Evening star., 1925-01-05

is apparent to the grand jury as a
result of its inquiry.
The trial board as at present con-
stituted-not in personnel but in its
formation of two police captains and
an assistant corporation counsel
comes in for criticism of the grand
jurors as one of the reasons why
high officials of the department are
powerless to rid the force OF the
small number of undesirables who
make attacks on prisoners and bring
discredit on the department. The
presence on the board of two police
officials gives the suspicion of a
packed majority" the grand jurors
assert. as such officers will be biased
to some extent by their we'll meant
desire to protect the organization as
whole from unfavorable report or
scandal"
a disinterested civilian or some
/ representative of the court is sug-
Sested by the grand jurors to take
the place of one of the police officials
on the trial board. The public would
then have the greater confidence in
the findings of the board it is pointed
out.
The grand jury concludes it's report
with praise of the fairness of the de-
tectives and other members of the
| to present charges against persons
accused of crime. These officers ap-
pear as anxious, it is stated, to pro-
tect the innocent as to convict the
guilty, and conscient tiously give the
accused the benefit of the doubt. The
grand jurors declare that the evidence
of the prisoners making charges of
assaults by policemen was not worthy
of belief in most instances and was
Il f-Nt nd l. 4.
Praise for Force.
We have been mindful" saws the
jury's report, 'of certain considera-
ttons which are well understood in
the criminal courts, but possibly not
sufficiently appreciated by those who
do not come in contact with the courts.
namely, the character and amount of
service the public receives from the
Police Department. And it therefore
seems appropriate at the beginning of
this report to outline briefly some of
the things the police are called upon
to do, the territory covered and the
limited number available for the task
of protecting life and property in the
District of Columbia.
"A force of $50 men, including all
grades, is provided to police a terri
tory embracing an area of 20 square
x
ton and several outlying villages of
suburban character. The popula-
ton of this territory is approximately
100000. The report OF the superin-
tendent of police for 1923 shows
| 66,I5S arrests, with over 90 per cent
of convictions. While over 90 per
cent of these arrests were for petty
violations of law and police or other
regulations, they nevertheless require
. NJ at
| In addition to the equivalent of ar
resting about one-seventh of our
population annually, the police re-
corded during the year 10,202 acci-
dents OF every nature and kind. took
up SO stray animals, reported 156
cases of attempted suicide, 2S6 back
gates were found open, 40 dead bodies
found, 40 bodies of dead infants found
5,5T dead animals reported 80
drowned bodies recovered 2739 re-
ports of dangerous or broken pave
ments, 1855 dangerous holes in road
ways, 80 dangerous buildings reported,
~ dangerous bridges, 5S4 doors and
windows reported open, 1,05S damaged
trees and tree boxes reported, lat lost
children restored to parents 1131
persons were found sick in the streets.
% hydrants found damaged, 791 lamps
damaged, 1896 lamps reported un-
lighted, 1888 building and 4,357 mis-
cellaneous permits were examined.
1881 fires attended and satisfactory
reports made in $3.50 instances where
persons were arrested for fast driv-
ing. In addition, 6S suicides were
reported. 143 damaged sewers, III
hIthy sewers, 341 water mains, 4O3
water pipes, and 229,079 telephone
messages were received or delivered.
The police regulations require mem
bers of the force constantly to patrol
their beats, be able to give intelligent
responses to all inquiries keep
memorandum of suspicious houses and
of persons and matters of police
interest; to report complaints of
barking dogs and Growing ROSTERS
and so on through the catalog.
Lives Are Endangered
while this data gives some idea as
to the scope of the policeman's serv-
ice, it does not take into account the
time consumed in making arrests,
searching roevidence, making re-
ports and in attendance on the prose-
cutting officers, the Police Court the
grand jury and the superior courts
Nor does it account for the hardships
and hazards incurred by the officers,
the risk of health from exposure to
all sorts of weather, the risk of life
itself, if need be, in the performance
of their duties.
This jury has found no reason to
doubt that our Police Department as
a whole, measures up to the best
standard, both as to personnel and
Intelligent effectiveness. The de-
partment has impressed the visitor
with its ability to handle large
crowds courteously and efficiently. 1t
enjoys an enyiable reputation among
similar departments in other cities
1t has served it's own community
faithfully andw it'll credit to itself.
Considering the size of the territory
covered, its location with respect to
other jurisdictions, and the limited
number of policemen provided, the
citizens of Washington may justly
take pride in the character of the
force and it's accomplishments
Finds Fault With Few.
"In an organization as large as the
local police force, it is not surprising
to find in the course of an investiga-
ton like the one we have pursued
that few individuals may fall short
of the general standard. We have
some criticism to make of few
members of the force-the number
being negligible-but the disclosure
of their misconduct has not destroyed
our confidence in, ard respect for the
others. Because one man in a 100
on the police force is found unfit,
the entire force is no more to be
lightly condemned than any other
kind of an organization, whether it
be a church, d lodge, club, or
business corporation.
THE treatment of prisoners, after
arrest, is considered under two class
ifications: First, the mistreatment of
prisoners for the purpose of obtain
ing confessions of crimes or guilty