The Washington herald., 1922-10-22
Paw Of Policemen.

VVyyASHINGTON now has police department
M of o3s men and women. There are two
w assistant superintendents, three inspectors,
twelve captains, twenty-one heutenants, htty-sm
sergeanss $40 patrol privates, thirty-e driver pr
Yates and sit5~one crossing officers In this force
there are now sixty vacancies with no quahheo
applicants. In order to make the regulation giving
each man one day of in seven OF any practical
benefit 1873 additional men needed. Fifty more
men will be required for the proposed Twelfth
precinct which will have its station house at Seven
teenth street and Rhode Island avenue northeast.
This Is brief resume of the problems Major
Sullivan must solve. 1t Is not easy to police
city like Washington with force both inadequate
in numbers and poorly paid. That it is done so
we'll a, present conditions indicate shows unusual
executive ability the part of the police ofticlals
There can be no waste effort. One man often
must do the work OF two. Ya within the past
three months the greater part OF the underworld
of the city has been eliminated and there has been
a decrease in crime. Criticisms of the department
have become fewer and less harsh. Both Commis-
ssoosr Oyster and Major Sullivan deserve good
deal Of credit for this condition-but to ask them
10 continue with the same inadequate machinery
Is a poor way of showing gratitude.
Why are there sixty vacancies? Because men
qualified to the metropolitan police force
can earn better salaries elsewhere. They may be
willing to devote themselves to the service of the
public for few years, but they will not continue
indefinitely. When man who has been
connected with the department over FIVE years we
are tempted to take hat off to hinn-becausc we
know that he could have quit long ago and earned
more money Some of the younger men use the
police uniform as an aid start their careers and
do not deserve much credit. But the men with
a number OF years of service have stuck simply
because they love the work and willing to take
lees money rather than enter some less interesting
calling.
There are a number OF conditions which tend
to increase dissatisfaction among the men. Out of
inadequate salary the private must purchase his
own equipment We would not advise a system
whereby every member of the force could draw
much clothing and other necessary articles he
wanted. That might be wasteful But present
heads of the department advise that the policeman
be given allowance of about $roo in his first
year and from S45 to $50 each year thereafter for
this purpose. We no objection. 1t seems
a matter of plain justice. IF the entire salary
schedule cannot be revised at this time this allow
ance at least, should be provided. The money
required would be well invested. 1t would tend to
decrease discomfort. 1t would give the policeman
less grounds for the belief that he 10 imposed upon
II is not easy to qualify for the police force
A somewhat above the ordinary standard i,
required Applicants must be between IS and s.
years of age. They must be at least FIVE feet and
eight inches tall and weigh least I55 pounds.
They must be of good moral character and sound
physically. They must have at least common
school education. These requirements may not
difficult when seen IN black and white.
We would regret to them lowered. II is dan
gerons to lower the standard of the force. But
out OF 600 ordinary Washingtonians how many
men could be found who would qualffy-even if
the measure applied very lenienty? Not one
IN ten, we fear. Possibly the percentage would
run even lower.
The present officials doing the best they can
with conditions they are. They almost have
given up hope OF anything better. They have
become rather cynical of the intentions of Con-
gress-rather doubtful Of the national legislative
body's ability to understand their predcament They
see the list of vacancies grow each day. They
know the reason. They would be doing the man
himself injustice If they urged him to remain
when he could get better pay and easier work
elsewhere.
But confident that improvements are
at hand The present conditions have reached the
point where the need OF a remedy is obvious to
everyone. Some of the most glarng shortcomings
OF the department IN the past are explained by the
figures presented from the police books The
Washington department is nearly 200 men short
How long must this continue. The condition Will
grow worse instead of better unless something i.
done.