Trial
g.L u lin.
branch of the department. numbered
lis. In 35 Of these cases the charges
were dismissed.
During the year the Police Relief
Association paid out benefits total
ing s2O,5SO.50.
At the end of the fiscal year the
force numbered 935. of which $40
were privates, Sc were sergeants. 81
lieutenants, IL captains. } inspectors.
assistant superintendents, and l
superintendent.
During the fiscal year there were
two deaths in line of duty. Private
George d. Chinn was shot by George
Scott, alias 'Dal'' while attempting
to disperse a crowd Of disorderly
men in LinEer's court. Private Ed
mund r Keleher died as the result
of a collision with a speeding auto
mobile.
Recommendation is made that the
ing allowance.
To speed New station.
In his report Major Sullivan
states that he hopes the new sta
tion house. to be located in the
vicinity of Seventeenth street and
Rhole Island avenue northeast, will
soon be erected and in service.
The department recommended an
additional appropriation for the re-
construction of cell corridors So as
to eliminate old fashioned. gloomy,
ill ventilated. and unsanitary cells.
A "one day Of rest each week
and an "eight-hour day" are again
strongly recommended.
Major Sullivan renews the recon-
mendation made in earlier reports
that the District of Columbia re-
strict the sale and possession of
deadly and dangerous weapons.
During the year the detective bu-
reau made 2.S42 arrests, resulting
in 1904 convictions. 391 dismissals,
and 122 cases being nolle pressed.
Attention is called to the cramped
quarters occupied by the traffic bu-
reau.
Fewer Trafic Deaths.
During the year 1896 persons
made application for permits to
drive motor vehicles. OF this num-
Der 15.2s6 were approved. The re-
port shows that there were fiftv
traffic deaths and fifty-seven serious
injuries during the fiscal year just
closing. as compared with sixty
FIVE killed and seventy seriously
injured for the previous year.
Violations involving driving mo-
tor vehicles while intoxicated num-
bered 206. There were 1913 arrests
for colliding. For obstructing fire
hydrants there were 1S5. The total
traffic arrests numbered 25,916.
The Bureau of Criminal Investiga-
tion photographed. measured and
finserprinted 1901 persons. There
were 319 identIfications made by the
fingerprint method. BY the Rer-
tillon system 50 identifications were
made.
In speaking Of the House of De-
tention Mai. Sullivan said. the
House of Detention daily demon
strates its usefulness to this COM