The Washington herald., 1922-10-16
More Paw for Policemen.

Trade urges more pay and an adjustment oil
pay scaes the first of eleven recommends
tons for the improvement OF the Disti Hoice
Department
The salary OF a Washington policeman is made
quste. We little opportunity to dispute this
statement. In order qualify for uniform better
than common school education is required. More
over the applicant must possess than ordinary
physica! strength He be man of excellent
moral character. The police department is not open
to the riff-raf OF the community Its membership
represents far above the ordinary. There
is hardly Washington policeman who would not
qualify in a short time any skilled trade. Some
OF them material from which excellent admins
traitors be made. They are picked men-the
cream OF the citys citizenship.
What salaries are paid men Of this cabrea Less
than those received by girl clerks in some OF the
government departments. The policeman who works
without thought OF hours personal safety receives
far less than the average skilled workman. His pay
is less, than that found in the weekly envelopes
OF store clerks. He does not get much money as
skillful bootblacks newsboys
\ private gets $1,000. $500 or $1,000, according
to length OF service. Beyond the latter figure he
cannot hope so unless he receives advancement in
rank. That is just trife over SIoo a month II
IS barely enough, at the present OF living to
support single man who is economical. Ii is al
most impossible to support family on this sum
Yet most members OF the force are married many
OF them buying their own homes many OF them
have children in District Schools many of them are
taxpayers AT present it is true, they receive q
bonus OF $40. This will be discontinued next unc
unless it is re-enacted by Congress- and this does not
seem probable at present. Even this poor token OF
appreciation for faithful service will be denied the
men who risk their lives daily the service OF the
citizens Of Washington.
Why then, do men join the police department:
How Is it possible keep the ranks filled, True
enough, there is some difficulty in retaining person.
mel, but at present there is a full quota Perhaps
exec lent prospects for advancement keep up the
morale OF the patrolmen. Perhaps they continue
TO render faithful service because they know that
IN Jew years they will be rewarded by positions
OF honor. and excellent remuneration Alter a
few years ii man shows particular ability. he NAV
be allowed TO scrgeant's stripes on his sleeve
Then he will receive $500 ycar-amost 81 50 more
than the highest rate allowed prvates
Eventually. OF course if tie sergeant shows extra
ordinary ability. he may be made lieutenant Then
ne VIII get 5000 ycar-almOst much as a good
S'enosraphcr- II nc Is lucky enough to win promo
ton TO captaincy inspectorship he will get
$500 Always there is the prospect OF becoming
major and superintendent OF police Pcrhaps this
prospect Is worth lifetime OF effort 1t is no small
honor certainly. to be head OF the police department
OF the National Capital. And the pay is s45oo a
year But then the uniform looks we'll and there is
considerable honor attached to the position That
after ALL IS perhaps the ultimate reward expected
* the pollcemans work easy At present the
private works eight hours day exclusive of reserve
duty every three or four days. Drivers at various
station houses work at least twelve hours dav
inspectors at the precincts often work twenty-our
hours day.
Few public servants have so much responsibility
as the policeman Usually there is nobody on whom
any OF this can be shifted The private patroman ;s
On the scene when trouble breaks. He doesn't refer
o headquarters tor instructions. He doesn't wait
OF helP. he acts He may make mistakes at
imcS, but he acts instantly, aggressively and USUALLY
ffcctivcly.
The patrolman is out of doors in all sorts Of
weather When he leaves the precinct station al
nght nc knows there many chances against his
cturn alive He lives in an atmosphere Of cont;nua,
mystery and danger. He makes bitter enemies OF
desperate and unscrupulous men, He accepts cri,i.
ism from everybody.
Despite all OF this he is almost invariably gentle
manly, courteous and accommodating to everyone
We have met very few policemen in the District oi
Columbia who were not models of courtesy There
are exceptions, OF course We hear a great deal
oi 'heSe but not much OF the great body of splendid
men who take a personal responsibility for their
ncighborhoods, who help women across busy streets
who see that children get to school safely who turn
on the lights OF parked automobes-and render
hundred other such services daily.
The policeman seldom is A trouble naker He
usually Is a peacemaker. Few members of the
District force will not try to COMPOSE differences
between two citizens before they will assert their
authority under the law. They know the people who
frequent their beats the clergyman knows the
members OF his parish and they take many unncc-
cssary steps to accommodate these acquaintance
And vet they paid less than inexperienced