Evening star., 1923-06-04
POLICE HANDLE
THRONGS EASILY
Arrival of Visitors Brings
Praise for Carefully
Laid Plans.

With thousands of pleasure seek
ers enjoying the hospitality OF
the National Capital and enlivening
the city with pre-parade jollification,
the Washington police force, aug
mented by sixty picked experts from
all the large cities and 400 special
policemen, who went on duty To-Day
has done itself proud in handling the
big crowd efficiently. preserving a gem
eraI spirit of orderly merriment.
Mai. Daniel Sullivan was visited in
his Office today by men OF notable
police-work experience from all over
the country, who congratulated him
On the excellent work of the District
police force under most trying cir
cumstanceS.
Mai Sullivan was especially pleased
because these congratulations en-
phasized the spirit which he had eN-
horted the police to demonstrate
helpful, courageous, fearless ana I'M
partial; avoiding unnecessary arrests
and, in all cases of minor infraction.
obtaining results desired by warning
or admonition rather than by arrest
Force to be Praised.
Mai Sullivan has been assured by
visiting mobiles who have charge OF
handling big crowds in practically all
of the large cities that the Shriners
will go back to their homes all over
the country spreading the informa-
ton that the metropolitan ponce
force of washington did Its full ana
complete duty in creditable man
ner in the most trying time OF its
existence.
with the crowd of visitors growing
by thousands hourly ano Win M no hay Tay
of accurately checking the numoer
the duty of affording adequate pro,
1ection and preserving order at all
times, to meet any condltlon tndt
might arise presented a task or Wnlch
the public generally had little con-
ception. For several months the
Washington police force has been
undergoing quiet but intensive train
ing to meet this test. The full
strength of the regular force has been
called upon for just as much extra
duty as their physical condition VIII
allow.
400 Specials Go On Duty.
The regular force has been supple
mented by 400 special policemen, VINO
were sworn in, and went on duty TO-
day-citizens who were Selecteu 10
help police the city In this emergency.
AS a general rule the special pollce-
men were assigned to Work IN the
outIying precincts, and the regularly
uniformed men were concentrated In
the congeSted sections.
Special traffic details which nave
been working out Tor the last week
showed their mettle TO-DAY ana won
general commendatlon tor the way IN
which they kept traffic moving, al
though they were seriously ndnul-
capped by the fact that there are
thousands OF strangers arriving IN
Washington VINO are not famlilar
with the traffic regulations and the
scheme of one-way streets.
sixty Out-Of-TOwn Men Here.
Sixty picked policemen from the
large cities of the country are mere,
helping the local force to protect the
visiting Shrlners and their suestS
from the crooks who always mock TO
such a big gathering. These vislLinS
policemen have come from chicago.
Bosom, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
ork, Richmond, Norfolk, Atlanta,
Mobile, st. Louis, Detroit, Cincinnati,
Cleveland, Jersey City, Newark, VIII
mIngton, Providence and oth> large
cities. They were selected Tor TINS
DUTY because they are familiar with
The crooks and criminals and pick
pockets in their own particular To-
cality and so are best titted TO spot
them in the crowd here.
special details of police have been
assigned to the Rodeo, in Union sta
tIon plaza; at Union station, about
the principal hotels, at tourist camps
and generally where the crowds are
gathering.
Il think the crowd Is being handled
excellently." said Maj. Sullivan today,
who was visibly gratified at the way
in which his rOrce is cooperating to
give the National Capital a reputation
for order tnat will be spread all over
the land.
Bands Keep Up Geod Spirits.
The Cheerfulness of the crowd and
the various uniformed patrols with
their bands, which gave impromtu
paradeS and concerts and serenades
throughout the downtown section to-
day, helped psychogically to keep the