Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-04
MAI. HESSE ORDERS
| SWEEPING INQUIRY
INTO POLICE TRIALS
Plans Detailed Scientific An
aIysis of All Cases of Last
Three Years.
Superintendent URGED
| TO ACTION BY CRITICISM
Stricter Enforcement of Rules
Promised-Patrolmen Will
Have to Be Neater,

detained SClcntlElc analysis or all
cases heard by the Police Trial Board
in the three-year period beginning July
/, 1925. and ending June 30 last was
ordered today by Maj. Edwin B. Hesse,
superintendent of police, as the first
definite move to find out what is
wrong with the police force.
Mai. Hesse admittedly is disturbed by
the recurring reports that misconduct.
lawlessness and inefficiency are rampant
IN the department. The picture is
flashed before him now nearly every
time policeman gets into trouble.
The far-reaching study of the Trial
Board cases. which Inspector William
S. Shelby. personnel officer, has been
directed to make Maj Hesse believes
will show at its conclusion. whether the
Washington police force N general is
as bad as it has been pictured by some.
or whether it is being discredited by a
small group of policemen who are being
retained in the service despite repeated
violations of the law and the code of
ethics laid down in the police manual
VIII Have fulI Data.
Every conceivable bit of data bearinr
on the conduct, character and education
Of the officers who have been before the
trial board in the three-year period
will be gathered for Inspector Shelby'S
study. Cards went TO the print shop
today for. the recording of this infor-
nation Blank spaces have been re-
served for the policemans name. offensc
committed. age at the time of appoint
ment. number of years IN the service.
the precinct to which he was attached
when placed under charges. the length
Of residence in the District prior TO
appointment. educational qualifications.
finding and sentence and remarks that
may be added
With this information, Mai. Hesse
firmly believes, he will have an excel
lent insight into the character OF the
men whose indiscretions and defiance
of laws, rules and regulations have
brought on the criticism of the depart
ment and at the same time provide
basis for planning . remedy for the
conditions.
Available records show that more than
$50 cases were taken before the trial
beard in the last 1s months. The total
for the three-year period TO be studied
is expected to exceed 1000. A number
of them. however are cases of repeat
ers"-policemen who have been before
the board more than once. There ar
now about 1850 men on the force. =
the percentage of those who have ap-
peared before the board. it is pointed
out, is large. even excluding the ere
peaters"
Moral Fiber" Lacking.
Mai Hesse and his administrative as
SiStantS have drawn some hasty con-
clusions of their own as TO the cause
Of the condition. arrived at after q cur
sorry examination of the trial board rec
ordS for the last year. The major con-
tributing factor. 1t was said. is the lack
OF moral fiber" particularly among the
new recruftS-young men. many Of them
country born and reared. who yield
easily TO the temptations Of city life.
Under the new civil service regulations
applicants for appointment as police
men do not have 10 be residents of
Washington. Another is said to be the
dizzy pace at which some of the young
er policemen are living. Police oficialS
explain that great many of the trial
board cases they have examined are
those OF policemen who have gone
to meet their bills.
One explanation offered by Mai. HeSSe
as TO the large number of cases handled
by the Trial Board is his own diSei-
plinary methods. Every officer reported
to him for an infraction of the police
manual no matter how trivial. he said,
has been ordered before the Trial
Board In past years. he explained,
most Of the trivial cases were disposed
of by the commanding officers by a
reprimand. Now. Mai. HeSSe declared,
the commanding officers will not take
the responsibility of diSciplining . po-
liceman for failing TO report at box
or some other minor violation and refer
the case to his once. In turn. the po-
lice superintendent said. he passes the
buck" along TO the Trial Board. Per
hans, If the commanding officers adopt
I'd stronger disciplinary tactics, MAJ
Hesse intimated, there would DC less
work for the Trial Board.
Plans Sterner Rule.
Another move Mai. HeSSe has In con-
temptation for reducing the nuniosr on
eases for Trial Beard hearing ana
action and at the same time improving
the efficiency OF the department, Is 81
increase in the probationary tenure OF
a recruit A prObationer may oe sum-
marilv removed without trial. me
revolutionary period at present Is one
wear. A year or two years sAtShSloil'
Mai. HeSSe believes, might orniS aoo9s
a change III conditions, ,,,,.-
The real solution OF the problem, now
ever Mai. HeSSe declared, lies III the
adontion by the Commissioners OF ms
recommendations of last Spring TOT
more drastic punishment Of policemen
convicted by the trial board. TheSe
recommendations would provide for mn
mediate dismissal from the force OF al
officers convicted OF untruthlul reports
wIllful INSTRUMENTATION, mtoNfcation ON
cutv. continued neglect or duty ana
continued mefficiency. In many Sncn
cases the officers now escape with
small fine.
VIII Have 70 spruce Up.
"rhaxe is going to be y real tighten
INC nm all along the Tine from now ON,
regardless Of what the analysis OF the
irial board eases shows" declared Maj
HeSse, II have added two night tn
spectors 70 the force 10 see that the
men are on the streets and ON their toes,
The general appearance of the men has
rot 10 improve and they have got to
bc courteous 20 the public. There Is
absolutely no excuse for complaints
coming to my office about diScourteous
OF untidy policeman,
The Government provides the men
With uniforms and they should keep
,hem IN shape, II is up 70 the COM
maudsng officers to see that their
clothes are clean and neatly pressed
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