Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-09
100 MORE DETECTIVES, 1900
| POLICE REQUESTED BY TIESSE
Chief Also Asks for Armored Cars, Stricter
Laws for Dry Enforcement and Leg
islation to Curb CLUBS.

A substantial increase in the per-
sSonnel of the metropolitan police
sforce and the modernization of its
equipment for combating and appre-
hending criminals is urged by Maj.
Edwin B. Hesse. superintendent, in
his annual report for the fiscal year
ending June 80 last, submitted today
to the District Commissioners.
force of 1900 patrolmen and at
least 100 more central office detec-
tives are asked by Maj. Hesse, in ad-
dition to more automobiles and motor
cycles. armored and semi-armored
cars equipped with machine guns and
tear gas bombs for the pursuit of
armed bandits; radio broadcasting
station, a teletype system of inter-
communication between police sta
tions. and more power and more
money to enforce the liquor laws and
new legislation to combat 'incor-
porated clubs" and dance halls and
to license guides.
These recommendation are made.
Mai. Hesse said, Ito the end that the
department may be enabled to provide
that character of police service which
Is so essential to the safety and vel
fare Of the residents of the District
of Columbia"
1884 Authorized by Law.
''The present authorized strength
OF the police force is 1884 men, eX-
elusive of those assigned to duty as
special street railway crossing police
men," said the report. Deducting
from this total officers above the rank.
of sergeant, privates detailed as driv-
ers, station clerks, men attached 10
the patrol signal system, plain clothes
men and privates assigned to the per-
Torrance of essential clerical and
other work connected with the admin
istration of the department leaves
patrol force of approximately nine
hundred 5000 men performing either
foot patrol, motor cycle patroi, pl
cvcla and horse mounted patrol DUTY.
''JTnder existing law members OF
the notice force are allowed one day
off in each week of seven days, there.
by reducing the available patrol force
to approximately seven hundred ana
seventy (770) men, from which there
must he deducted those absent on an
nual and sick leave. detailed and as
signed to special duty, etc., which
further reduces the available foot pa
troll force in the District of Columbia
TO four hundred and ninety seven
ASH men. This force performs duty
in shifts Of eight hours each, thereby
permitting only about 165 men being
on duty at a given time to take care
Of the many and varied interests IN
volved.
'The demands for police service OF
q. high order are increasing daily. both
in number and character, ana the
force should be increased in order
that all cases may be promptly ana
eficiently cared for.
Wants More Detectives.
.Tba strength of the Detective Blu
reau should be increased to at least
one hunderd u00) men, to be in two
GRADES. fifty 500 to correspond with
the present detective sergeants and
fffty (5O) as second-grade sergeants,
who would draw half the additional
allowance now authorized.
saThis would enable the department
70 assign men to specialized work IN
various forms of crime and at the
same time leave available sunclent
number for general assignments and
to visit at frequent intervals all places
where undesirables meet, such as pool
rooms, near beer saloons, all-night
restaurants, cheap lodging houses.
etc, which is not possible with the
limited force now provided by law.
as d Stcduy 6AOntA
need for that character of service
which can only be rendered efficiently
by trained men working direct from
the central bureau.
AT the present time there are 80
men assigned to motor cycle duty,
but there should be an increase in
the number to at least $50 in order
that the department may be enabled
to maintain at each station a con-
tinuous assignment of one motor
cycle officer equipped for immediate
response to any emergency call.
Under existing conditions the at
tempt to enforce the national prohi-
bition act within the District of Co
lumbia by members of the Metro
politan Police force has resulted in
delays and embarrassment caused by
lack of authority on the part of the
members of the department.
Dry Law Situation.
'In this connection it is considered
that every member of the force should
have the same authority in the en-
forcement of this act as of any other
criminal law within the District of
Columbia, and in order that the de-
partment may be successful in deal
ing with violations of the national
prohibition act sufficient authority
should be conferred by Congress on
all members Of the department. It
is the only statute in force today in
which 1t is necessary to swear in