Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-24
INCREASED POLICE
WITH HIGHER WAGE
FAVORED BY HESSE
Minimum Force of 1900 Is
Urged in Report to
Dougherty.
$1,000 ENTRANCE SALARY
FOR PRIVATES is ASKED
Comment on $50 Trial Board Cases
Is Confined to Single
Paragraph.

Urgent pleas for an immediate in
crease in the personnel of the Metro
politan Police Force to minimum OF
1900 and higher salary schedule that
will attract men "of the highest caliber"
are contained in the annual report Of
Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, superintendent,
submitted today to Commissioner Proc =
tor l.. Dougherty.
The total patrol force, Maj. Hesse
points out, numbers 1,348, but when it
is divided into three 8-hour shifts
there are but 213 men actually on duty
at any one time in an area of ap-
proximately 10 square miles.
"Police problems are daily becoming
more numerous and more complex"
Mai. Hesse declared. "And in order 70
meet and satisfactorily cope with the
many difficult problems presented !
deem an immediate increase in the force
essential
''It is my opinion that the character
of the service rendered by the police
force of the District Of Columbia should
set the standard for all other Ameri-
can municipalities. If this most desir-
able condition is to be brought about
the salaries paid must be such as to
attract men of the highest caliber, and
to that end recommend the enactment
of legislation providing for an entrance
salary of 81 800 per annum for pri-
Yates, with maximum salary after flve
wears of service of S2.500, The salaries
of sergeants and higher officers to be
fixed proportionately." The existing
salary scale for private ranges from
minimum of $1,000 to maximum OF
$4,000.
Recommends More Detectives.
Mai. Hesse said the personnel of The
Detective Bureau should be increased
to at least 100 men to enable the as
signment of detectives to specialized
work, and the motor cycle patrol force
should be increased to total OF $50
privates. with the object in view OF
maintaining at each station con-
tinuous detail of one motor cycle OH
Ger fully equipped for immediate re-
sponse to any emergency call.
Despite the recent agitation over dis
ciplining the force, only one paragraph
of the report is devoted to the measures
taken during the year to improve con-
ditions. A summary of the 800 cases
handled by the Police Trial Board in
this 12-month period showed that only
90 of the officers involved were dismiss
ed. 166 were fined and IS escaped with
a warning.
The only comment made by Maj.
Hesse in respect to discipline follows:
During the fiscal year ended June
30. 1928, the department in its en-
deavor to maintain that rigid standard
of discipline so necessary to the general
eficiencv of the force found it neceS-
sary to institute trial board proceedings
in 800 cases"
The report contains Is other recon-
nendations, the majority of which MAI.
Fesse made in his annual report 1or
the 1927 fiscal year. These included
legislation corferring on all members
of the police force. the powers OF pro-
hihition enfrcement agents the appro-
nriation of $40 900 for the specific pur-
nose Of procuring evidence for the en-
forcement of the liquor. gambling and
vice laws: increased appropriations Tor
the purchase of high-powered automo-
biles for the Detective Bureau; an
nropriation for the installation OF the
teletvpe system of communication be-
tween headquarters and the various
uits of the department scattered
throughout the city, and legislation
giving the police control over all clubs
and the supervision over dances and
dance halls.
Cites Need for Legislation.
other recommendations were that
Congress enact legislation giving the
police authority to regulate the business
of executing bonds for compensation IN
criminal cases, legislation to permit
pawnbrokers to operate in the District,
legislation that will make drug addlc-
ton a felony and legislation which will
provide for the payment of the salaries
of street railway crossing policemen
from public funds. In addition, Maj
Hesse renewed his recommendations for
an automobile title law and for effec-
tive vagrancy and concealed weapon
laws.
In recommending legislation to give
the police control of clubs. Maj. Hesse
said: Il can conceive of nothing more
important to the law enforcement
agency in any municipality than that it
should have control Of and freedom Of
entry into, all clubs, whether in
corporated or not
"a number of clubs recently have
been established in the District of
Columbia, admission thereto being
restricted to so-called bonaf1de men,
bers, and while it is generally known
to the police authorities that certain
such clubs are established purely for the
purpose of gambling. 1t is difficult and
in many cases impossible for the police
to obtain sufficient evidence upon which