Evening star., 1928-04-01
AUTO REPAIR SHOP
BIG AID TOPOL|CE
Plays important Part in Keep.
ing Department Ready for
Emergencies.

One OF the most important links In
the operation OF the Metropolitan Po-
lice Department. and possibly the least
heard OF, is the repair shop.
That this shop plans an important
part in keeping the Police Department
running smoothly Is indicated by the
great amount Of work accomplished in
having the automobiles of Supt. Edward
Hesse, as well as those of other officials
Of the department, the patrol wagons
and motorcycles OF the policemen in
running order at ell times
This work is done by nine privates
under the direction of a sergeant, and
the shop is open "a hours a day. It is
only at intervals that the department
is without the service OF It's important
vehicles
Shop Covers wide Field.
Not only do'the man detailed n the
shop keep the vehicles in repair, but In
many instances rebuild them. Also the
shop makes seat covers, tops, seat ctish-
ions, and tows in disabled machines OF
the department. Abandoned machines,
as well as household effects, are also
brought into the shop from the various
precincts. About IS automobiles and o6
motorcycles are cared for by the crew
at the repair shop.
Some outstanding jobs last year by
the repair crew was a reserve wagon
which was toppled over in a collision.
The frame was bent and twisted, the
body smashed. After short time 1t
left the shop with the frame straight
ened, a new body built and repainted
In another case one Of the machines
used at detective headquarters was In a
collision with a street car and looked
for the most part ready for the Junk
dealer. In few days, however, the
repair men had 1t In working order: In
fact. better than before the collision.
The men have rigged up a hauling
crane which has proved Its worth time
and time again. An old automobile
which had been abandoned for the
scrap heap was reconstructed and the
crane erected on the chassis. This is in
almost constant use. An average of rs
car loads are hauled each month.
Motorcycle Repairs Cited.
The average number OF motorcycles
entering the shop per month is 10, and
1853 automobiles are given service Of
one kind or another over the same
period OF time.
A great amount of material is used
In this repair work. In the replace
ment Of spokcs for motorcycles there
were more than 1000 used last year,
which, placed end 10 end, would make
q steel spire 87l feet inches high.
During the past year also there was
enough brake lining used TO make a q
inch strip three fourths the way up the
Washington Monument. or more than
400 feet. There WaK enough electric
lighting and ignition cable used TO make
line starting at the base OF the Monu-
ment To go over the top stone and
down the other side with some left
over, or more than TOO. feet. There
were 260 feet OF motorcycle chains, as
well rs $50 repair links used Five hum
dred spark plugs we're installed. to-
gether with 300 gaskets OF various sizes.
In the cleaning OF the vehicles more
than TOO pounds Of rags. more than
1000 yards OF cheesccloth. IL bales OF
waste and more than 1000 pounds OF
soap were needed as well as many gall
Ions Of metal and body polish.
Divided Into Sections.
The shop work Is divided into three
| seetions--the motorcycle section. where
pyts. G. G. Niblock and r. G. Craig are
assigned. the automobile section, In
which PVts. q. f. r. Thompson, c.
| Waterman, M. King and S. Devaugh
work. and the machine section. where
Pvt w. Fay Is detailed The stock and
| records OF the shop are kept by Pvt. j,
h. Belt. Pvt. G, Lansdon Ia the shop
painter.
Eergt Milton d. Smith, who before
Joining the police force was a mechanic
and chauffeur and one OF the pioneer
automobile drivers Of the city is In I'M
mediate charge Of the shop.
The entire establishment is under the
supervision Of Inspector w. H. Harrison
| who has charge Of the motor vehicles
Of the Police Department.