The Washington times., 1928-09-06
Correction Of Delinquencies in
Police Force Imperative
aUBLTC opinion has reached that stage which strcng
demands sharp Improvement in the moral tone 9

T3UBLTC opinion has reached that stage winch sWongy
demands sharp Improvement IN the moral tone g
Tie chief st the department, Major Edwin 2. Hesse
apparently realizes that alarming delnqusncs Y tns
AZ The department corrected and making noise
Ike man Who TO attempt remedial measures. he
must eet beyond attempts and actually achieve results
.arev ices nothing TO worry about The moral tone q
te department suits him Mr. Dcugherty = either seeking
" sset. Conditions win compel him To open his
official eyes and to open them 70 their limit.
~ te year ending August 81 total Of 454 were
heard before police trial boards There 1S40 members
az the police force fiscal year Of 1915 there were lU0
trial board cases with total police membership Of S2S
The only cCnsong thing Chief Hesse that the large
number q trial board Is o,ss. = disciplinary
measures bringing about unusual vigilance n me desecson q
police derelCtiOns .
seems beyond reason virtually Of Che members
81 the department should be hailed before trial boards on
carces cf misconduct some Of them Of grave nature
herA a something radically wrong when this condition
exists and for 1t to continue spells grievous
which win threaten rghul enforcement of Law and order II
this great city.
remedies are proposed Among them Is the request
~ he Hegse that the Commissioners make certain offences
punishable upon conviction By prompt dismissal from tne
force instead Of resOrng TO fines one drunkenness
and 80 policemen charged with this serious offence
~ oiosmap found ruilty Of drunkenness while on duty
~ of being under the influence Of liquor while On duty
soud rnnuesionably be dismissed from the force He
sensees to obligations Of his oath and TO efficient service
8-
Besides he violates the laws he to uphold and en-
force because he has purchased liquor from voatos o.
law had given TO him - bride that ne WINK ~ vloa
tions Of lawsl
The basic trouble with the present force i in the personnel
brought in through the civil service Much q that person
rel doesn't up Of other years. when the force
was picked from residents Of Washington or from nearby
localities making possible 70 know something q the
characters Of the men appointed.
Il isn't going to be possible to weaknesses unless
the Commissioner charge Of police and the chief OF police
work in harmony No police chief get good results IN
decreasing deeds and misbehaviOr in subordnates the
Commissioner charge thinks that everything is a. desirable
as might be expected.
It Is essential that the police department, whole sna
have the confidence Of the public Washington people will not
withhold their moral support when they feel sure that our
police force fully deserves this support They know that tne
bulk worthy but they want bad eliminated
The be efficient and clean The organization
be adequate and properly differed should have the
cooperation Of court officials There must be mutual
understanding and goodwill between the force and the public
Chief HeEse and Commissioner DOugherty should lose little
time in correcting existing evils that the confidence OF the
public may fully established and consistently maintained