Smyrna times., 1924-06-04
NO SMALL EFFORT TO GET TO
Be STATE HIGHWAY POLICEMAN
APPLICANTS MUST STAND RIGID
TEST IN A TRAINING SCHOOL
Captain Williams Selecting Ten Out
of "a Men to Go on the Delaware
Motorcycle FOrce-Smyrna Men

of "a Men to TO on the Delaware
Motorcycle FOrce-Smyrna Men
The training school for Delaware
State Highway Policemen which be-
gan at Dover on Tuesday, May 20, |
continued all of last week. By the end |
of the week, Captain R. H. Williams
of the Maryland State Police, hoped |
to have arrived at satisfactory con-
clusiOns as far as ten of the candi-
dates for the State Highway Police
are concerned. From a group of
nearly four score of candidates, he
eliminated all but "a on the first day
and with these "a he is now trying
to select the best men for the in
crease to the State Police force auth
orized by the State Highway Com
mission
Thursday was the first day the men
had a chance to get out on the road
and show how they could direct a
motorcycle. These first tests were
handicapped by the fact that the men
were all a little nervous and some of
them were unaccustomed to driving
but one make of motorcycle. Friday
there was more outdoor work and this
was continued all the week, supple
menting the indoor lectures and tests.
In eliminating the first group of
men, Captain Williams did so when he
found them either unfit physically or
through personalities. This latter
word has come to mean a lot now
adays among policemen. If a mans
record in his home town was credi-
table he was eliminated. His charac-
ter and those of every man now tax
ing the course of study at Dover is or
has been Investigated, so that in pick
ing the men for the force the highest
standards possible are being used.
Not only the mental drills, but
physical setting up exercises are a
part of the training school details.
What the candidates for state police
men know about the motor and traffic
laws of their home state is an i'm
portant part of the tests. They must
know these laws and regulations per-
fectly in order to qualify, at all, for
a position. 1t is safe to venture, that
they were never required to learn any
lesson when they attended school as
well, as they are now asked to know
about the traffic regulations.
They are being given a few tests
in arithmetic and geography, for that
goes with the high mental calbre of
the men needed for the job. They
are also receiving lectures on how to
conduct themselves under trying stu
ations they will surely meet when
they are selected for the force. 1t is
this judgement and tact that is the
hardest to obtain and special attention
is being paid to ascertain what the
men woud be likely to do under try
ing scenes.
In discussing the men whom he is
training Captain Williams said the
candidates were splendid material and
on a par with those he had trained
in other states for state police jobs.
The big difficulty, he said, is to keep
the men after they have efficient Ofiic-
ers. Not only in Delaware but in
Maryland, the pay of state policemen
is not as attractive as that paid by
private corporations, and many times,
after a state policeman has distin-
guished himself with the state he is
made a flattering offer by some rail-
road or other corporation that needs
private detectives or officers and the
inducement of more pay usually re-
suits in the state policemen resigning
his job.
Chiefly those who have an adven-
turous disposition seek the job of
state highway policemen, he said.
they like the open and also the thrills
that go with being in the van of any
thing that is going on. This natural
progressiveness, is however, a big
asset to them in their vocation, be-
cause it never causes them to hesi-
tate to plunge into unpleasant situa-
tions where the services Of a police
man are required.
After the ten men for the force Sc
lected they will be given tryout un-
der actual working conditions. Those
who are able to stand the gaff will be
, retained and if any fail they will be
replaced by others whose record is
next highest.