The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-08-11
7 MEN
0NFORCE
TOA|D|N
DRIVE
Oyster and Sullivan to Formu.
late Intense Campaign to
Wipe Out BootIegger


Twenty-four precinct detectives
of the Washington police depart
ment will be appointed prohibition
agents in the next few days, Com
missioner James F. Oyster was
informed today by prohibition
authorities.
Clothing local policemen with
additional authority will be the
signal for the launching Of the
greatest campaign against boot
Logging the National Capital has
known.
War On BoOtleggers.
I'VE are going to give the boot.
leggers hell" Major Daniel Sulli.
van. superintendent Of Police de.
clared today.
Commissioner Oyster added that,
aided by this authority, prohibition
will be enforced in Washington as
never before.
THE bootleggers must CO." said
Commissioner Oyster" and our de.
partment will rigidly enforce the
Volstead Act without fear or
favor. Through the cooperation
of the Prohibition Unit we are
enabled to go at the bootleggers
more stringently than in the past"
The names of the policemen who
will have added authority are being
compiled and will be forwarded to
Commissioner of Prohibition Roy
V. Haynes. After his o. K. the
twenty-four will confer with the
Commissioner and Police Chief.
To Map Campaign.
I'VE will have a conference to
map out campaign" Commissioner
Oyster said today. II intend to tell
the men that it is their duty to
bring about 100 per cent enforce.
ment Of prohibition in Washington.
They will be told to operate with
out fear or favor"
Only the most trusted men In
the force will become Federal agents.
There will be no increased compen-
sation for them nor will they re.
llnquish their duties with the local
department. They will continue to
operate as precinct detectives and
the difference will be that they can
enforce prohibition without calling
in a prohibition agent as IL the
present practice.
Not only will these men have
Federal authority but they will also
have access to the large fund Con.
gress appropriates for prohibition
enforcement. insufficient funds has
always handicapped the local men
in enforcing the Volstead act.
Federal responsibility for enforce.
ment here will not be transferred
to the local department, however.
Step of Cooperation.
ut is just a step Of cooperation"
said Commissioner Oyster. PRO
hibition bureau will, of course, be
responsible for the situation here
and we are merely supporting
them"
Commissioner Oyster for the past
several months has sought addi.
tional authority for his precinct de.
tectives most Of whom devote their
time to investigating bootlegging
activities. These men are now un.
able to serve a warrant to make
searches unless accompanied by
Federal agents and in order to OBJ.
tain a conviction, in court 1t Is also
necessary to have a prohibition
agent as witness.
Will Press Cases.
1--WE will be responsible for get.
ting our men into court and there
will be no cases dismissed for lack
Of prosecution through failure Of
the necessary witnesses being on
hand" he said.
A conference with prohibition
bureau officials probably will be
called in a few days to map out
the campaign plans for the local
police.
Federal agents in addition to tho
local men will probably continue to
operate in Washington, giving the
National Capital the largest body Of
Federal agents, for its size in the
United States.