The Washington times., 1924-08-15
Using the Washington Police
Force to Enforce Prohibition
Bv BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRICE.
There will be hearty commentator Of the eadfast purpose
of Commissioner OYSTER in charge of the Washington
police department to do everything within the power Of the
department to rid this city Of big and little booteggers and
all others who violate the laws OF the District and their
country
its laws and the duty Of every police official is to respect
and enforce law and order and to crime and criminals
The enforcement Of national prohibition has been entrusted
by Congress to the Federal Appropriations aggre
eating millions of dollars have been made for this purpose
ordinary conditions the duty Of the Washington police de-
parmen would be to cooperate with the officers OF the
not to the responsibility clearly belonging to Federal
agency.
Commissioner Oyster insisted for months that the Washing
ton police force be clothed with the OF enforcement
agents With seeming reluctance the part Of Federal
thor this authority has been conferred upon number of
of the best Of the local detective force is
nounced that the local department is to make Clean
This of course virtually puts upon Washington policemen
the full responsibility for enforcing national law, and
tantanount to an announcement that the District COmmis
soners have confidence faith in the ability Of prohibition
agents make cleanup The rough work of being shot
at and gassed by boogger is go to police department
created principally for the enforcement Of local laws and
ulatons. do it, and at the time 60 on
efficiently with their regular work. the community will
paud for the good that this city Of law and order
and obedience to the mandates Of Congress and the courts
The wisdom of assuming the huge responsibilities that really
belong to national agency is challenged however It is
pointed out that frequent statements have been made by high
city officials that police department is undermanned that
1t impossible to detail the required number of
force parking and traffic regulations and for other purposes
congress 1n01fferenC
force Although increase in the force authorized in
the last Congress- with better pay for old and men,
Congress failed to appropriate the and
there be increase in Washington policemen until Con-
gress acts the coming winter
If the police department does make good its promise
Of successful drive against booeggng and allied crimes
will be blamed by Federal enforcement officials IT, making
constant and their cohorts followers
enforcement Of local laws is neglected there will wave
Of criticism The morale Of the department will be shaken
The outcome will be awaited with widespread interest in
this good city, which has witnessed menacng growth Of
n
law Il high time something done to change this and to
put down the criminal elements which have bold
generally w-abiding, responsible and upright
is likewise high time that the highest officials Of the
national administration set foot thorough investigation
to determine just what has been done and is being done
this National City by the really responsible agency the
Government to enforce prohibition in this Federal Jurisdiction
There has been much shuntng Of responsibility from the
hbition enforcement agents to the local police force which
face Of the effective work done by its members in aiding the
National Government
With the additional powers conferred on Washington detec
lives and vice squad members the Commissioner in charge
police hopes to better results in the police and other
courts in the prosecution Of booegges There have been
dreds bootleg the police court by enforcement
agents. which had to be dismissed because the who made
the arrests and brought the not present to testify
they could not be kept here not kept here to see
case through Srewd lawyers took advantage Of this situation
to have cases POSTPONED hoping that the a5Feng agents
With the local department making the majority Of the
attendance Of officers will be assured thereby resulting
OF
Another advantage the local department will have will be
that in running down the boogger there will be obtained
valuable information to criminal activities in other fields
Booeggng has brought train Of holdups and robberies
That is alarming The detectives, when working in line
are sure to find many facts relating to others This should
bring about efficient handling local criminals and
p betterment Of conditions.
Nevertheless the present experiment will be worth watch
ing there beneficial results the community will be
he gamer local laws and regulations suffer while Washing
ton detectives and policemen do the work Federal
ment officers the truth will become known and will then be
The duty Of the District Commissioners carry the matter
e President Of the United States and to Congress- the dy
members Of which, lacking confidence in Federal enforcement
In this city, went to the District building with promises to
increase the local police force prohibition enforcement here
taken The attitude Of these dry members in next
Congress will be observed in the they to give
the city larger police department